The 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt has 4 recalls, the most serious of which include a throttle that can stick open when the rider releases the grip, a fuel filter that can leak and start a fire, a rear brake line that can lose fluid, and a swingarm that can fail under the rear suspension.
The throttle concern stems from the idle control cable working loose from its guide in the fuel injection system, leaving the engine at elevated rpm even after the rider lets go of the twist grip. That sustained acceleration makes the bike difficult to slow or steer, raising the risk of a crash. On the fuel side, a leaking fuel filter can drip fuel onto hot engine components, creating a fire risk while riding. The rear brake line is routed in a position where it can sustain damage over time, eventually losing brake fluid and eliminating rear braking capability. Separately from these, the rear swingarm on certain bikes was built outside of design specifications, and the resulting structural weakness can cause the rear suspension to give way, destabilizing the motorcycle while under load.
