Harley-Davidson Softail
Owners filed 49 complaints across 17 model years of the Harley-Davidson Softail. The 2003 drew the most (7).
Which Harley-Davidson Softail years should you avoid?
Not enough of the record to single a year out. Fewer than 4 Harley-Davidson Softail model years have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to judge, so any ranking would be noise. The table below has every year as filed.
How this is worked out: each year is compared with a typical year of the same model, which takes most of the difference in sales out of it, and its share of serious failures is compared with every other car of the same model year, because older cars were complained about differently. A year needs 25 complaints to be judged at all. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Full method →
Every Harley-Davidson Softail model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Engine | Routine | |
| 2012 | 3 | 1 | — | — | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2011 | 3 | 1 | — | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Routine | |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Steering | Routine | |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Visibility | Routine | |
| 2007 | 2 | 1 | — | — | Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables | Routine | |
| 2005 | 4 | 3 | — | — | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2004 | 4 | 1 | — | — | Wheels | Routine | |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Structure | Routine | |
| 2002 | 4 | 0 | — | — | Power Train › Clutch Assembly | Routine | |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 | — | — | Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline | Routine | |
| 2000 | 7 | 0 | — | — | Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly | Routine | |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | — | — | — | Routine | |
| 1998 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages | Routine | |
| 1997 | 1 | 1 | — | — | Wheels › Rim | Routine | |
| 1996 | 3 | 1 | — | — | Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System | Routine | |
| 1995 | 3 | 1 | — | 1 | Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve) | Routine |
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.