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#BS-1998-BUES3T-5EEB

1998 Buell S3TProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 2 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Recalls
1
TSBs
0
✅

Preliminary Verdict

Green Light

Based on 2 complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 1 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Structure:frame And Members:underbody ShieldsHIGH

1 owners reported structure:frame and members:underbody shields issues — failures commonly reported around 19K miles.

!Inspect the Suspension:frontMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 3 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields (1 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields1 (50%)
Suspension:front1 (50%)

1998 Buell S3T: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields Issues

Structure:frame And Members:underbody Shields complaints account for 50% of all reports filed for the 1998 Buell S3T, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 19,091 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 19K-mile mark.

Suspension:front Issues

Suspension:front complaints account for 50% of all reports filed for the 1998 Buell S3T, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension:front-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

98V036000Mar 1998

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WOULD NOT BE INDICATED TO THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE (NO NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN THE FLASHING RATE OF THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR LIGHT). THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

PE03043ClosedOpened Sep 2003 · closed Oct 2003

THROTTLE FAILS TO RETURN TO IDLE

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 2 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026.

Other Buell S3T Model Years

200219981997
View all Buell S3T years →

1998 Buell S3T: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1998 Buell S3T?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1998 Buell S3T is related to the structure:frame and members:underbody shields, with 1 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1998 Buell S3T reliable?
The 1998 Buell S3T has 2 complaints, 0 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 1998 Buell S3T problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1998 Buell S3T have any recalls?
Yes, the 1998 Buell S3T has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Buell S3T problems start?
Based on 1 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 19,091 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 1998 Buell S3T data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
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