NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 Buell S3 Recalls & Complaints

The 1999 Buell S3 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 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 1999 Buell S3. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1999 Buell S3 owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Buell S3, describing incidents dated June 15, 1999 to January 6, 2004.

Most-cited components

Suspension 2 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10057341 · Filed 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…
ODI #10021422 · Filed 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
ODI #882655 · Filed 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…

Read all 3 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1999 Buell S3 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE03-043: THROTTLE FAILS TO RETURN TO IDLE
Closed October 30, 2003
- Recall 03V-427

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

BUELL/SWING ARM

NHTSA #98V199000 · Suspension — Rear · NHTSA notice

Reported August 25, 1998 · BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

Potentially affected: 136 vehicles

Owners notified September 15, 1998 · Vehicles built February 1, 1998 – August 12, 1998 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE SWING ARM ON THESE MOTORCYCLES WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING, LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DELAERS WILL REPLACE THE SWING ARM.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 1998.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR MOTORCYCLES 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 1-414-342-8400.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 1999 Buell S3. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Buell S3.

Suspension

ODI #10057341

Incident: January 6, 2004 · Filed: 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

Structure

ODI #10021422

Incident: May 27, 2003 · Filed: 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

Suspension; Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Fuel System, Gasoline; Unknown or Other

ODI #882655

Incident: June 15, 1999 · Filed: 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

Other Buell S3 model years

Check your 1999 Buell S3 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Buell S3 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Buell VIN