2004 Buell XB12S Problems
- Complaints
- 7filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 5,300miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Buell XB12S (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 2004 Buell XB12S. The part named most often is exterior lighting, with 5 complaints (71% of the total), followed by electrical system (2). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 5,300 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign 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 lighting5 71%
- Electrical system2 29%
Example complaints
Exterior lighting: “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 milesElectrical system: “I am reporting a potentially hazardous problem with my 2004 Buell XB12S motorcycle. I have observed this same situation on all similar bikes that I have looked at. Under the seat, the ECM cable harness rests against the negative battery terminal and there are signs of abrasion from vibration.”
NHTSA complaint #10060544, filed 2004-03Mileage 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 4,000 and 22,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
- 03V494000Dec 2, 2003Electrical system › HornCovers: Buell XB12S 2004, XB9S 2004
On certain motorcycles, the wire that provides power to the horn, due to misrouting, can become frayed from contact with the horn bracket mounting bolt. As a result, the horn wire may become exposed, and when the horn button is pushed, either the horn…
Recall details for the 2004 Buell XB12S → · Check a 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. 1 on record; the latest 1 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.
Other model years of the Buell XB12S
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 7 | 5,300 | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Buell XB12S have?
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 2004 Buell XB12S as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2004 Buell XB12S is reported most often?
Exterior lighting is named most often, in 5 complaints (71% of the total), followed by electrical system with 2.
Has the 2004 Buell XB12S been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2004 Buell XB12S reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 5,300 miles and the middle half falls between 4,000 and 22,000 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.