NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Buell XB12R Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Buell XB12R has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 7 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 2005 Buell XB12R. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2005 Buell XB12R owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Buell XB12R, describing incidents dated June 1, 2006 to March 30, 2011.

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting 6 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10394197 · Filed April 4, 2011
IGNITION FUSE BLEW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN PAST 2 YEARS CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO QUIT IN TRAFFIC, INSPECTED WIRING HARNESS REPLACED FUSE, NO DEFECTS NOTED. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE MOTORCYCLE DIED, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BUT REPLACING THE FUSE DIDN'T HELP, IT BLEW…
ODI #10205871 · Filed October 16, 2007
REFLECTIVE COATING IN HEADLIGHT HOUSING GETS HOT AND CHANGES COLOR. HEADLIGHT OUTPUT IS DIMINISHED AND NIGHT TIME VISIBLITY DETERIORATES. *TR
ODI #10191971 · Filed May 29, 2007
FAILURE OF REFLECTIVE COATING INSIDE OF HEADLIGHT PROJECTOR, DIMMING OF HEADLIGHT NOTICEABLE AT 5,000 MILES, TOOK APART THE PROJECTOR AND NOTICED DEGRADATION (CHARRING) OF REFLECTIVE MATERIAL, NOW AT 17,000 MILES (8 MONTHS) THE LOW BEAM HOUSING DOES NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD ENOUGH FOR SAFE TRAVEL AT…

Read all 7 complaints

SIDESTAND PIVOT BOLT

NHTSA #05V148000 · Structure — Motorcycle — Kickstand/Center Stand · NHTSA notice

Reported April 14, 2005 · BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

Potentially affected: 149 vehicles

Owners notified May 5, 2005 · Vehicles built January 11, 2005 – January 17, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SIDESTAND MAY NOT RETRACT AS DESIGNED IF CONTACT IS MADE WITH THE GROUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD, IN TURN, DISRUPT THE STABILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE LEADING TO A CRASH, CAUSING DEATH OR INJURY TO THE RIDER.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2005 Buell XB12R. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Buell XB12R.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10394197

Incident: March 30, 2011 · Filed: April 4, 2011

IGNITION FUSE BLEW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN PAST 2 YEARS CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO QUIT IN TRAFFIC, INSPECTED WIRING HARNESS REPLACED FUSE, NO DEFECTS NOTED. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE MOTORCYCLE DIED, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BUT REPLACING THE FUSE DIDN'T HELP, IT BLEW AGAIN UPON TURNING THE IGNITION KEY. HAD IT TOWED HOME AND AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THE FAILURE, I TRACED IT TO A CHAFED WIRE ON THE IN-TANK FUEL PUMP. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND IT TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE. LUCKILY THE TANK WAS FULL OF FUEL OR A POSSIBLE EXPLOSION COULD HAVE OCCURRED (THINK TWA FLIGHT 800) MOST FAILURES OCCUR OUTSIDE WARRANTY ALTHOUGH HARLEY DAVIDSON/BUELL HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT IT. *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10205871

Incident: September 20, 2007 · Filed: October 16, 2007

REFLECTIVE COATING IN HEADLIGHT HOUSING GETS HOT AND CHANGES COLOR. HEADLIGHT OUTPUT IS DIMINISHED AND NIGHT TIME VISIBLITY DETERIORATES. *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10191971

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

FAILURE OF REFLECTIVE COATING INSIDE OF HEADLIGHT PROJECTOR, DIMMING OF HEADLIGHT NOTICEABLE AT 5,000 MILES, TOOK APART THE PROJECTOR AND NOTICED DEGRADATION (CHARRING) OF REFLECTIVE MATERIAL, NOW AT 17,000 MILES (8 MONTHS) THE LOW BEAM HOUSING DOES NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD ENOUGH FOR SAFE TRAVEL AT NIGHT. *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10191940

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

ON MY MODEL YEAR 2005 BUELL MODEL XB12R THE REFLECTORS ON MY HEADLIGHTS ARE MELTING.THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE ON THE LOW BEAM ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT OF THIS MELTING AND DEGRADATION THE PROJECTED BEAM IS DANGEROUSLY LOW. IT IS NOW DIFFICULT TO USE AFTER DARK. *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10185379

Incident: March 10, 2007 · Filed: March 17, 2007

HEADLAMPS HAD BECOME EXTREMELY DIM OVER TIME. RE-AIMING WAS ATTEMPTED AS WAS NEW BULBS, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. FINALLY I DISSASEMBLED THE LAMP HOUSING AND FOUND THAT THE REFLECTIVE COATING WAS GONE AND THAT THERE WAS MELTING OCCURING ON THE INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC HOUSING! SEEMS LIKE A POSSIBLE FIRE CONCERN.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10183256

Incident: July 1, 2006 · Filed: February 22, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2005 BUELL XB12R MOTORCYCLE HEADLIGHT COATING AND LIGHT LENSES DEGRADING DUE TO HEAT AND POOR MATERIALS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE DEGRADATION BEGAN THE LIGHT OUTPUT WAS SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACE DONCE UNDER WARRANTY ON 06/2006. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, BUT CONTINUED TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS WITH THE SME UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN FAILING. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HE HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING THE ROAD IN FRONT OF HIM DUE TO THESE HEADLIGHTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4800, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5600.*AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10183250

Incident: June 1, 2006 · Filed: February 22, 2007

HEADLIGHT ISSUES ON 2005 BUELL XB12R MOTORCYCLE. REFLECTIVE COATING AND LIGHT LENSES DEGRADING DUE TO HEAT AND POOR MATERIALS. ONCE DEGRADATION BEGINS, HEADLAMP LIGHT OUTPUT IS SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED. MY LIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. IT APPEARS THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT, BUT CONTINUES TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS WITH THE SAME UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN FAILING. *NM

Other Buell XB12R model years

Check your 2005 Buell XB12R VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Buell XB12R at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Buell VIN