Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 3 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Power Train
1
0
0
0
3 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe07V296000
Filed Jul 11, 200735,112 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Company
Defect. CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A CONDITION WHEREBY THE PANT LEG OF SOME RIDERS CAN HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST PIPE.
Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE PANT LEG TO CHAR OR BURN, WHICH COULD LEAD TO THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO THE RIDER.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL ADD A NEW EXHAUST SHIELD WHICH PROVIDES ADDITIONAL COVERAGE OFTHE EXHAUST PIPE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
Tires07V025000
Filed Feb 1, 2007614 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Company
Defect. CERTAIN SPORTSTER AND DYNA MODEL MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT FRONT TIRE.
Risk. THIS INCORRECT TIRE COULD CAUSE PERFORMANCE ISSUES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT TIRE AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 5, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator06V476000
Filed Dec 19, 200618,758 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Company
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, AS A RESULT OF A GREATER BODY THICKNESS THAN USED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS, THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR MAY CONTACT THE FRONT FENDER UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. IN SOME CASES THIS CONTACT MAY ALLOW THE FRONT FENDER TO CATCH ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE REGULATOR BODY WHICH COULD IMPEDE THE OPERATOR'S ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE.
Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.
Remedy. ON MOTORCYCLES WHICH DO NOT HAVE ACCESSORY ENGINE GUARDS, DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN INTERMEDIATE MOUNTING BRACKET THAT WILL RELOCATE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR TO A POSITION WHICH PROVIDES MORE CLEARANCE FROM THE FRONT FENDER. ON VEHICLES WITH AN ACCESSORY ENGINE GUARDS, DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE THINNNER DIMENSION VOLTAGE REGULATOR TO AVOIDE THE FRONT FENDER CLEARANCE PROBLEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 22, 2007. A SECOND CUSTOMER LETTER REFLECTING THE ABOVE REMEDY WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS ON MARCH 16, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Jun 23, 201648,000 milesNY
THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET BEGAN TO THUMP AND KNOCK ON CURBSIDE STARTING, INDICATING WEAR. IT ONLY HAPPENS WITH THE BIKE IN GEAR AND THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN IN NEUTRAL. IT CLEARED UP WITHIN 30 MINUTES, AND I CHANGED THE GEAR OIL, HOWEVER NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE IF IT GOES COMPLETELY IT WILL DISTRIBUTE METAL SHARDS THROUGHOUT THE GEAR BOX AND LOCK UP THE ENGINE POTENTIALLY CAUSING A SKID AND ACCIDENT. CLEARLY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. REPAIR COSTS ARE $410.00. I HAVE 48,000 MILES ON THIS BIKE. HARLEY IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH SPORTSTERS AS WELL AS SOME OF THEIR OTHER BIKES. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY HAVE REDISIGNED THIS PART 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. THE LAST UPGRADES HAVE BEEN IN 2007, AND 2010. THE ISSUE REMAINS. THIS IS A RECALL MATTER. I DO NOT HAVE A PIC YET BECAUSE I HAVE NOT REMOVED THE PRIMARY, HOWEVER, THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPENSATOR. FWIW COMPENSATOR VID RE OTHER MODEL: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GKGQRTT_CRY
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: Jul 11, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.