Menu

Buell X1 LightningYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 7 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on record for the Buell X1 Lightning.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints7Top: SuspensionSafety recalls81999–2000 model years

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

Best & worst years

Buell X1 Lightning 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 X1 Lightning median. Tap a year for its full report.

'99'00
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2000Not rated–/1005 complaints · 2 recalls1999Not rated–/1002 complaints · 7 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Buell X1 Lightning problems

All model years combined: 7 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
Fuel system, gasoline10
Service brakes, hydraulic10
8 recalls

Buell X1 Lightning 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–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings00V-038 · 1999 · Feb 14, 2000 · 2,912 vehicles–12v/24v/48v battery: cables99V-134 · 1999 · May 24, 1999 · 1,765 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic99V-133 · 1999 · May 24, 1999 · 1,765 vehicles–Storage: tank assembly99V-105 · 1999 · May 6, 1999 · 12,321 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic99V-096 · 1999 · Apr 29, 1999 · 1,765 vehicles–Unknown or other99V-097 · 1999 · Apr 29, 1999 · 10,255 vehicles
1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the X1 Lightning

  1. THROTTLE FAILS TO RETURN TO IDLEPE03043 · 1999–2000 · closed Oct 30, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-427