2003 Buell Firebolt Xb9r problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Exterior Lighting:headlights (11) · Exterior Lighting:headlights:concealment Devices (3) · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter (2)
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (2)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Exterior Lighting:headlights 2008-07-10 · TSB-B-076A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
buell motorcycle: the headlight assemblies on some 2003-2006 firebolt models have a reflective material which can potentially degrade and reduce light output. *pe
Exterior Lighting:headlights 2008-07-10 · SB-076A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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. *pe
What owners report
2016-06-02 · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter“sdgsdgsdgdsfgdfsgd (related vehicle information: model year=2011, make=jlkjlkj, model=jlkjlj)…”
2011-07-06 · Exterior Lighting · 13,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 buell firebolt xb9r motorcycle. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the headlights would not illuminate the road beyond three feet which obstructed the visibility. the failure recurred whenever the headlights were in operation. the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not made …”
2007-10-28 · Exterior Lighting:headlights · 2,500 mi“degraded coating on headlight reflectors starting as black spots which spread. after reflective coating is gone the black plastic reflectors melt. i use oem bulbs. *tr…”
2007-07-18 · Exterior Lighting:headlights · 10,579 mi“the chrome/plastic reflector material on the low beam headlight started to degrade. the light reflected at night was dim. the housing absorbed the heat from the light instead of reflecting the light. the headlight was replaced by buell motorcycle company.*ak…”
2007-07-11 · Exterior Lighting:headlights · 10,000 mi“tl*the contact owns a 2003 buell firebolt xb9r. the contact stated that the vehicle's headlights are dimming. he replaced the bulbs, but the heat of the headlights cause the bulbs to dim. the vehicle has not been diagnosed. the purchase date was unknown. the current mileage is 25,000 and failure mileage was 10,000. …”
2007-06-26 · Exterior Lighting:headlights · 15,000 mi“the low beam headlight was getting progressively dimmer over time. upon disassembly i found the reflector area to be dull and partially blackened. any attempt to clean away the black area only enlarged it as the reflector area had turned to powder. i swapped out parts from the high beam to restore the low beam operation. i have not yet determine…”
2007-05-29 · Exterior Lighting:headlights · 6,500 mi“motorcycle headlamp loss of reflective material resulting in poor lighting. make: buell model: xb9r year: 2003. *tr…”
2007-05-29 · Exterior Lighting:headlights“i have a 2003 buell motorcycle corporation motorcycle. after suffering a problem where my headlight dimmed considerably and is basically useless at night. after consulting an internet forum i belong to, it appears that there are numerous complaints of this problem and the interior lining of the light disintegrating as part of a manufacturing flaw. …”
2007-02-21 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:concealment Devices“headlights getting dimmer and dimmer, found headlight inner housing chrome plating peeling off. no fix except to buy new headlight assemblies. this also happened to the new assemblies in several months. buell chat sites confirm that all/most xbr models develop this problem making travel at night unsafe. *jb…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.