2005 Buell XB12S: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
0 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data updated: . 0 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
No owner complaints are recorded for this selection. A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
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 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 0 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.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Pattern summary
There is not enough complaint evidence to summarize patterns.
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.
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V148000 · Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand
Reported: 2005-04-14 (April 14, 2005)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SIDESTAND MAY NOT RETRACT AS DESIGNED IF CONTACT IS MADE WITH THE GROUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
Consequence: THIS COULD, IN TURN, DISRUPT THE STABILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE LEADING TO A CRASH, CAUSING DEATH OR INJURY TO THE RIDER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDESTAND PIVOT BOLT WITH A SIMILAR BOLT THAT IS .100 INCH LONGER FREE OF CHARGE. THIS CHANGE WILL ALLOW THE SIDESTAND TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-343-8400.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
0 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 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 571.4%ODI 10177963 · 5,300 miSILVER COATING ON HEADLIGHTS DETERIORATES RAPIDLY CAUSING POOR ILLUMINATION AND UNSAFE NIGHT TIME DRIVING AND REDUCING THE MOTORCYCLES VISIBILITY DURING THE DAY. I AM SURE THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS FAR BELOW DOT STANDARDS VEHICLE IS AN XB12R FIREBOLT, NOT AN XB12S. THE XB12R WAS NOT LISTED AS AN OPTION. *JB | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 114.3%ODI 10163064 · 22,000 miWHILE RIDING MY 2004 BUELL XB12S MOTORCYCLE THOUGH THE ASM AMERICA, INC. PARKING LOT (3440 EAST UNIVERSITY DRIVE PHOENIX AZ 85034) AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 AM THE ON 07-19-06 THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED. THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL POWER AND I COASTED TO A STOP INTO A PARKING SPOT: 1.RIDING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 5-10 MPH. 2.THE MOTORCYCLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. 3.THE MOTORCYCLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED AS IF THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF INCLUDING LOSS OF HORN, TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, REAR TAIL LI… | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 266.7%ODI 10251273 · 4,925 miREMOVED SEAT AND NOTICED HARNESS TO ECM CHAFFING ON SEAT. PROBLEM COULD CAUSE ENGINE NOT TO RUN. WIRE HARNESS FELT WAS RUBBED COMPLETELY THROUGH EXPOSING MULTIPLE COPPER WIRES IN HARNESS. MILEAGE OF MOTORCYCLE IS 4925. CAUSE IS HARNESS VIBRATES AGAINST THE SHARP EDGE OF UNDERSIDE OF SEAT. DEALER STATES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. DEALER REPAIRED HARNESS AND SECURED HARNESS TO A LOWER POSITION WITH TIE STRAPS. NO KNOWN SOLUTION FROM BUELL HAS BEEN RELEASED. *TR |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | 228.6%ODI 10177963 · 5,300 miSILVER COATING ON HEADLIGHTS DETERIORATES RAPIDLY CAUSING POOR ILLUMINATION AND UNSAFE NIGHT TIME DRIVING AND REDUCING THE MOTORCYCLES VISIBILITY DURING THE DAY. I AM SURE THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS FAR BELOW DOT STANDARDS VEHICLE IS AN XB12R FIREBOLT, NOT AN XB12S. THE XB12R WAS NOT LISTED AS AN OPTION. *JB | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 114.3%ODI 10060544I AM REPORTING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 BUELL XB12S MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE OBSERVED THIS SAME SITUATION ON ALL SIMILAR BIKES THAT I HAVE LOOKED AT. UNDER THE SEAT, THE ECM CABLE HARNESS RESTS AGAINST THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND THERE ARE SIGNS OF ABRASION FROM VIBRATION.*AK | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 114.3%ODI 10060544I AM REPORTING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 BUELL XB12S MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE OBSERVED THIS SAME SITUATION ON ALL SIMILAR BIKES THAT I HAVE LOOKED AT. UNDER THE SEAT, THE ECM CABLE HARNESS RESTS AGAINST THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND THERE ARE SIGNS OF ABRASION FROM VIBRATION.*AK | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10201606 · 3,800 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUELL XB12S. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS UP TO 130 MPH, THE KICKSTAND ALMOST DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN RIDING AROUND CURVES, THE KICKSTAND PROTRUDED AND NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RIDE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE AND, WHEN HE PROPPED UP THE VEHICLE WITH THE KICKSTAND, IT FELL FORWARD. THE DEALER RETORCHED THE BOLTS, HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVES THIS WAS DONE IMPROPERLY BECAUSE THEY DID NOT LOCK THE BOLTS TIGHTLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,800. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
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.
2005: 0 complaints · 2006: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 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 |
|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. |
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.