1996 Harley-Davidson Sportster

Routine

Owners filed 6 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Fuel System, Gasoline2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc1
000
Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly1
000
Fuel System, Other1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic96V103000
Filed Jun 14, 1996251 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Co.

Defect. THE SEAL ON THE REAR MASTER CYLINDER PISTON CAN MOVE OUT OF POSITION.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF REAR BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Aug 26, 1998MO

DEFECTIVE RELIEF PORT ON THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND OVERHEAT.

Fuel System, Other
Filed Oct 27, 1997CA

FUEL VALVE (DIAPHRAM) FAILED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 11, 1997CA

ENGINE TIMING PLUG MILLING FAILED.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed May 6, 1997AZ

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN NOVEMBER 1996, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. RECALL #96V204000. *AK

Fuel System, Other › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Dec 19, 1996CO

CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING RECALL WORK ON THE FUEL SUPPLY VALVE DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Nov 20, 1996FL

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR FUEL SUPPLY VALVES, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. *AK *JB

6 of 6 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20082000Routine
20071000Routine
20057200Routine
20039000Routine
20026000Routine
20016002Fatalities reported
20009000Routine
19996100Routine
19986000Routine
19971000Routine
1996 — this page6100Routine
19932000Routine
19921000Routine

Compare every Sportster year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jun 14, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.