Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,245,377 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 140,173 crashes, 56,794 fires, and 8,580 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim, NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,245,377 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports, when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report, that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints, specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened, feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 4,224 complaints for HARLEY-DAVIDSON
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTFI
(2004) - POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
Apr 20, 2006
Incident date: Apr 14, 2006
2004 HARLEY DAVIDSON, SOFT TAIL FATBOY. STOCK WHEELS AND TIRES. TRAVELING AT APPROX. 75 MPH ON I-8 ENTERING YUMA AZ. ALL 5 BOLTS HOLDING THE MAIN DRIVE PULLEY TO THE REAR WHEEL BROKE OFF. ONE BOLT FLEW BACK AND HIT ANOTHER RIDER THUS CAUSING MINOR INJURY TO THE LEG. NOT REPORTED. BIKE DID NOT CRASH BUT WAS DAMAGED. PULLEY AND WHEEL WERE TAKEN TO HARLEY DAVIDSON, THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN FINDI... Read more
Crash
1 injured
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHR
(2005) - WHEELS
Apr 3, 2006
Incident date: Apr 3, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE REAR WHEEL VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE SPOKES ON THE WHEELS. THAT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. IN OCTOBER 2005 MOTORCYCLE HAD SLIGHT VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR 5,000 MILES SERVICE AND REPORTED THE VIBRAT... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTPI
(1999) - POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
Apr 3, 2006
Incident date: Apr 2, 2006
THE CLEVE-BLOC ASSEMBLIES USED IN THE 1999 YEAR MODEL HARLEY DAVIDSON TOURING BIKES CAN NOT HANDLE THE STRESS OUT ON THEM IN NORMAL RIDING WITHOUT FLEXING AND ALLOWING REAR SWINGARM MOVEMENT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. ON LATER YEAR MODELS, HD HAS USED A SOLID ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE EARLIER YEARS HAVING FAILURE ISSUES FROM THE SILICON LEAKING OUT. *NM
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTPI
(1999) - SUSPENSION:REAR
Mar 30, 2006
Incident date: Feb 7, 2006
THE DESIGN OF THIS MOTORCYCLES FRAME LEAVES THE POTENTIAL FOR THE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE LEADING TO A CRASH THAT WILL INJURE SELF OR MAY EVEN LEAD TO DEATH. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SWING ARM FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION IS MOUNTED TO THE TRANSMISSION/ENGINE ASSEMBLY. THERE ARE ONLY TWO MOTOR MOUNTS HOLD THIS ASSEMBLY IN PLACE AGAINST SIDE TO SIDE MOVEMENT AND THEY ARE FAR FROM THE MOUN... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTCI
(2002) - POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
Mar 27, 2006
Incident date: Mar 13, 2006
I BROUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE TO MY DEALER, NORTH TEXAS HARLEY DAVIDSON, ON MARCH 13TH TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY WHICH WAS SET TO EXPIRE ON MAY 14TH. THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED AND I WAS CHARGED THE $50 DEDUCTIBLE. I PICKED UP THE MOTORCYCLE AT ABOUT 6:00 PM. I DROVE IT THE 4 - 5 MILES FROM THE DEALER TO MY HOME AND PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE. THAT EVENING, I BEGAN CLEANIN... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
XL1200C
(2004) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
Mar 27, 2006
Incident date: Mar 24, 2006
I HEARD A TAPPING SOUND WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE. A CRACKED UPPER BELT COVER/GUARD WAS DETECTED. NO INJURY OCCURRED BUT THE COVER COULD HAVE GOTTEN CAUGHT IN THE BELT CAUSING A SERIOUS INJURY TO RIDER. THE WELDING ON THE GUARD WAS CRACKED. *JB
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
SPORTSTER
(2005) - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
Mar 13, 2006
Incident date: Mar 7, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM DELIVERY CONCERNING THE CARBURETOR. THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO TURN OFF OR START AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL VALVE, THE DRIVE BELT AND ADJUSTED THE TIMING. THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
ULTRA CLASSIC
(2001) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mar 13, 2006
Incident date: Feb 26, 2006
WHILE RIDING OUR 2001 ULTRA CLASSIC (HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE) ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE, THE RADIO AND HEADSETS QUIT WORKING. I NOTICED THE VOTE GAGE STOPPED WORKING. I PUT ON MY TURN SIGNAL TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT; THEY DID NOT WORK. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE BIKE SHUT DOWN AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE ONLY REASON THAT I DID NOT SHUT DOWN IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE WAS MY BATTERY WAS... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
SOFTAIL
(2000) - EQUIPMENT
Mar 3, 2006
Incident date: Jun 28, 2005
I PURCHASED FORM PERFORMANCE MACHINEINC A CONTOUR BELT DRIVE PRIMARY FOR MY 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL DUCE. AFTER HAVING A HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER INSTALL IT I PUT 400 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN AT ABOUT 20 MPH THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH HUB RETAINING CLIP COMING OFF LETTING THE CLUTCH HUB JAMMING INTO THE OUTER COVER. I SENT IT BACK TO PERFORMANCE MACHINE WHILE IT WAS S... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
ELECTRA GLIDE
(2004) - SEATS
Feb 22, 2006
Incident date: Feb 19, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE SEAT TO THE MOTORCYCLE FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT LEANS TO ONE SIDE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE INFORMED, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 04/17/06. *JB
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHRCI
(2003) - SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Feb 9, 2006
Incident date: Jul 16, 2005
REAR BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO USE OF DOT 5 BREAK FLUID AT HIGH ALTITUDE IN HOT WEATHER. ON TRIP OVER SIERRAS ON JULY 16, 2006, I AND FOUR OTHERS HAD REAR BRAKE OR OTHER HYDRALIC FAILURE. *NM
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCI
(2004) - SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Feb 9, 2006
Incident date: Jul 16, 2005
FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. DUE TO LOCATION OF THE MASTER CYLINDER (BELOW THE REAR BRAKING SYSTEM) & MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE LINES BEING TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. (HEAT BUILD UP).. ALONG WITH THE USE OF DOT 5 FLUID WHICH CAUSES (GAS) AIR BUBBLES AT HIGHER ALTITUDES. *JB
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUI
(2001) - SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Feb 9, 2006
Incident date: Jul 16, 2005
REAR BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF MASTER CYLINDER MOUNTED TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST ALONG WITH DOT 5 BRAKE FLUID WHICH GENERATES AIR IN SYSTEM AT ALTITUDES. *NM
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTC
(2001) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Jan 28, 2006
Incident date: Jun 14, 2005
INTERNAL ENGINE NOISE INDICATING POTENTIAL FAILURE AT 10,500 MILES, REQUIRING TOTAL ENGINE REMANUFACTURING. POTENTIAL FOR INJURY, AND OR DEATH. THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUI
(2006) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jan 26, 2006
Incident date: Jan 7, 2006
MOTORCYCLE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER LOST POWER (NEEDLES TO ZERO). FOUND THAT BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND EMERGENCY FLASHER LIGHTS WERE ALSO A NONFUNCTIONAL, LEAVING ME UNABLE TO RENDER ANY OF THE STANDARD WARNINGS OF STOPS, TURNS OR TROUBLE.*AK HD MECHANICS BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE SPEEDOMETER AND SAY THAT THE FAILURE IMPACTS THE LIGHTS AS THE TURN SIGNALS' AUTO SHUTOF... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUI
(2006) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
Jan 26, 2006
Incident date: Jan 7, 2006
MOTORCYCLE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER LOST POWER (NEEDLES TO ZERO). FOUND THAT BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND EMERGENCY FLASHER LIGHTS WERE ALSO A NONFUNCTIONAL, LEAVING ME UNABLE TO RENDER ANY OF THE STANDARD WARNINGS OF STOPS, TURNS OR TROUBLE.*AK HD MECHANICS BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE SPEEDOMETER AND SAY THAT THE FAILURE IMPACTS THE LIGHTS AS THE TURN SIGNALS' AUTO SHUTOF... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUI
(2006) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
Jan 26, 2006
Incident date: Jan 7, 2006
MOTORCYCLE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER LOST POWER (NEEDLES TO ZERO). FOUND THAT BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND EMERGENCY FLASHER LIGHTS WERE ALSO A NONFUNCTIONAL, LEAVING ME UNABLE TO RENDER ANY OF THE STANDARD WARNINGS OF STOPS, TURNS OR TROUBLE.*AK HD MECHANICS BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE SPEEDOMETER AND SAY THAT THE FAILURE IMPACTS THE LIGHTS AS THE TURN SIGNALS' AUTO SHUTOF... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUI
(2006) - EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
Jan 26, 2006
Incident date: Jan 7, 2006
MOTORCYCLE ELECTRONIC SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER LOST POWER (NEEDLES TO ZERO). FOUND THAT BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND EMERGENCY FLASHER LIGHTS WERE ALSO A NONFUNCTIONAL, LEAVING ME UNABLE TO RENDER ANY OF THE STANDARD WARNINGS OF STOPS, TURNS OR TROUBLE.*AK HD MECHANICS BELIEVE THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE SPEEDOMETER AND SAY THAT THE FAILURE IMPACTS THE LIGHTS AS THE TURN SIGNALS' AUTO SHUTOF... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXSTSI
(2005) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Jan 24, 2006
Incident date: Apr 21, 2005
HARLEY DAVIDSON 2005 TC88 BURNING OIL IN THE FORWARD CYLINDER, CONSUMPTION ESTIMATES SEEM TO BE 1 QUART OF OIL IN 700 MILES OF SERVICE. TO A PERSON WHO KNOWS TO CAREFULLY WATCH NEW VEHICLES THEY WILL ADD OIL, BUT TO PERSONS WHO WILL TAKE FOR GRANTED THAT HARLEY SAYS THEY HAVE A NEW ENGINES ,VASTLY IMPROVED, AND HAVING PREVIOUSLY USED FOREIGN MOTORCYCLES WHICH BURN RELATIVELY MINUTE AMOUNT OF O... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDI
(2006) - POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Jan 21, 2006
Incident date: Dec 13, 2005
I RECEIVED LETTER FROM HARLEY DAVISON, 12-13-2005, STATING I HAD A "FALSE NEUTRAL POSITION" RECALL ON MY J2006 DYNA GLIDE. LETTER STATED DEALERS WOULD HAVE PARTS WEEK OF DEC. 12TH, 2005. HOWEVER, WHEN I CALL DEALERS THEY STATE THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS AND IT MIGHT BE MONTHS BEFORE THEY DO. I CALLED HARLEY DAVISON TWICE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO EXPEDITE. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON MONTH AND A HA... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCU-1 SHRINE
(2002) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Jan 20, 2006
Incident date: Jan 20, 2006
ON 1-20-2006, I WAS OPERATING MY 2002 HARLEY DAVIDISON ULTRA CLASSIC, WHEN THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE MOTORCYCLE ROLLED TO A STOP AND AFTER A FEW MOMENTS IT STARTED. ABOUT A 1/4 MILE UP THE ROAD IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAD BEEN USING THE BIKE FOR ABOUT 16 MILES / 25 MINUTES WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME. IN N... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTC ULTRA
(1990) - STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Dec 28, 2005
Incident date: Dec 28, 2005
HARLEY DAVIDSON FRAME RUST THROUGH AT REAR SUSPENSION MOUNT BOSS. NO FAILURE YET, DETECTED THIS WHILE DOING MAINTENANCE ON SUSPENSION. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET. NEED TO WARN OTHERS.. MAYBE GET SOME FACTORY HELP, FOR REPAIRS. *JB
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
XL883
(2006) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
Dec 22, 2005
Incident date: Dec 19, 2005
12/20/2005HARLEY-DAVIDSON CUSTOMER SERVICE 3700 W. JUNEAU AVENUE MILWAUKEE, WI 53208. *NM DEAR SIRS, ON 13 NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR I BOUGHT A 2006 XL883. THREE DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE BIKE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A 2ND SEAT INSTALLED, AT THAT TIME I COMMENTED ON A BACKFIRING THAT WAS OCCURRING OCCASIONALLY OFF IDLE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS COMMON ON THE 883. TWO DAYS AGO I TOOK M... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUI
(2006) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Dec 14, 2005
Incident date: Nov 26, 2005
2006 ULTRA CLASSIC HAS SMOKED SINCE DAY I BOUGHT IT! HAD ONLY 2 MILES ON IT WHEN I WAS GIVEN THE PDI BY SALESMAN. BIKE IS STILL SMOKING ON STARTUP WHEN COLD. SO FAR HARLEY'S ONLY ANSWER IS TO WRENCH MY ENGINE, WHICH IN ESSENCE MEANS I HAVE PURCHASED A USED BIKE FOR A NEW PRICE! *JB
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHR
(1997) - WHEELS
Dec 5, 2005
Incident date: Oct 10, 2005
THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO A WHEEL ON A MOTORCYCLE THAT CAME APART. I HAVE THE WHEEL AND CAN SEND PICS OF SAME. THE WHEEL WAS MANUFACTURED @ 1997 BY AMERICAN WIRE WHEELS, WHICH IS NOW DAYTON WHEELS. THE SIDE EDGE OF THE WHEEL BROKE LOOSE FROM THE RIM RESULTING IN AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. HAD I NOT BEEN TRAVELING AT A VERY LOW SPEED, THE DEFECT WOULD HAVE MOST CERTAINLY CAUSED ME TO GO DOW... Read more
1 injured
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
SPORTSTER
(2002) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Dec 5, 2005
Incident date: Nov 1, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR UPPER VALVE COVER LEAKED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR UPPER VALVE COVERS. SINCE THE VALVES WERE REPLACED THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - THE REAR ROCKER BOX COVER LEAKED. THE FRONT AND REAR BOX COVER WERE REPLACED. THE GASKETS WERE REPLACED WITH UPDATED ONES. *NM
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
DYNA
(2004) - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING
Dec 2, 2005
Incident date: Oct 27, 2005
A RECALL WAS SENT TO ME, REGARDING AN EXPLOSION COULD RESULT, ON MY MOTORCYCLE, TOOK IT TO MY DEALER,WHO TORE INTO IT IMMEDIATELY AND FOUND THE PROBLEM. A NEW GAS TANK WAS TO BE SENT TO THE DEALER, HERE IS WHERE THE PROBLEM BEGINS; THE BIKE SAT ON MY DEALERS FLOOR, FOR OVER TWO WEEKS, BEFORE HARLEY DAVIDSON, WOULD GIVE A DECISION, AFTER, I CONTACTED, MY DEALER,AND HARLEY, A FEW DAYS PASSED AND S... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTRI
(2005) - SUSPENSION:FRONT
Dec 1, 2005
Incident date: Aug 5, 2005
DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 85 MPH THE MOTORCYCLE DEVELOPED A HIGH SPEED WOBBLE OR WHAT WAS CALLED A TANK SLAPPER. THIS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Crash
1 injured
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUI
(2002) - STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Nov 25, 2005
Incident date: Nov 8, 2005
AT 25000 MILES THE FRAME CRACKED ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THIS RENDERED THE BIKE UN-DRIVABLE. IT DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL. THE DEALER SAID THE WELD WAS DEFECTIVE ON THE FRAME. THE ONLY POSSIBLE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE FRAME. IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED SAFELY. *NM
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDWGI
(2004) - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Nov 25, 2005
Incident date: Nov 5, 2005
1) IMPROPERLY INSTALLED PARTS AT MANUFACTURING PLANT, CAUSING THROTTLE CABLES TO RUB HOLES IN FUEL TANK TUNNEL SECTION OF FRAME. 2). HOLE RUBBED THROUGH FUEL TANK AND THROTTLE CABLES. DEALER SAID UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND 12 WEEKS TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS. I CAN NOT PUT VEHICLE BACK INTO SERVICE UNTIL NEW PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. 3). MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS CONTACTED AND INFOR... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDWGI
(2004) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
Nov 25, 2005
Incident date: Nov 5, 2005
1) IMPROPERLY INSTALLED PARTS AT MANUFACTURING PLANT, CAUSING THROTTLE CABLES TO RUB HOLES IN FUEL TANK TUNNEL SECTION OF FRAME. 2). HOLE RUBBED THROUGH FUEL TANK AND THROTTLE CABLES. DEALER SAID UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND 12 WEEKS TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS. I CAN NOT PUT VEHICLE BACK INTO SERVICE UNTIL NEW PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. 3). MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS CONTACTED AND INFOR... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHRSI
(2006) - STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Nov 21, 2005
Incident date: Nov 13, 2005
2006 HD ROAD KING CUSTOM, PURCHASED 14 OCT 05 FROM ROCKY MOUNT HD, NC. 21 OCT 05, WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT CAUSING FUEL PUMP FUSES TO BLOW. 13 NOV 05, HANDLE BARS CAME LOOSE, CHIPPED/SCRATCHED GAS TANK CAUSING LOSS OF BALANCE AND FALLING. COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY. *JB
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHRSI
(2006) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Nov 21, 2005
Incident date: Nov 13, 2005
2006 HD ROAD KING CUSTOM, PURCHASED 14 OCT 05 FROM ROCKY MOUNT HD, NC. 21 OCT 05, WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT CAUSING FUEL PUMP FUSES TO BLOW. 13 NOV 05, HANDLE BARS CAME LOOSE, CHIPPED/SCRATCHED GAS TANK CAUSING LOSS OF BALANCE AND FALLING. COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY. *JB
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHRSI
(2006) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Nov 21, 2005
Incident date: Nov 13, 2005
2006 HD ROAD KING CUSTOM, PURCHASED 14 OCT 05 FROM ROCKY MOUNT HD, NC. 21 OCT 05, WIRING HARNESS SHORTED OUT CAUSING FUEL PUMP FUSES TO BLOW. 13 NOV 05, HANDLE BARS CAME LOOSE, CHIPPED/SCRATCHED GAS TANK CAUSING LOSS OF BALANCE AND FALLING. COULD HAVE HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY. *JB
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDWG
(1999) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Nov 21, 2005
Incident date: Nov 7, 2005
HARLEY-DAVIDSON CAM BEARING FAILURE ON 1999 TWIN-CAM88 & TWIN-CAM88B ENGINES. THIS WAS IDENTIFIED BY HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND A DESIGN CHANGE WAS MADE TO THE CAM BEARING ON DECEMBER 14, 1999. A FIX KIT WAS EVEN PREPARED AND MADE AVAILABLE TO ALL DEALERS. MY 1999 FXDWG CAM BEARING FAILED AND CAUSED OTHER PARTS TO BECOME WORN AS WELL, WHICH IS PUTTING ME IN THE SITUATION OF HAVING TO PAY $3200 TO GE... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
DYNA WIDE-GLIDE
(2004) - VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
Nov 18, 2005
Incident date: Nov 8, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 05V430000 FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON ON 11-8-05 REGARDING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CABLES. HE TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO A DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS UNTIL IT WAS FACTORY APPROVED. THE FACTORY SAID THEY WOULD NOT APPROVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED WHY THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT FACTORY APPROVED. HE HAS NOT... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
DYNA WIDE-GLIDE
(2004) - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Nov 18, 2005
Incident date: Nov 8, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 05V430000 FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON ON 11-8-05 REGARDING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: CABLES. HE TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO A DEALER, AND THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS UNTIL IT WAS FACTORY APPROVED. THE FACTORY SAID THEY WOULD NOT APPROVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED WHY THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT FACTORY APPROVED. HE HAS NOT... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTC
(2005) - STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Nov 16, 2005
Incident date: Oct 8, 2005
CONSUMER 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON FRONT RIGHT OF THE FRAME HAS EXPOSED METAL. *TS (11/16/05) THE COATING WAS CHIPPING NEAR AND ON THE WELD EXPOSING THE BARE METAL WHICH WAS SLIGHTLY RUSTED. *SC
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
DYNA GLIDE
(2004) - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Nov 15, 2005
Incident date: Nov 1, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V465000 CONCERNING THE FUEL TANK STORAGE ASSEMBLY. THWERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THE PARTS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR AT LEAST SIX MORE WEEKS. *NM.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
SPORTSTER
(2001) - UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Nov 11, 2005
Incident date: Sep 16, 2001
MY 6 YEAR OLD SON AND MY EX-HUSBAND WERE KILLED BY ANOTHER DRIVER WHILE THEY WERE ON A MOTORCYCLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE IS NOT A LAW PROHIBITING CHILDREN FROM RIDING AS A PASSENGER ON A MOTORCYCLE. I WAS NOT ALLOWED BY LAW TO PUT AARON IN THE CAR WITHOUT BEING PLACED IN A CAR SEAT, YET HIS FATHER, EVEN AFTER MY REPEATED REQUEST FOR HIM NOT TO WAS ABLE TO PUT HIM ON THE BACK OF HIS HARL... Read more
Crash
2 deaths
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
SPORTSTER
(2001) - CHILD SEAT
Nov 11, 2005
Incident date: Sep 16, 2001
MY 6 YEAR OLD SON AND MY EX-HUSBAND WERE KILLED BY ANOTHER DRIVER WHILE THEY WERE ON A MOTORCYCLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE IS NOT A LAW PROHIBITING CHILDREN FROM RIDING AS A PASSENGER ON A MOTORCYCLE. I WAS NOT ALLOWED BY LAW TO PUT AARON IN THE CAR WITHOUT BEING PLACED IN A CAR SEAT, YET HIS FATHER, EVEN AFTER MY REPEATED REQUEST FOR HIM NOT TO WAS ABLE TO PUT HIM ON THE BACK OF HIS HARL... Read more
Crash
2 deaths
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
XL1200C
(2003) - VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
Nov 3, 2005
Incident date: Oct 1, 2003
THE MIRRORS VIBRATE SO YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING BEHIND YOU. WHEN YOU CHANGE LANES OR PASS, YOU MUST TURN AROUND TO CHECK TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE BLOWS OIL FROM THE AIR CLEANER ONTO THE REAR TIRE AND DRIVE BELT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *JB
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
XL1200C
(2003) - ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
Nov 3, 2005
Incident date: Oct 1, 2003
THE MIRRORS VIBRATE SO YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING BEHIND YOU. WHEN YOU CHANGE LANES OR PASS, YOU MUST TURN AROUND TO CHECK TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE BLOWS OIL FROM THE AIR CLEANER ONTO THE REAR TIRE AND DRIVE BELT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. *JB
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
DYNA
(2006) - STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Oct 22, 2005
Incident date: Sep 3, 2005
THE HANDLE BARS ON MY 2006 HD SOFTAIL MOTORCYCLE ARE NOT ALIGNED CORRECTLY. I PURCHASED THE BIKE AND NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT. THEY CONTACTED HD REPRESENTATIVE WHO LOOKED AND RODE THE BIKE ON 10-20-05 AND STATED IT WAS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE HANDLE BARS POINT 2 OR 3 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT, WHICH MAKES IT NOTICEABLE TO THE RIDER. HD REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I EXPLAI... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUI
(2003) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 18, 2005
Incident date: Oct 17, 2005
OCTOBER 14, 2005 I TOOK MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC INTO BRYAN HD SHOP TO HAVE A SAFETY RECALL COMPLIED WITH. THE SAFETY RECALL IS FOR AN INADVERTENT LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. HARLEY DAVIDSON RECOMMENDED FIX WAS TO CHANGE OUT A CIRCUIT BREAKER. WHILE RIDING MY BIKE I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR OF THESE EVENTS OF WHICH TWO OF THESE EVENTS WOULD HAVE TAKEN MY LIFE HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR GOD SMILING ON ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUI
(2000) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
Oct 14, 2005
Incident date: Jul 30, 2005
WHILE DRIVING 65 M.P.H. ON HIGHWAY WITH PASSENGER, EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN, RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS EMERGENCY STOP IN RURAL AREA. REPAIRING DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE STATOR HAD BURNED UP, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW HEAVY-DUTY DESIGN. AN H-D SERVICE BULLETIN STIPULATED WARRANTY REPLACEMENT ONLY IF STATOR FAILED WITHIN FIRST 12,000 MILES, EVEN THOUGH STATOR FAI... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUI
(2003) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Oct 14, 2005
Incident date: Oct 1, 2005
I OWN A HARLEY DAVIDSON 2003 ULTRA CLASSIC FLHTCUI AND EARLY AUGUST I HAD VOLUNTARY RECALL 113 REPLACE 40 AMP WITH 50 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER. THEN OCTOBER 1ST WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AND IT MOMENTARILY SHUTDOWN FOR AN ESTIMATED 4-5 SECONDS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALL POWER SHUT OFF THEN POWER RETURNED AND MOTOR STARTED AUTOMATICALLY AS I LEFT IT IN GEAR. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE I WOULD SAY WAS AROUND 70... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTF
(2005) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
Oct 6, 2005
Incident date: Oct 2, 2005
1. WATCHING SOMEONE START THEIR HARLEY MOTORCYCLE IN GEAR WITHOUT THE CLUTCH LEVER PULLED IN. 2. MOTORCYCLE LURCHED FORWARD WHEN PUSHING THE STARTER BUTTON. OBVIOUS CONSEQUENCES. FALLING, RUNNING OVER SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. 3. PUT IN NEUTRAL WHEN STARTING OR PULLING IN THE CLUTCH LEVER WHEN IN GEAR. *NM
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
XL
(2005) - SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
Oct 6, 2005
Incident date: Sep 29, 2005
DT: 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON WIDE GLIDE. THE FRONT FORKS WERE SO WEAK THAT THEY SAGGED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS NOT BRAKING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPRINGS WERE TOO WEAK IN THE FORKS. THE CONSUMER FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. HE TRIED TO GET THE AFTER MARKET SPRINGS, BUT THEY WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THIS A WEEK AGOON SEPTEMBER 29, 2005. *AK UPDATED 03/09... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHRCI
(2003) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
Oct 4, 2005
Incident date: Jul 31, 2002
THE STOCK HORN ON MY 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN ANEMIC AT BEST FROM NEW AND HAD PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WEAKER IN VOLUME AND NOW ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERS HAS CLAIMED THAT THE LOW VOLUME IS TYPICAL OF HD HORNS AND THAT, SINCE THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE 12 MONTH ORIGINAL WARRANTY, IT IS NOT A HD PROBLEM. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT YET. ... Read more