1979 Harley-Davidson 1200: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
0 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1979 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
No owner complaints are recorded for this selection. A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
No usable records for this chart.
| Category | Count |
|---|
No records.
Pattern summary
There is not enough complaint evidence to summarize patterns.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
79V100000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 1979-04-17 (April 17, 1979)
CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS WHICH HAVE FISSURES IN THE CYLINDER BODIES. THIS WOULD ALLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE THROUGH THE FISSURED SECTION.
Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNERS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗79V169000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 1979-07-09 (July 9, 1979)
THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER PLASTIC PISTON EMPLOYS A NON-SPECIFIED MATERIAL WHICH MAY ALLOW EXCESSIVE WATER ABSORPTION. AS A RESULT, THE PLASTIC PISTON MIGHT STICK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER PISTON BORE AND CAUSE BRAKE DRAG.
Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER PISTONS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
0 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1996 | 1997 | 1999 | 2000 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 225.0%ODI 858759RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING STEERING YOKE :MOTORCYCLE & CONTACTED DEALER. INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE SINCE NOVEMBER. WAS ONLY GIVEN 3 REPAIR KITS FOR REPAIRS. *AK | 125.0%ODI 855813NHTSA RECALL 99V290000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0100. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 250.0%ODI 10026713CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1100.0%ODI 10243035 · 12,254 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HARLEY DAVIDSON 1200 SPORTSTER. WHILE RIDING 30 MPH, FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE FORK TUBE SPLIT IN HALF. THE CALIPER CONNECTION POINT ALSO SNAPPED. THESE FAILURES CAUSED THE FRONT WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND THE BRAKE TO GO DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED INJURIES SUCH AS ROAD RASH ON BOTH ARMS, BRUISES ON HIS RIGHT HIP, MUSCLE SPASMS (FOR THREE DAYS AFTER), AND PAIN IN HIS LEFT HEEL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CALLED, BUT THERE WAS NO CORRESPONDENCE. THE MANUFACTU… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10011659 · 1,500 miTHE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE MADE A NOISE WHEN APPLIED, ALSO THE REAR BRAKES DID NOT HOLD. *JB THE FRONT BRAKES MADE NOISE CONTINUOUSLY AND THERE WAS INADEQUATE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REAR BRAKES AND REMAIN A PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FACTORY WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ADDITIONAL PARTS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. (COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL PER DEALER AND OTHER HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERS) *SCC |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 8019986WHILE RIDDING THE MOTORCYCLE, AT THE SPEED OF 50MPH THE LEFT MIRROR BROKE AND HIT THE CHEST LOOSING THE CONTROL. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 112.5%ODI 853583WHILE RIDING, SIDE MIRRIORS BROKE OFF, SWINGING BACK INTO THE DRIVER BEFORE HITTING THE GROUND. AFTER THESE MIRRIORS BRAKE OFF THE TURN SIGNALS ARE LEFT HANGING BECAUSE THEY WHERE ATTACHED TO THE MIRRIORS. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10021823CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SIDE MIRROR AFTER GIVEN THE REPAIR PARTS WHICH CAUSED THE BOLTS TO LOOSEN. RECALL NUMBER UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE THE DEALER NAME, NUMBER AND ADDRESS.*AK |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10072002WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH MOTORCYCLE STALLED. TRIED TO RESTART MOTORCYCLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE MOTORCYCLE ENGINE. ALSO, A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10071842CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER BETWEEN BATTERY AND IGNITION. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SERVICE MANAGER DENNIS MAAS. *AK |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 524443WHEN THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED AND DRIVER BEGINS TO DEPART, A CHATTER DEVELOPS. THE NOISE IS ONLY HEARD WHEN DEPARTING. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2000: 2 complaints · 2002: 5 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2002 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component |
|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.