IllustrationLOW BEAM HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR LENS DETERIORATES IN JUST OVER ONE YEAR. NOT THE LENS ITSELF BUT THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL. *TR
2004 Buell XB12R
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all XB12R years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reportsHEADLIGHTS REFLECTIVE COATING FAILING. LIGHTS BECOMING TOO WEAK TO SEE AT NIGHT. PLEASE NOTE- MODEL IS XB12R, NOT AVAILABLE ON YOUR LIST, CLOSEST AVAILABLE WAS XB12S, HEADLIGHTS NOT THE SAME ON THESE TWO MODELS. *TR
INADEQUATE/UNSAFE LIGHTING. *NM
THE REFLECTIVE SURFACE ON THE HEAD LAMPS ON MY 2004 BUELL XB12R FIREBOLT HAVE DEGRADED TO THE POINT THAT THE LAMPS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM
THE HEAD LAMPS ON MY 2004 BUELL XB12R ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT DUE TO DEGRADATION OF THE REFLECTIVE COATING ON THE LAMP REFLECTOR. THE REFLECTOR IS ACTUALLY RUBBING OFF, REDUCING THE OUTPUT OF THE LIGHT TO A POINT DANGEROUSLY INEFFECTIVE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THIS AFFECTS BOTH THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM ASSEMBLIES. THIS SEEMS TO…
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THE HEAD LAMPS ON MY 2004 BUELL XB12R ARE IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT DUE TO DEGRADATION OF THE REFLECTIVE COATING ON THE LAMP REFLECTOR. THE REFLECTOR IS ACTUALLY RUBBING OFF, REDUCING THE OUTPUT OF THE LIGHT TO A POINT DANGEROUSLY INEFFECTIVE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THIS AFFECTS BOTH THE LOW AND HIGH BEAM ASSEMBLIES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, LEADING TO A POTENTIALITY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE RIDING AT NIGHT. *JB
ON THE BUELL MOTORCYCLE XB9R AND XB12R THE HEADLIGHTS BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL AFTER ABOUT 1 YR OF USAGE. THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING REFLECTIVE MATERIAL TURNS TO POWDER DUE TO THE NATURAL HEAT FROM THE HEADLIGHT. *JB
THE HEAD LAMPS ON MY 2004 BUELL XB12R HAVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE REFLECTIVE COATING ON THE LAMP REFLECTOR, DEGRADE TO THE POINT THAT LIGHT OUTPUT BECOME DANGEROUSLY LOW FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A TWO HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. ONE LAMP IS USED FOR LOW BEAM THE OTHER FOR HIGH BEAM. THE LOW BEAM LAMP HAS BEEN REPLA…
Read full complaint
THE HEAD LAMPS ON MY 2004 BUELL XB12R HAVE NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE REFLECTIVE COATING ON THE LAMP REFLECTOR, DEGRADE TO THE POINT THAT LIGHT OUTPUT BECOME DANGEROUSLY LOW FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A TWO HEADLIGHT SYSTEM. ONE LAMP IS USED FOR LOW BEAM THE OTHER FOR HIGH BEAM. THE LOW BEAM LAMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE THE BIKE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN AUG 2004. THE HIGH BEAM LAMP HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. I EXPECTED TO HAVE TO CONTINUE ANNUAL REPLACEMENT OF THE LAMP ASSEMBLIES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND TO MAINTAIN SAFE NIGHT DRIVING. *NM
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.