Buell XB12S Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints across the 1 model years of the Buell XB12S (2004–2004) that have at least 5 complaints. 2004 has the most, with 7. Across all years, the part named most often is exterior lighting (5 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All XB12S model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 7 | 5,300 | 1 | 1 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Exterior lighting5 71%
- Electrical system2 29%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2004: “The coating on the inside of my headlight housing is falling off, drastically decreasing light output. I had them replaced under warranty once for this on 11/18/05, with 23870 miles on the bike. I am now hardly able to see at night again and I am sure that people can't see me as well either.”
NHTSA complaint #10182845, filed 2007-02, 23,870 milesOther Buell models
45 complaintsBuell 1125CR
44 complaintsBuell Firebolt XB9R
18 complaintsBuell XB12R
14 complaintsBuell S3 Thunderbolt
10 complaintsBuell S1 Lightning
7 complaintsBuell X1 Lightning
5 complaintsBuell XB12X
5 complaints
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. Methodology