1997 Buell S3 Thunderbolt Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other S3 Thunderbolt years
- Not enough data 2nd of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 7 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Buell S3 Thunderbolt. That ranks 2nd out of 4 S3 Thunderbolt model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (1 complaints, 50%), typically at around 20,100 miles. There are 7 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 2owner complaints
- 7safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Buell S3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 50% | 20,100 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 50% | 20,100 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 50% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Buell S3 Thunderbolt recalls (7)
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.
Unknown or other
Problem: Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a sidestand switch that could become inoperative
Risk: This condition can cause the engine to stall/quit when riding.
Fix: Dealers will replace the sidestand switch.
Suspension:front
Problem: Vehicle description: motorcycles. The front isolator mount system can lose clamp load and possibly break.
Risk: This could lead to an unintended distraction to the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front isolator mount system.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: 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.
Risk: This condition can prevent the front wheel from rotating increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will repair these motorcycles.
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.
Traveling country road at ~60 mph, while rounding corner. Motorcycle started vibrating heavily. I was able to safely pull to side of road. Buell stated that proper warranty repair had been done for previous owner, but that they would goodwill the motormount which had failed. But would not assume…
Nhtsa recall 99v107000 and manufacturer's recall 0817 concerning suspension failure. Recall repairs failed twice. *ak
Other Buell S3 Thunderbolt years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 S3 Thunderbolt | 0 | 2 |
| 1999 S3 Thunderbolt | 1 | 6 |
| 1998 S3 Thunderbolt | 10 | 7 |
| 1997 | 2 | 7 |
See all Buell S3 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 1997 Buell S3 Thunderbolt?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, structure, suspension problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Buell S3 Thunderbolt?
Yes, 7 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Buell S3 Thunderbolt a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other S3 Thunderbolt model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.