NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 18 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Buell dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R owner complaints

Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R, describing incidents dated September 9, 2003 to January 14, 2016.

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting 15 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
Child Seat 2 complaints
Equipment 2 complaints
Forward Collision Avoidance 2 complaints
Tires 2 complaints

Newest complaints

ODI #10871994 · Filed June 2, 2016
SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ)
ODI #10871993 · Filed June 2, 2016
SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ)
ODI #10410661 · Filed July 6, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD BEYOND THREE FEET WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…

Read all 18 complaints

BUELL/SIDE STAND LEGS

NHTSA #02V270000 · Unknown or Other · NHTSA notice

Reported October 3, 2002 · BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

Potentially affected: 371 vehicles

Buell campaign 0825 · Owners notified October 16, 2002 · Vehicles built August 6, 2002 – September 4, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SIDE STAND LEGS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BEND OR BREAK.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO FALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE STAND. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-342-4680.

Notes

ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

18 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R.

Tires; Equipment; Hybrid Propulsion System; Forward Collision Avoidance; Child Seat

ODI #10871994

Incident: January 14, 2016 · Filed: June 2, 2016

SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ)

Tires; Equipment; Hybrid Propulsion System; Forward Collision Avoidance; Child Seat

ODI #10871993

Incident: January 14, 2016 · Filed: June 2, 2016

SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ)

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10410661

Incident: June 1, 2011 · Filed: July 6, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD BEYOND THREE FEET WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10207244

Incident: June 10, 2006 · Filed: October 28, 2007

DEGRADED COATING ON HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS STARTING AS BLACK SPOTS WHICH SPREAD. AFTER REFLECTIVE COATING IS GONE THE BLACK PLASTIC REFLECTORS MELT. I USE OEM BULBS. *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10196709

Incident: April 15, 2007 · Filed: July 18, 2007

THE CHROME/PLASTIC REFLECTOR MATERIAL ON THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT STARTED TO DEGRADE. THE LIGHT REFLECTED AT NIGHT WAS DIM. THE HOUSING ABSORBED THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHT INSTEAD OF REFLECTING THE LIGHT. THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED BY BUELL MOTORCYCLE COMPANY.*AK

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10196061

Incident: June 7, 2006 · Filed: July 11, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS ARE DIMMING. HE REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT THE HEAT OF THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSE THE BULBS TO DIM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10194705

Incident: June 25, 2007 · Filed: June 26, 2007

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY DIMMER OVER TIME. UPON DISASSEMBLY I FOUND THE REFLECTOR AREA TO BE DULL AND PARTIALLY BLACKENED. ANY ATTEMPT TO CLEAN AWAY THE BLACK AREA ONLY ENLARGED IT AS THE REFLECTOR AREA HAD TURNED TO POWDER. I SWAPPED OUT PARTS FROM THE HIGH BEAM TO RESTORE THE LOW BEAM OPERATION. I HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED A COURSE OF ACTION TO PERMANENTLY REMEDY THE SITUATION. *AK

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10191969

Incident: May 18, 2007 · Filed: May 29, 2007

MOTORCYCLE HEADLAMP LOSS OF REFLECTIVE MATERIAL RESULTING IN POOR LIGHTING. MAKE: BUELL MODEL: XB9R YEAR: 2003. *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10191883

Incident: April 1, 2007 · Filed: May 29, 2007

I HAVE A 2003 BUELL MOTORCYCLE CORPORATION MOTORCYCLE. AFTER SUFFERING A PROBLEM WHERE MY HEADLIGHT DIMMED CONSIDERABLY AND IS BASICALLY USELESS AT NIGHT. AFTER CONSULTING AN INTERNET FORUM I BELONG TO, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE INTERIOR LINING OF THE LIGHT DISINTEGRATING AS PART OF A MANUFACTURING FLAW. APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE MANUFACTURER'S ATTENTION WITH NO INTEREST OR INTENT ON RESOLVING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10183124

Incident: September 9, 2003 · Filed: February 21, 2007

HEADLIGHTS GETTING DIMMER AND DIMMER, FOUND HEADLIGHT INNER HOUSING CHROME PLATING PEELING OFF. NO FIX EXCEPT TO BUY NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO THE NEW ASSEMBLIES IN SEVERAL MONTHS. BUELL CHAT SITES CONFIRM THAT ALL/MOST XBR MODELS DEVELOP THIS PROBLEM MAKING TRAVEL AT NIGHT UNSAFE. *JB

Check your 2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Buell Firebolt XB9R at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Buell VIN