2004 Buell XB12R Problems
- Complaints
- 7filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 20,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Buell XB12R (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 2004 Buell XB12R. The part named most often is exterior lighting, with 7 complaints (100% of the total). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 20,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 3 technical service bulletins for this model year. Exterior lighting complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Exterior lighting7 100%
Example complaints
Exterior lighting: “The head lamps on my 2004 Buell XB12R have needed replacement because the reflective coating on the lamp reflector, degrade to the point that light output become dangerously low for night driving. The motorcycle has a two headlight system. One lamp is used for low beam the other for high beam. The low beam lamp has been replaced twice since the bike was purchased new in aug 2004. The high beam lamp has been replaced once in the same time frame. I expected to have to continue annual replacement of the lamp assemblies because of this problem and to maintain safe night driving.”
NHTSA complaint #10181965, filed 2007-02, 25,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
100% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 7,000 and 25,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2004 Buell XB12R in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 3 on record; the latest 3 are shown.
- 10026801Oct 16, 2008Engine cooling. Buell motorcycle: the engine oil drain plug torque has changed to 26-29 ft lbs (35.3-39.3nm) for all models listed.
- 10030184Jul 10, 2008Exterior lighting. Buell motorcycle: the headlight assemblies on some 2003-2006 firebolt models have a reflective material which can potentially degrade and reduce light output.
- 10028705Jul 10, 2008Exterior lighting. Buell motorcycles: headlight assemblies on some models have a reflective material which can potentially degrade and reduce light output. Models xb9r and xb12r. Model years 2003-2006.
Other model years of the Buell XB12R
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 7 | 6,410 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 7 | 20,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Buell XB12R have?
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 2004 Buell XB12R as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2004 Buell XB12R is reported most often?
Exterior lighting is named most often, in 7 complaints (100% of the total).
Has the 2004 Buell XB12R been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Buell XB12R reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 20,000 miles and the middle half falls between 7,000 and 25,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.