Buell XB12X problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
3,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 to 2010 model years. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 13 complaints (15.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 3 | 23.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 23.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 15.4% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Power Train: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2007: 6; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 2; 2014: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10248376 · 2008-11-10 (November 10, 2008)
TRAVELING ON RTE 495 AND EXPERIENCED TWO VERY SHORT EPISODES WHERE POWER WAS LOST THEN QUICKLY ( 1-2 SECONDS) RESTORED. DURING DECELERATION WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS RELEASED BACK TO NEUTRAL THE ENGINE STALLED. SUCCESSFUL RESTARTS COULD ONLY BE MAINTAINED WITH SIGNIFICANT TURNING OF THE THROTTLE. SHORTLY AFTER THE THROTTLE "FROZE" AND COULD NOT BE MOVED EITHER WAY. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR WHILE CORNERING IT MAY HAVE VERY WELL RESULTED IN A CRASH AND INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190786 · 2007-05-15 (May 15, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUELL XB12X. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH UNDER DRY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THEN CRASHED WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS THE SAME AS NOTED IN RECALL # 07V026000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP), BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR ROAD RASH AND BRUISES DUE TO THE CRASH. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE CRASH. THE # OF CYLINDERS WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 89 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407192 · 2011-06-16 (June 16, 2011)
2009 BUELL XB-12X MOTORCYCLE: ENGINE STOPPAGE BROUGHT ON BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WITH ONLY A PARTIAL TANK OF FUEL SEEMS TO RESULT IN THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP OVERHEATING OR OVERLOADING, RESULTING IN A BLOWN FUSE. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. MY 2009 BUELL XB-12X HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN THREE TIMES, RESULTING IN MY BEING STRANDED IN TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AVOIDING A CRASH. REPLACING THE FUSE IS A TEMPORARY FIX. ACCORD…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11407054 · 2021-04-08 (April 8, 2021)
I HAVE A 2009 BUELL ULYSSES THAT HAS AN INTERMITTENT CEL THAT OCCURRED WHILE RIDING ~50MPH (STEADY) ON HWY 89 S/B IN PRESCOTT VALLEY. WHEN THIS OCCURED, THE IDLE BECAME ERRATIC & POWER DROPPED NOTICEABLY. THE BIKE NOW SHOWS DTC 'FUEL PUMP SHORT TO GND ' DTC 33-1-3'. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF ON-LINE RESEARCH LEADS ME TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A WELL-KNOWN & SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED MANY OTHER BUELL OWNERS; HTTP://WWW.BADWEATHERBIKERS.COM/BUELL/MESSAGES/142838/227943.HTML HTTP://BADWEATHERBIKERS.COM/BUELL/MESSAGES/142838/687395.HTML?13429…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 11407054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10194476 · 2007-06-19 (June 19, 2007)
2006 BUELL ULYSSES XB12X CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PULSES RAPIDLY DURING BRAKING AND MAKES IT HARD TO CONTROL THE MOTORCYCLE AND THIS IS WHAT CAUSED HIS ACCIDENT AND HE BELIEVES THAT IT'S A DEFECTED MACHINE**CC THE CONSUMER PROVIDED A LETTER WRITTEN TO BUELL BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10194476 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 0; 2009: 0; 2010: 1