1999 Buell S3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
29,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 33.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 33.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber | 1 |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 1; Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber: 1; Suspension:Rear: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10021422 · 2003-06-11 (June 11, 2003)
THERE ARE TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE TO THE FRAME. THE ENGINE IS A CRITICAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER OF THE FRAME. ONE OF THE BOLTS WAS LOOSE, THE OTHER WAS BROKEN. HAD THE OTHER BROKE I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE CRASHED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057341 · 2004-02-02 (February 2, 2004)
THE CYCLE HAS CRACKED SHOCK ABSORBERS ON THE REAR SUSPENSIONS THAT ARE ON RECALL. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CLAIMED THE RECALL DID NOT AFFECT THE CONSUMER'S CYCLE. A DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER ON THE CYCLE WERE IN FACT THE RECALLED EQUIPMENT. RECALL NO. #98V199000,BUELL/SWING ARM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 882655 · 2001-03-09 (March 9, 2001)
RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 882655 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V199000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 1998-08-25 (August 25, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE SWING ARM ON THESE MOTORCYCLES WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING, LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE.
Remedy: DELAERS WILL REPLACE THE SWING ARM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1100.0% | 1100.0%ODI 834441HEADLIGHTS GO OUT/COME BACK INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACED THE CONNECTOR THAT HAD MELTED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension:Rear | 1100.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK |
| Unknown Or Other | 1100.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch | 1100.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 1100.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 1100.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK |
| Power Train | 1100.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | Too few reports for a range | 25,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10021422 · 25,000 miTHERE ARE TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE TO THE FRAME. THE ENGINE IS A CRITICAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER OF THE FRAME. ONE OF THE BOLTS WAS LOOSE, THE OTHER WAS BROKEN. HAD THE OTHER BROKE I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE CRASHED.*AK |
| Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber | Too few reports for a range | 33,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10057341 · 33,000 miTHE CYCLE HAS CRACKED SHOCK ABSORBERS ON THE REAR SUSPENSIONS THAT ARE ON RECALL. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CLAIMED THE RECALL DID NOT AFFECT THE CONSUMER'S CYCLE. A DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER ON THE CYCLE WERE IN FACT THE RECALLED EQUIPMENT. RECALL NO. #98V199000,BUELL/SWING ARM. *NM |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1998: 1 complaints · 1999: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Structure:Frame And Members | Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber | Suspension:Rear | Unknown Or Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | — | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK | — | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension:Rear | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK | 0 | 0 | — | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK |
| Unknown Or Other | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK | 0 | 0 | 1ODI 882655RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.