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1997 Buell S1 Lightning Recalls & Complaints

8

open safety recalls on record

Critical

11 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.00 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical99V105000

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE THE CARBURETOR TO OVERFLOW FUEL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY THAT COULD BECOME PLUGGED.

Critical99V104000

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK MOUNT SYSTEM.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK MOUNT SYSTEM THAT COULD, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, ALLOW THE FUEL TANK TO SEPARATE FROM THE MOTORCYCLE.

Serious97V153000

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT THE FRONT WHEEL FROM ROTATING raises the risk of A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE MOTORCYCLES.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE E-CLIP WHICH RETAINS THE DRIVE PIN ON THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR AND CARRIER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE DRIVE PIN ALLOWING THE PIN TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION AND COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER.

Serious99V086000

Suspension:Front

THIS COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER, raises the risk of A CRASH.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT ISOLATOR MOUNT SYSTEM.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE FRONT ISOLATOR MOUNT SYSTEM CAN LOSE CLAMP LOAD AND POSSIBLY BREAK.

Moderate99V097000

Unknown Or Other

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL/QUIT WHEN RIDING.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDESTAND SWITCH.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SIDESTAND SWITCH THAT COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE

Moderate99V095000

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL/QUIT WHEN RIDING.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND/OR REPLACE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. MOTION OF THE BATTERY CABLE CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF ITS TERMINAL.

Moderate99V107000

Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber

IF THE SHOCK EYE SHOULD BREAK, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WILL DRAG ON THE GROUND POSSIBLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A REAR SHOCK ABSORBER FRONT EYE THAT COULD BREAK.

Moderate99V106000

Suspension:Rear

IF THE SWINGARM SHOULD BREAK, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWINGARM.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SWINGARM THAT COULD BREAK.

Complaint volume

11 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

0Crashes
0Fires
0Injuries
0Deaths

Across 11 complaints. Severity Index 0.00.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Suspension5 · 45%Suspension · Rear2 · 18%Fuel System, Gasoline · S…1 · 9%Unknown Or Other1 · 9%Engine And Engine Cooling…1 · 9%Electrical System · 12v/2…1 · 9%
  1. Suspension — 5 reports
  2. Suspension:Rear — 2 reports
  3. Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly — 1 reports
  4. Unknown Or Other — 1 reports
  5. Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control — 1 reports
  6. Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1996 (6) · 1997 · 1998 (8)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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