2003 Harley-Davidson FLHTCI: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
27,980 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 50.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1
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 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. 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 10072095 · 2004-05-04 (May 4, 2004)
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V134000 SUBJECT REGARDING DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BREAKER. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE CONSUMER DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE THERE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072095 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214403 · 2008-01-10 (January 10, 2008)
MY 2003 HARLEYDAVIDSON FLHTCI HAD THE CLIPS COME LOOSE ON THE FRONT FENDER WIRING TO THE TIP LIGHT JUST LIKE THE 2001 RECALL RESULTING IN FRAYED WIRES AND A SHORT CIRCUIT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 27,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214403 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.
04V134000 · Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers
Reported: 2004-03-18 (March 18, 2004)
ON CERTAIN TOURING AND POLICE MODEL MOTORCYCLES, THE 40 AMP MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER CAN "OPEN" FOR REASONS OTHER THAN WHICH IT WAS DESIGNED, CAUSING AN UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE MOTORCYCLE.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V218000 · Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
Reported: 2004-05-07 (May 7, 2004)
ON CERTAIN DYNA, XL, AND TOURING MOTORCYCLES, THE TAIL LIGHT BULB CAN FALL OUT OF THE SOCKET.
Consequence: THE TAIL LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BECOME INOPERATIVE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BULBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 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 | 1994 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo 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 10063853I RECENTLY SAW THAT HARLEY-DAVIDSON ISSUED RECALL CAMPAIGN # 0113, EVEN THOUGH MY FLHTCI IS A 2000 (MANUFACTURED IN 1999), I HAVE HAD THE SITUATION WHERE MY BIKE HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED (INCLUDING ELECTRICAL SHUTTING OFF) ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THREE OF THESE I WAS MOVING AT SPEED AND THE LAST TIME WHEN I WAS AT A DEAD STOP. AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS AND TURNING THE MAIN SWITCH OFF/ON I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE BIKE. I AM WONDERING IF THIS RECALL INCLUDES MY BIKE ALSO - AND IF IT DOESN'T COULD THE RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2000 ALSO....MY … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10334349 · 51,000 mi50 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER RECALL HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM OF BIKE SHUTTING DOWN AND LOSING ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. IT JUST DID IT TO ME ON THE FREEWAY AROUND WASHINGTON D.C. AND I HAS TO CROSS SPEEDING TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. FOR THE PAST YEARS THE DEALER GIVES ME NOTHING BUT A RUNAROUND. SINCE HARLEY ACKNOWLEDGES THE POOR DESIGN BY REPLACING THE BREAKER WITH A FUSE AND MOVING THE LOCATION, IT'S OBVIOUS THEY SHOULD BE DOING ANOTHER FIX ON BIKES THAT STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10838432 · 33,543 miMULTIPLE FAILURES ON A HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE ARE BEING REPORTED IN THIS COMPLAINT. 1. REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE DUE TO REAR WHEEL RUBBING AGAINST WIRE HARNESS LOCATED INSIDE REAR FENDER WELL. WIRING INSULATION WAS DESTROYED AND WIRING WAS DAMAGED TO THE POINT OF BEING INOPERABLE. WIRING HARNESS PART NUMBER 68772-06 2. REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BRAKE SWITCH PART NUMBER 72023-51. THIS SWITCH WAS REPLACED WITH A VERSION E. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WAS SUPERSEDED BY A VERSION -A, … |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 10132195 · 35,000 miDT: THE CONSUMER WASHAVING A PROBLEM WITH RECALL REPAIRS DONE. HE HAS CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR 5 WEEKS AND NO ONE COULD HELP HIM. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT EVERY TIME THAT HE WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY GIAVE OUT ALL THE PARTS. THE DEALER KEPT TELLING THE CONSUMER THAT HE NEEDED TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER AND THE CONSUMER KEPT GETTING A TAPED MESSAGE THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL OPEN AT 8 AM AND IT HAS BEEN AFTER 9 AM WHEN THE CONSUMER H CALLED. THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED AN… | 116.7%ODI 763270THE FRONT FENDER TIP MARKER LIGHT HAS WIRING THAT RUNS UNDER THE FRONT FENDER, IT RUBS ON THE TIRE WHICH WEARS THE INSULATION OFF THE WIRES , THIS CAUSES A SHORT AND BLOWS THE FUSE, THIS FUSE IS ALSO FOR THE HEADLIGHT SO WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE MOTORCYCLE LOSES HEADLIGHT AND RUNNING LIGHT, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE AT NIGHT ON A DARK UNLIT ROAD, MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE DEALER IS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS OF THIS MODEL.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10072095CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V134000 SUBJECT REGARDING DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BREAKER. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE CONSUMER DID NOT PURCHASE THE VEHICLE THERE. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 240.0% | 116.7%ODI 740517THIS REPORT IS MADE TO YOU BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH FAILURE OF CAM BEARINGS IN THE TC-88 ENGINES.I'VE RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE ADMITTING GUILT TO THE PROBLEM, AND EXTENDING AN ADDITIOAL WARRANTY TO IT. ACCORDING TO THEM, IT IS IN A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE THAT ARE FAILING. MANY RIDERS ARE CHANGING THEM AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE, THUS HARLEY DAVIVDSON IS NOT AWARE OF EXACTLY HOW MANY HAVE FAILED. THE COMPANY SOLD THE MOTORCYCLE WITH A KNOWN DEFECT AND IT WAS BOUGHT WITHOUT BEING INFORMED OF … | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Horn | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10137473THE HORN ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON, SOUNDS LIKE A HALF DEAD DUCK. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR AND I WAS BEHIND HER ON MY 2001 FLHTCI AND I WAS BLOWING MY HORN AND SHE COULD NOT HEAR IT IN THE CAR WITH THE WINDOWS UP. THESE HORNS ARE NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.*JB | 150.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 233.3%ODI 10630935 · 90,000 miTHE REAR SWING ARM HAS FAILED ABOVE THE WHEEL AXLE. TRYING TO ORDER A NEW ONE FROM HARLEY AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT ONE. I WAS TOLD IT'S OBSOLETE. I LOOKED THIS UP ON GOOGLE AND FOUND OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY BIKE SHOP WANTS TO GET A USED ONE AND REINFORCE IT BY WELDING A PLATE ABOVE THE AXLE SHAFT. I WOULD FEEL BETTER WITH A FIX FROM HARLEY. THIS MAY BE MY LAST HARLEY. *TR | 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. |
| Unknown Or Other | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 892112WHILE DRIVING TOUR PACK MOUNTED ON BACK OF MOTORCYCLE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10339390 · 32,500 miWHEN RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE THE FRONT WHEEL STARTED TO WOBBLE CAUSING ME TO HAVE A WRECK. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME I WAS GOING STRAIGHT AND COULD USE THE BRAKES TO STOP. THE SECOND TIME I WAS IN A LEFT TURN AND WRECKED. I'VE LOST MY RIGHT LEG. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 828371CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER. CONTACTED DEALER NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. RECALL NUMBER 98V15800. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 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. | 00.0%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 | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10214403 · 27,980 miMY 2003 HARLEYDAVIDSON FLHTCI HAD THE CLIPS COME LOOSE ON THE FRONT FENDER WIRING TO THE TIP LIGHT JUST LIKE THE 2001 RECALL RESULTING IN FRAYED WIRES AND A SHORT CIRCUIT. *TR | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | Too few reports for a range | 27,980 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10214403 · 27,980 miMY 2003 HARLEYDAVIDSON FLHTCI HAD THE CLIPS COME LOOSE ON THE FRONT FENDER WIRING TO THE TIP LIGHT JUST LIKE THE 2001 RECALL RESULTING IN FRAYED WIRES AND A SHORT CIRCUIT. *TR |
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.
2004: 1 complaints · 2006: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 4 | 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 | Electrical System:Wiring | Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | — | 0 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.