TSB: HARLEY-DAVIDSON 883 HUGGER, HARLEY DAVIDSON, ROAD GLIDE, ROAD KING (1997–1998)

Bulletin #48 — August 1, 1998

Bulletin Details

Bulletin ID#48
ManufacturerHARLEY-DAVIDSON
Models883 HUGGER, HARLEY DAVIDSON, ROAD GLIDE, ROAD KING
Model Years1997–1998
Date IssuedAugust 1, 1998
Date Added to NHTSAFebruary 22, 1999
ComponentENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Vehicles Affected23 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

A QUANTITY OF SADDLEBAG HINGES PRODUCED BY THE SUPPLIER WERE IMPROPERLY FOUND. *YC

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 162000 STRUCTURE:BODY
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 180000 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 101000 POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 116100 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 103000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON 1998 116100 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD KING 1998 120000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD KING 1997 120000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HARLEY-DAVIDSON 883 HUGGER 980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE 121000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE 100000 POWER TRAIN

Related HARLEY-DAVIDSON Recalls

CampaignModelYearComponentSummary
FLTRX 2026 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYS... Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2024-202...
FLTRX 2025 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYS... Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2024-202...
FLTRX 2024 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYS... Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2024-202...
FLTRT 2026 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYS... Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2024-202...
FLHXU 2025 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYS... Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2024-202...

What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized HARLEY-DAVIDSON dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (#48) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.