Owners filed 13 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. It has been recalled 1 time.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Fuel/Propulsion System
3
0
0
0
Fuel System, Other
3
0
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline
3
0
0
0
Electrical System
2
0
0
0
Wheels
1
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
0
0
0
1 safety recall
Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal09E007000
Filed Feb 19, 200997 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Company
Defect. HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING 97 LED TURN SIGNAL MOUNTING KITS, P/NOS. 69951-08 (BLACK) AND 69593-08 (CHROME), FOR INSTALLATION ON MY 2002 THROUGH 2009 VRSC MODEL MOTORCYCLES (EXCLUDING VRSCF MODEL). DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE MOUNTING BRACKET, P/NO. 70497-08, WHICH SECURES THE LED TURN SIGNAL CONTROLLER TO THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME, THE CONTROLLER MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE OIL FILTER.
Risk. OVER TIME, THIS CONTACT CAN LEAD TO A HOLE IN THE OIL FILTER AND ALLOW EXCESSIVE OIL TO GET ON THE REAR TIRE, CAUSING A LOSS OF TRACTION, POSSIBLY LEADING TO A CRASH AND POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy. HARLEY-DAVIDSON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE EXISTING BRACKET WITH A NEW BRACKET, P/NO. 70497-08A, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 26, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 8, 20161,000 milesTN
FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY GOES FROM FULL TO EMPTY IN 15 MINUTES.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 13, 2016OH
THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT PROPERLY WORK DUE TO FLOAT ISSUES. THIS CAN LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND I DO NOT SEE WHY HARLEY HAS NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS OF YET...
Electrical System
Filed May 3, 20135,514 milesOR
THE FUEL GAGE INDICATED 1/2 TANK, I STOPPED AND FILLED THE FUEL TANK. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED AND I WAS RIDING AWAY I SAW THE NEEDLE NOW INDICATED THE TANK WAS EMPTY. AFTER RIDING FOE SOME 20 MILES THE GAGE NEEDLE GRADUALLY BEGAN TO RISE TO 3/4 FULL THEN DROP THEN RISE TO 7/8 FULL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW EVERY TIME I HAVE FILLED THE TANK. THE FORUMS ARE FULL OF OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURE. THIS IS MY FIRST VEHICLE WITH THIS MANUFACTURE AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE TANK RUNS DRY IN THE DESERT OR ALIGAYTOR ALLEY OR DEEP IN THE FOREST. *TR
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Oct 21, 20128,000 milesHI
1. FUEL GAUGE GOES TO 100% EMPTY JUST AFTER SHOWING 1/2 TANK. THE INDICATOR NEEDLE DROPS WITHIN 3 TENTHS TO 1 MILE OF USE AFTER THE 1/2 TANK MARK SHOWS. THIS ISSUE HAS STRANDED ME MORE THAN A HALF DOZEN TIMES AS I TRY TO ESTIMATE FUEL LEFT IN TANK WHILE USING THE MOTORCYCLE. 2. ELECTRIC FANS MOUNTED DIRECTLY TO RADIATOR WORKED LOOSE. HOUSING RUB AGAINST RADIATOR CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO BURST WHILE HOT AND AGAIN STRANDING MYSELF AND PASSENGER ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD DUE TO OVER HEATING OF THE ENGINE. THE POTENTIAL OF BURNS TO LEGS EXISTS AS WHEN THE RADIATOR BURST HOT COOLING SOLUTION WAS SPRAYED TO LEGS. I WAS ABLE TO REACT FAST ENOUGH NOT GET SOAKED THUS AVERTED GETTING BURNED. I CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON ABOUT BOTH PROBLEMS AND WAS ADVISED THERE IS NO RECALL NOTICE FOR THESE ISSUES NOR WAS THERE WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS FOR EITHER DEFECT. *TR
Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jun 1, 2011OK
FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH EVERY MODEL OF THE V-ROD FROM THE FIRST MODEL IN 2002 UNTIL PRESENT. HARLEY KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO MAKE A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM.
Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Oct 14, 20105,800 milesHI
THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON V-ROD DOES NOT NOR HAS IT EVER WORKED SINCE 2004. COMPLAINING TO HARLEY DAVIDSON DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER SINCE THE PROBLEM HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE 2002. RUNNING OUT OF GAS IN THE DESERT OF ARIZONA IS DANGEROUS IN ITSELF, MUCH LESS BECAUSE OF AN INACCURATE OR NON-FUNCTIONING GAS GAUGE........ *TR
Fuel System, Other
Filed Sep 27, 2010FL
FUEL GAUGE NEVER WORKED. *TR
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Aug 21, 201015,000 milesCT
2002 HARLEY VROD REAR BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. SWITCH DOES NOT LIGHT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. FAILURE IS PERMANENT. DOES NOT WORK. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. READ BLOGS INDICATING IT IS WIDESPREAD AND COSTS APPROX $150 AND RECURS. *TR
Fuel System, Other
Filed Aug 9, 2010100 milesTX
FUEL GAUGE ON 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCA MOTORCYCLE DOES NOT WORK AS DESIGNED. *TR
Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 6, 2010FL
GAS GAUGE ON HARLEY DAVIDSON VROD, MODEL 2002 VRSCA AND ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON VROD MODEL 2003 VRSCA HAVE QUIT WORKING. BOTH MOTORCYCLES HAD LESS THAN 2000 MILES AND LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD WHEN THEY QUIT WORKING. *TR
Fuel System, Other
Filed Jul 23, 201040,168 milesIL
2002 VRSCA FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. IT HAS NEVER PERFORMED AS IT SHOULD. *TR
Electrical System
Filed Jan 5, 2005WI
THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE (2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON V-ROD). *AK THE BIKE TYPICALLY STALL WHILE STARTING OUT IN FIRST GEAR. THE BIKE HAD TO BE REVVED UP HIGH TO GET IT GOING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED THE FRONT SPROCKET ON THE 2004 AND 2005 MODELS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE EARLIER MODELS. *NM
Wheels
Filed Aug 16, 2002MA
WHEELS WERE OF SOLID DESIGN, BOWL SHAPED. AT 55-60 MPH WIND GOT CAUGHT IN WHEELS AND FORCED VEHICLE INTO A LANE CHANGE. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO.*AK
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: Feb 19, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.