Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1999 Harley-Davidson Sportster

Routine

Owners filed 6 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › rearview mirrors/devices. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices2
000
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior1
000
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar1
000
Power Train1
000
Equipment › Other › Labels1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Other › Labels98V267000
Filed Oct 23, 1998232 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Company

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE CERTIFICATION LABEL INCORRECTLY INDICATES THE FRONT TIRE SIZE AS 100/90-19 57H INSTEAD OF THE CORRET DESIGNATION MH90-21 56H. ALSO THE CERTIFICATION LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE CORRECT MODEL DESIGNATION. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."

Risk. IF INCORRECT TIRE INFORMATION IS GIVEN, UNDERRATED TIRES COULD BE PLACED ON THE MOTORCYCLE CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR OR, IN EXTREME CASES, POSSIBLE TIRE BLOWOUTS.

Remedy. OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH NEW CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices
Filed Aug 27, 2001CT

THE RIGHT HAND (STARBOARD) SIDE MIRROR BROKE OFF FROM THE HANDLEBARS AND BROKE ON THE PAVEMENT, THE BREAK HAPPENED WHERE THE MIRROR SHAFT MEETS THE SIGNAL LIGHT JUST ABOVE THE THREADS. NLM

Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices
Filed May 18, 2000MN

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ENTIRE MIRROR BROKE RIGHT OFF AND FLEW OFF. THIS LEFT TURN SIGNALS HANGING BY THE CABLE. MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Feb 23, 2000OH

RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON. CONTACTED DEALER AND MADE APPT. TOOK IN MOTORCYCLE AND REFUSED TO FIX IT, DID NOT HAVE PARTS AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE IN. WAS TOLD AT THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THE HANDLEBARS WERE PROBABLY OKAY TO GO AHEAD AND RIDE IT. ON THE RECALL IT STATES THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK

Equipment › Other › Labels
Filed Feb 9, 2000TX

I RECEIVED A RECAL NOTICE ON 11/17/99, I HAVE BEEN CONTACTING THE DEALER SINCE AND THEY HAVE DENIED ME THE REPAIR WITH THE EXCUSE OF UN ABEILABILITY OF PARTS. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REPORT PARTS HAVE BEEN SENT AND SHOULD BE AVEILABLE. RECALL%96V167000. *AK

Power Train
Filed Jan 10, 2000PA

SPEEDOMETER GAUGE FAILED. *NLM

Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior
Filed Aug 31, 1999WV

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT EXTERIOR MIRROR FELL OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. MANUFACTOR HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

6 of 6 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20082000Routine
20071000Routine
20057200Routine
20039000Routine
20026000Routine
20016002Fatalities reported
20009000Routine
1999 — this page6100Routine
19986000Routine
19971000Routine
19966100Routine
19932000Routine
19921000Routine

Compare every Sportster year →

Other Harley-Davidson models

All Harley-Davidson models →
Flhtcu 276Flhx 184Flhtk 161Flhtc 109Flhtcui 108Harley Davidson 101XG750 88Flhtcutg 87Flhr 87Flstc 73

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: Oct 23, 1998. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.