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Buell S3 ThunderboltYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 13 owner complaints and 11 safety recalls on record for the Buell S3 Thunderbolt.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints13Top: SuspensionSafety recalls111997–2000 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Buell S3 Thunderbolt years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the S3 Thunderbolt median. Tap a year for its full report.

'97'98'99'00
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2000Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1999Not rated–/1001 complaint · 6 recalls1998Not rated–/10010 complaints · 7 recalls1997Not rated–/1002 complaints · 7 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Buell S3 Thunderbolt problems

All model years combined: 13 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Suspension50
Engine and engine cooling30
Service brakes, hydraulic30
Fuel system, gasoline20
Vehicle speed control11
Power train10
Structure10
Engine11
11 recalls

Buell S3 Thunderbolt recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Vehicle speed control: cables03V-427 · 1999–2000 · Oct 30, 2003 · 2,830 vehicles–Suspension: rear00V-163 · 2000 · Jun 16, 2000 · 6,219 vehicles–Foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings00V-037 · 1999 · Feb 14, 2000 · 839 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings00V-038 · 1999 · Feb 14, 2000 · 2,912 vehicles–Rear: shock absorber99V-107 · 1997–1998 · May 6, 1999 · 8,950 vehicles–Tank assembly: mounting99V-104 · 1997–1999 · May 6, 1999 · 10,556 vehicles–Storage: tank assembly99V-105 · 1997–1999 · May 6, 1999 · 12,321 vehicles–Suspension: rear99V-106 · 1997–1998 · May 6, 1999 · 8,950 vehicles–Unknown or other99V-097 · 1997–1999 · Apr 29, 1999 · 10,255 vehicles–Suspension: front99V-086 · 1997–1998 · Apr 26, 1999 · 5,208 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic97V-153 · 1997–1998 · Sep 12, 1997 · 2,820 vehicles
1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the S3 Thunderbolt

  1. THROTTLE FAILS TO RETURN TO IDLEPE03043 · 1997–2000 · closed Oct 30, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-427