1996 Buell S2 Thunderbolt Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other S2 Thunderbolt years
- Not enough data 2nd of 2 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 1996 Buell S2 Thunderbolt. That ranks 2nd out of 2 S2 Thunderbolt model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (1 complaints, 100%). There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 1owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Buell S2 Thunderbolt problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 100% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
1996 Buell S2 Thunderbolt recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:mounting
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could result in an explosion or fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank mount system.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a fuel tank vent valve assembly that could become plugged.
Risk: Under certain conditions, this could cause the carburetor to overflow fuel which could result in a fire. This condition could also prevent sufficient fuel flow, which could cause the engine to misfire or stall.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank vent valve assembly.
Suspension:rear
Problem: Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a swingarm that could break.
Risk: If the swingarm should break, loss of vehicle control could occur.
Fix: Dealers will replace the swingarm.
Suspension:rear:shock absorber
Problem: Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a rear shock absorber front eye that could break.
Risk: If the shock eye should break, the underside of the vehicle will drag on the ground possibly causing loss of vehicle control.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear shock absorber.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Throttle fails to return to idle (PE03043) — opened Sep 23, 2003, closed Oct 30, 2003, led to recall 03V427000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
RECALLS 99V107/99V106/99V105, AND 99V10;, EASTGATE HARLEY DAVIDSON 699 OLD STATE ROUTE 74, CINNANNTI OH 45245 [redacted], THESE RECALLS HAVE NOT BEEN MODIFIED. A DEFECTS STILL EXISTS AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. MANUFACTURER STATED IT WOULD TAKE A MONTH TO RECEIVE THE PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER…
Other Buell S2 Thunderbolt years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 | 4 |
| 1995 S2 Thunderbolt | 3 | 8 |
See all Buell S2 Thunderbolt problems by year, every Buell model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Buell models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Buell S2 Thunderbolt?
Owners most often report fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, fuel system, gasoline, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Buell S2 Thunderbolt?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Buell S2 Thunderbolt a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other S2 Thunderbolt model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.