Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
6 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
15,301 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 6 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 16.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 1 |
| Tires:Valve | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 1; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft: 1; Tires:Valve: 1
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 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: 2; 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 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2005 | 1 |
2001: 5; 2005: 1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation 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 provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
THIS WAS ONE OF ELEVEN CAM BEARINGS ELYRIA H-D HAS DONE, THEY ONLY SELL 300 BIKES TOTAL A YEAR. APPROX. 1/3 OF THOSE DID NOT HAVE THE NEW TWIN CAM MOTOR. AK SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****752040
Owner-reported narrative. 11,601 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006455 at NHTSA ↗
99 HARLEY DAVIDSON- CAM BEARING FAILURE- THE COMPANY EXTENDED THE WARRENTY TO 5YRS OR 50,000 MI. THE FAILURE OCCURED AFTER 7 YRS. UNDER NORMAL OPERATION & THE COMPANY HAS ONLY AGREED TO PAY FOR PARTS, NOT THE LABOR, WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE MOTOR TO SEIZE WHILE IN OPERATION, POTENTIALLY CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH.
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130078 at NHTSA ↗
THE DRIVE BELT WAS LOOSE CAUSING ENGINE NOISE, AFTER THE DRIVE BELT WAS REPLACED THE NOISE PERSISTED, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE REAR BEARING AND THERE HAS BEEN NO MORE PROBLEMS. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560083 at NHTSA ↗
HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS NOT YET ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE IMPENDING FAILURE OF THE CAM BEARING THAT IS OCCURING IN THE 1999 TWIN CAM ENGINES. THEY HAVE SENT OUT LETTERS STATING THAT THEY WILL FIX THE DAMAGE AFTER FAILURE, NOT BEFORE. AS REPORTED IN MOTORCYCLECONSUMER NEWS CURRENT ISSUE AND PAST ISSUE, THIS FAILURE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR ITS POTENTIAL OF BODILY HARM AND VEHICLE(S) DAMAGE. CAN YOU GET H-D TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE FAILURE? THIS WOULD INVOLVE A LOT LESS COST AS FAR AS MOTORCYCLE ENGINE REPAIR, AS WELL AS PREVENTING A LOT OF COST D…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745874 at NHTSA ↗
WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND RUNNING ROUGH, AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATIION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER HAS REPLACED CAMSHAFT.*AK THE GEAR ON THE CRANK SHAFT TURNED ON THE DRIVE SURFACE OF THE CRANK SHAFT MAKING THE CRANK SHAFT UNSEVICEABLE. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 890173 at NHTSA ↗
RUBBER VALVE STEM IS BEING SHEARED OFF BY RIM WHEN TURNS ARE BEING MADE WHILE DRIVING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 898776 at NHTSA ↗
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
Reported: 1999-01-13 (January 13, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE ENGINE CAM BOLT CAN LOSE ITS CLAMP LOAD AND/OR BREAK.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO QUIT RUNNING WITH OR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. IN SOME INSTANCES, THE ENGINE COULD RUN ERRATICALLY BEFORE QUITTING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE CAM BOLTS AND WASHERS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Reported: 1999-07-23 (July 23, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK VENT FITTING THAT COULD BE PLUGGED ALLOWING THE CARBURETOR TO OVERFLOW FUEL.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK VENT FITTING AND, IF PLUGGED, WILL CORRECT THIS CONDITION.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
6 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.
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 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 466.7%ODI 10006455 · 11,601 miTHIS WAS ONE OF ELEVEN CAM BEARINGS ELYRIA H-D HAS DONE, THEY ONLY SELL 300 BIKES TOTAL A YEAR. APPROX. 1/3 OF THOSE DID NOT HAVE THE NEW TWIN CAM MOTOR. AK SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****752040 | 150.0%ODI 726014I AM CONCERNED ABOUT REPORTS OF CAM AND CAM BEARING FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS INCIDENTS OF LESS THAN 1%. HOWEVER THE PEOPLE I TALK TO INDICATE POSSIBLY 25-30% FAILURE RATE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RAMIFICATIONS OF A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AS WELL AS THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING STRANDED IN REMOTE LOCATIONS. ANOTHER CONCERN IS BEING DISTRACTED BY AN ENGINE FAILURE WHICH COULD INCLUDE 200 DEGREE ENGINE OIL BEING SPRAYED ON MY LEGS AND UNDER MY REAR TIRE WHILE RIDING IN A CONGESTED TRAFFIC SITUATION. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 559622WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE WAS LEAKING HOT OIL WHICH COVERED THE MOTORCYCLE, DUE TO MOTOR FAILURE. CJ | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 116.7%ODI 560083THE DRIVE BELT WAS LOOSE CAUSING ENGINE NOISE, AFTER THE DRIVE BELT WAS REPLACED THE NOISE PERSISTED, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE REAR BEARING AND THERE HAS BEEN NO MORE PROBLEMS. NLM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 116.7%ODI 560083THE DRIVE BELT WAS LOOSE CAUSING ENGINE NOISE, AFTER THE DRIVE BELT WAS REPLACED THE NOISE PERSISTED, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE REAR BEARING AND THERE HAS BEEN NO MORE PROBLEMS. NLM | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 868022CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH AND MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES REAR TIRE LOCKED UP,AND THE MOTORCYCLE TURNED SIDEWAYS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 868022CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH AND MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES REAR TIRE LOCKED UP,AND THE MOTORCYCLE TURNED SIDEWAYS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Tires:Valve | 116.7%ODI 898776RUBBER VALVE STEM IS BEING SHEARED OFF BY RIM WHEN TURNS ARE BEING MADE WHILE DRIVING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 559622WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE WAS LEAKING HOT OIL WHICH COVERED THE MOTORCYCLE, DUE TO MOTOR FAILURE. CJ | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Too few reports for a range | 15,301 mi | 2 (sparse) | ODI 10006455 · 11,601 miTHIS WAS ONE OF ELEVEN CAM BEARINGS ELYRIA H-D HAS DONE, THEY ONLY SELL 300 BIKES TOTAL A YEAR. APPROX. 1/3 OF THOSE DID NOT HAVE THE NEW TWIN CAM MOTOR. AK SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*****752040 ODI 10130078 · 19,000 mi99 HARLEY DAVIDSON- CAM BEARING FAILURE- THE COMPANY EXTENDED THE WARRENTY TO 5YRS OR 50,000 MI. THE FAILURE OCCURED AFTER 7 YRS. UNDER NORMAL OPERATION & THE COMPANY HAS ONLY AGREED TO PAY FOR PARTS, NOT THE LABOR, WHICH IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT. THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE MOTOR TO SEIZE WHILE IN OPERATION, POTENTIALLY CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. |
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.
| 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. |
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.
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.
2001: 1 complaints · 2003: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 | 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.
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | Tires:Valve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 0 | — | 1ODI 560083THE DRIVE BELT WAS LOOSE CAUSING ENGINE NOISE, AFTER THE DRIVE BELT WAS REPLACED THE NOISE PERSISTED, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE REAR BEARING AND THERE HAS BEEN NO MORE PROBLEMS. NLM | 0 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft | 0 | 1ODI 560083THE DRIVE BELT WAS LOOSE CAUSING ENGINE NOISE, AFTER THE DRIVE BELT WAS REPLACED THE NOISE PERSISTED, THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE REAR BEARING AND THERE HAS BEEN NO MORE PROBLEMS. NLM | — | 0 |
| Tires:Valve | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
1 mentions · 16.7% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
WHILE TRAVELING ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND RUNNING ROUGH, AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATIION VEHICLE WOULD STALL. DEALER HAS REPLACED CAMSHAFT.*AK THE GEAR ON THE CRANK SHAFT TURNED ON THE DRIVE SURFACE OF THE CRANK SHAFT MAKING THE CRANK SHAFT UNSEVICEABLE. *YH
\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b