Harley-Davidson Softail
Owners filed 49 complaints across 17 model years of the Harley-Davidson Softail. The 2003 drew the most (7); the 2013 the fewest (1).
Model years17
Complaints49
Recalls12
Fires1
Deaths0
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 |
Which Harley-Davidson Softail years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2003 is the weakest year on record, with 7 complaints concentrated in the structure.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.