U.S. public vehicle records

1996 Harley-Davidson FL: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

3 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1996 model year. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 3 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Fuel System, Gasoline

Equipment:Electrical

Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Equipment:Electrical: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

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. 3 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.

1997

1998

1997: 2; 1998: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

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.

Owner report 526374 · 1997-12-07 (December 7, 1997)

THE FOUR SMALL GAUGES FOG UP TO THE POINT THAT RIDER CANNOT READ THE GAUGES. THE REASON THEY FOG UP IS THAT THE GAUGES ARE VENTED TO THE OUTSIDE ATMOSPHERE. WHEN RIDER TURNS THE IGNITION ONTHE GAUGE LIGHT BULB HEATS UP THE MOISTURE-LADEN AIR INSIDE THE GAUGE, AND IT FOGS UP ON THE INSIDE OF THE GAUGE GLASS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 526374 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 807574 · 1997-01-13 (January 13, 1997)

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. RECALL#96V204000. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 807574 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 831344 · 1998-11-25 (November 25, 1998)

CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 96V204000. DEALER STATED PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 831344 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

96V103000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported: 1996-06-14 (June 14, 1996)

THE SEAL ON THE REAR MASTER CYLINDER PISTON CAN MOVE OUT OF POSITION.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF REAR BRAKING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

96V204000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System

Reported: 1996-10-22 (October 22, 1996)

THE EFFECTS OF REFORMULATED GASOLINE ALONG WITH CERTAIN USAGE OF THE FUEL SUPPLY VALVE AFFECTS THE SUPPLY OF GASOLINE TO THE CARBURETOR. THIS CONDITION REQUIRES TWO FACTORS: (1) THE USE OF REFORMULATED FUELS CONTAINING MBTE AND (2) STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE FUEL VALVE HANDLE IN THE OFF POSITION.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE FUEL FLOW TO BE UNPREDICTABLE THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN INCREASING THE RISK OF A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS THE REPLACE THE DIAPHRAGM IN THE FUEL VALVE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 3 records

0.0%Valid incident date0 / 3 records

100.0%Valid filing date3 / 3 records

0.0%Ordered incident and filing dates0 / 3 records

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.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1988	1989	1990	1991	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	2000	2001
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 834387 WHEN PUTTTING KEY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH MOTORCYCLE WON'T START UP DUE TO NOT ENOUGH JUICE GETTING INTO THE BATTERY, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE NOT START UP. *AK Look up ODI 834387 at NHTSA ↗	1100.0% ODI 524175 MOTORCYCLE'S IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. IN ADDITION ELECTICAL FUEL INJECTION/TURN SIGNALS/BRAKE LIGHTS/TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAILED TO WORK. *AK Look up ODI 524175 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 524175 MOTORCYCLE'S IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. IN ADDITION ELECTICAL FUEL INJECTION/TURN SIGNALS/BRAKE LIGHTS/TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAILED TO WORK. *AK Look up ODI 524175 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10079678 CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT OF AMP FUSE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SERVICE MANAGERS KEITH OR DALE. *AK Look up ODI 10079678 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable 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.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 865369 CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND ENGINE JUST STOPPED. ENGINE BLEW UP BECAUSE THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE.*AK Look up ODI 865369 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Equipment:Electrical	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 524175 MOTORCYCLE'S IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. IN ADDITION ELECTICAL FUEL INJECTION/TURN SIGNALS/BRAKE LIGHTS/TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAILED TO WORK. *AK Look up ODI 524175 at NHTSA ↗	133.3% ODI 526374 THE FOUR SMALL GAUGES FOG UP TO THE POINT THAT RIDER CANNOT READ THE GAUGES. THE REASON THEY FOG UP IS THAT THE GAUGES ARE VENTED TO THE OUTSIDE ATMOSPHERE. WHEN RIDER TURNS THE IGNITION ONTHE GAUGE LIGHT BULB HEATS UP THE MOISTURE-LADEN AIR INSIDE THE GAUGE, AND IT FOGS UP ON THE INSIDE OF THE GAUGE GLASS. *AK Look up ODI 526374 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Fuel System, Gasoline	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	266.7% ODI 807574 OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. RECALL#96V204000. *AK Look up ODI 807574 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Ignition	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable 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.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 755061 WHILE DRIVING AT 65 M.P.H. IN HEAVY RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC,MOTORCYCLE STALLED OUT IN HIGH SPEED LANE.HAD TO CROSS 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO BREAKDOWN LANE WITH NO POWER WHATSOEVER TO MY ENGINE,COASTING TO A STOP.JUST MISSED BEING A FATALITY FROM AN 18 WHEELER.UPON INSPECTION KEY SWITCH ON GAS TANK DASHPANEL WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BURNED AWAY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. FROM A WIRE FIRE.FIRE BURNED ITSELF OUT,MELTING CONNECTION AND DE-ENEGISING THE IGNITION SYSTEM CAUSING STALLING,BUT STOPPING FIRE.SMOKE WAS NOTED UNDER THE DASH PANEL UPON STOPPING… Look up ODI 755061 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 524175 MOTORCYCLE'S IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. IN ADDITION ELECTICAL FUEL INJECTION/TURN SIGNALS/BRAKE LIGHTS/TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAILED TO WORK. *AK Look up ODI 524175 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable 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 failure mileage distribution
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.

ComponentPeriod

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

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	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.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2000: 1 complaints · 2001: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2000	1	1	1
2001	1	1	1

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2000	1	0	0
2001	2	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 co-occurrence matrix
Component	Fuel System, Gasoline	Equipment:Electrical
Fuel System, Gasoline	—	0
Equipment:Electrical	0	—

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.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1997	2
1998	1