Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Harley-Davidson VRSCA: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

9 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

4,700 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data updated: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 9 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting111.1%
Braking behavior111.1%
Fuel system concerns111.1%

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline
4
Electrical System
1
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System
1
Fuel/Propulsion System
1
Service Brakes
1
Structure:Body
1
Wheels
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Electrical System1
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System1
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Service Brakes1
Structure:Body1
Wheels1

Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Electrical System: 1; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Wheels: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
7
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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 7; 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 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 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.

2006
1
2008
1
2010
3
2012
1
2016
2
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20061
20081
20103
20121
20162
20181

2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 3; 2012: 1; 2016: 2; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 10157264 · 2006-05-11 (May 11, 2006)

I WAS TRAVELING AT 30-MPH WHEN A SIDE WIND BLOWING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MPH BLEW ME AND THE MOTORCYCLE ACROSS MULTIPLE LANES INTO THE CURB. GIVEN MY EXPERIENCE I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE MOTORCYCLE UPRIGHT AND RODE THE CURB FOR ABOUT 20-FT UNTIL I COULD GET OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. PARKED AND CHECKED FOR DAMAGES. THE CONCRETE CURB GROUND THE FRAME DOWN AND ALSO TORE THE RADIATOR SHROUD AND EXHAUST PIPES. WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY NOT HAVE BEEN BLOWN OVER AND INJURED. VROD IS TO LIGHT FOR THE SOLID WHEELS THAT CATCH WIND LIKE A SAIL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,892 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157264 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10250858 · 2008-12-05 (December 5, 2008)

1) NORMAL DRIVING UNDER PARTIAL THROTTLE (PARTIAL ENGINE LOAD) 2) ENGINE HESITATES, STUTTERS AND LOSES POWER (SINCE THIS IS A 2-WHEELED MOTORCYCLE, THE BIKE BECOMES UNSTABLE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS OCCURS IN A CORNER, LUCKILY I COULD CONTROL THE VEHICLE EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, BUT MORE INEXPERIENCED RIDERS MIGHT LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE) 3) THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM "FUEL MODULE FLANGE REPLACEMENT PRODUCT PROGRAM" M-1141A ISSUED ON OCTOBER30, 2003. SINCE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, AND LOOSING CONTROL …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,990 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250858 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10349419 · 2010-08-15 (August 15, 2010)

I HAVE A 2003 HARLEY VROD. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR A YEAR. I STILL NEED TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349419 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10356063 · 2010-09-17 (September 17, 2010)

I PURCHASED A 2003 100TH ANNIVERSARY HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCA (VROD) AND THE GAS GAUGE INCORRECTLY REPORTS LEVEL (LESS MILES TO EMPTY THAN ACTUALLY CAPABLE). AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND VROD GAS GAUGE IS A COMMON ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, I CAN NOT DETERMINE WHEN THE GAS TANK IS LOW AND REQUIRING FUEL. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO MY LOCAL HD DEALER AND THEY WERE OF NO HELP. VERY FRUSTRATING AND DISAPPOINTING FOR AN AMERICAN COMPANY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10356063 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10367849 · 2010-11-25 (November 25, 2010)

FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON V-ROD IS NOT ACCURATE. THE GAUGE WILL DISPLAY FULL WHEN IN FACT THE BIKE IS EMPTY. AFTER FILLING THE BIKE THE GAUGE WILL READ ?? (ANYWHERE). THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON WITH THE FAILURE. I HAVE TAKEN IT AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICE, UNDER WARRANTY, "2" TIMES AND EACH TIME IT BREAKS WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD WITH THIS MODEL HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURE REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,881 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367849 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10452270 · 2012-03-19 (March 19, 2012)

FUEL GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY ONCE IT GETS TO 3/4 FULL. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452270 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10882915 · 2016-07-06 (July 6, 2016)

A FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED JERKING AND EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION. MOTORCYCLE DIES FREQUENTLY AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAFELY RIDE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR, BUT LIKE MANY OTHERS MY PARTICULAR MODEL FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE COVERED ASSEMBLED DATES.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10882915 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10883833 · 2016-07-10 (July 10, 2016)

THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. I FELL OVER AND BROKE 3 RIBS. I SENT MY BIKE TO THE HD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FIXED THE DAMAGE TO MY BIKE. THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE MY BIKE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM. THE DEALERSHIP SAID HE WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH WENT THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED ON HIM. HD HAD MY BIKE FOR 5 MONTHS. ALL THEY DID WAS CHARGE ME FOR A WHOLE NEW FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. I TOLD THEM THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM SO I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW FRON…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10883833 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

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

No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

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

88.9%Usable mileage8 / 9 records
100.0%Valid incident date9 / 9 records
100.0%Valid filing date9 / 9 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates9 / 9 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.

Component complaint heatmap
Component20022003200420062007
Fuel System, Gasoline
323.1%
ODI 10347860

GAS GAUGE ON HARLEY DAVIDSON VROD, MODEL 2002 VRSCA AND ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON VROD MODEL 2003 VRSCA HAVE QUIT WORKING. BOTH MOTORCYCLES HAD LESS THAN 2000 MILES AND LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD WHEN THEY QUIT WORKING. *TR

Look up ODI 10347860 at NHTSA ↗

444.4%
ODI 10250858 · 1,990 mi

1) NORMAL DRIVING UNDER PARTIAL THROTTLE (PARTIAL ENGINE LOAD) 2) ENGINE HESITATES, STUTTERS AND LOSES POWER (SINCE THIS IS A 2-WHEELED MOTORCYCLE, THE BIKE BECOMES UNSTABLE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS OCCURS IN A CORNER, LUCKILY I COULD CONTROL THE VEHICLE EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, BUT MORE INEXPERIENCED RIDERS MIGHT LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE) 3) THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM "FUEL MODULE FLANGE REPLACEMENT PRODUCT PROGRAM" M-1141A ISSUED ON OCTOBER30, 2003. SINCE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, AND LOOSING CONTROL …

Look up ODI 10250858 at NHTSA ↗

150.0%
ODI 10443830

THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2004 HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCA DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN ITS FILLED UP THE NEEDLE DISAPEARS PAST THE FULL MARK AND WHEN ITS CLOSE TO EMPTY IT MIGHT BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 3/4 TANK AND 1/4 TANK.

Look up ODI 10443830 at NHTSA ↗

114.3%
ODI 10451889 · 5,021 mi

THE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE AT ALL. IT FLUCTUATES. IT MAY READ FULL AND THEN 1/4 TANK ALL IN THE SAME HOUR. *TR

Look up ODI 10451889 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Fuel/Propulsion System
430.8%
ODI 10481319 · 8,000 mi

1. FUEL GAUGE GOES TO 100% EMPTY JUST AFTER SHOWING 1/2 TANK. THE INDICATOR NEEDLE DROPS WITHIN 3 TENTHS TO 1 MILE OF USE AFTER THE 1/2 TANK MARK SHOWS. THIS ISSUE HAS STRANDED ME MORE THAN A HALF DOZEN TIMES AS I TRY TO ESTIMATE FUEL LEFT IN TANK WHILE USING THE MOTORCYCLE. 2. ELECTRIC FANS MOUNTED DIRECTLY TO RADIATOR WORKED LOOSE. HOUSING RUB AGAINST RADIATOR CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO BURST WHILE HOT AND AGAIN STRANDING MYSELF AND PASSENGER ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD DUE TO OVER HEATING OF THE ENGINE. THE POTENTIAL OF BURNS TO LEGS EXISTS AS W…

Look up ODI 10481319 at NHTSA ↗

111.1%
ODI 10882915 · 4,000 mi

A FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED JERKING AND EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION. MOTORCYCLE DIES FREQUENTLY AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAFELY RIDE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR, BUT LIKE MANY OTHERS MY PARTICULAR MODEL FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE COVERED ASSEMBLED DATES.

Look up ODI 10882915 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

228.6%
ODI 10592618 · 3,100 mi

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES ON A FULL TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE DROPPED TO BELOW EMPTY. AFTER ABOUT 60 MILES ON A FULL TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE WILL SLOWLY RISE BACK TO ABOVE 1/4 TANK (SHOWING APPROXIMATE FUEL LEVEL). THIS HAPPENS EVERY TANK OF GAS. *TR

Look up ODI 10592618 at NHTSA ↗

150.0%
ODI 10592155

FUEL GUAGE SENDING UNIT GIVES WRONG READ OUT ON FUEL GUAGE OF FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH IN TURN COULD CAUSE YOU TO RUN OUT OF FUEL IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE ..... OR RUN OUT OF FUEL GOING 55 MPH. IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY EXPRESSWAY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS IT SEEMS LIKE THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME YET HARLEY DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THIS. *JS

Look up ODI 10592155 at NHTSA ↗

Electrical System
215.4%
ODI 10103202

THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE (2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON V-ROD). *AK THE BIKE TYPICALLY STALL WHILE STARTING OUT IN FIRST GEAR. THE BIKE HAD TO BE REVVED UP HIGH TO GET IT GOING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED THE FRONT SPROCKET ON THE 2004 AND 2005 MODELS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE EARLIER MODELS. *NM

Look up ODI 10103202 at NHTSA ↗

111.1%
ODI 10349419 · 5,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 HARLEY VROD. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR A YEAR. I STILL NEED TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

Look up ODI 10349419 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

342.9%
ODI 10349787 · 10,000 mi

THE REAR BRAKE SWITCH IS FAILING. IT APPEARS THE DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID IS EATING THROUGH THE PLASTIC CAUSING YOU TO LOOSE PRESSURE AND YOUR REAR BRAKES WILL FAIL. THE DOT4 FLUID IS EATING THROUGH THE RESERVOIR CAPS ON THE BARS AS WELL. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS COASTING UP TO A RED LIGHT. LUCKILY THIS WAS NOT AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OR EVEN A NORMAL STOP, AS I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO WHATEVER WAS IN FRONT OF ME. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ALREADY. I BELONG TO AN INTERNET FORUM WHERE THE PROBLEM IS DISCUSSE…

Look up ODI 10349787 at NHTSA ↗

150.0%
ODI 10462158 · 18,900 mi

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT CITY SPEEDS, ANOTHER RIDER ON A DIFFERENT MOTORCYCLE RIDING BEHIND ME, INFORMED MY THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH MY MOTORCYCLE. I PROMPTLY TURNED OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE BIKE. I ALSO LOST 100% OF MY REAR BRAKING ABILITY. I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND HAD SMOKE COMING UP MY RIGHT LEG. I GOT OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AND NOTICED 6" FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE MOTORCYCLE. I TRIED TO BLOW OUT THE FLAMES AND SMOTHER IT WITH MY RIDING GLOVES, WITH NO LUCK. ONE OF THE OTHER RIDERS IN THE G…

Look up ODI 10462158 at NHTSA ↗

Fuel System, Other
323.1%
ODI 10344946 · 40,168 mi

2002 VRSCA FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. IT HAS NEVER PERFORMED AS IT SHOULD. *TR

Look up ODI 10344946 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Service Brakes
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

111.1%
ODI 10883833 · 4,400 mi

THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. I FELL OVER AND BROKE 3 RIBS. I SENT MY BIKE TO THE HD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FIXED THE DAMAGE TO MY BIKE. THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE MY BIKE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM. THE DEALERSHIP SAID HE WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH WENT THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED ON HIM. HD HAD MY BIKE FOR 5 MONTHS. ALL THEY DID WAS CHARGE ME FOR A WHOLE NEW FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. I TOLD THEM THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM SO I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW FRON…

Look up ODI 10883833 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

114.3%
ODI 10725300 · 13,000 mi

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO REDUCE SPEED TO TURN INTO A GAS STATION AND REAR BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION. REAR BRAKE PEDAL IS MUSHY & MY MOTORCYCLE DOES NOT HAVE FUNCTIONING REAR BRAKES. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THIS INCIDENT I'VE HAD WITH THIS BIKE (FIRST TIME WAS IN 2010). IN 2010, AS I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN I HAD A SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF REAR BRAKES AND NEARLY SUFFERED A COLLOSION. AFTER AN INITIAL DIAGNOSIS & "REPAIR" BY A DEALERSHIP, MY BRAKES AGAIN FAILED AS I WAS STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT & WAS NEARLY T-BONED. I NOTICED FLUID …

Look up ODI 10725300 at NHTSA ↗

150.0%
ODI 10462158 · 18,900 mi

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT CITY SPEEDS, ANOTHER RIDER ON A DIFFERENT MOTORCYCLE RIDING BEHIND ME, INFORMED MY THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH MY MOTORCYCLE. I PROMPTLY TURNED OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE BIKE. I ALSO LOST 100% OF MY REAR BRAKING ABILITY. I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND HAD SMOKE COMING UP MY RIGHT LEG. I GOT OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AND NOTICED 6" FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE MOTORCYCLE. I TRIED TO BLOW OUT THE FLAMES AND SMOTHER IT WITH MY RIDING GLOVES, WITH NO LUCK. ONE OF THE OTHER RIDERS IN THE G…

Look up ODI 10462158 at NHTSA ↗

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
17.7%
ODI 10351101 · 15,000 mi

2002 HARLEY VROD REAR BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. SWITCH DOES NOT LIGHT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. FAILURE IS PERMANENT. DOES NOT WORK. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. READ BLOGS INDICATING IT IS WIDESPREAD AND COSTS APPROX $150 AND RECURS. *TR

Look up ODI 10351101 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

228.6%
ODI 10349787 · 10,000 mi

THE REAR BRAKE SWITCH IS FAILING. IT APPEARS THE DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID IS EATING THROUGH THE PLASTIC CAUSING YOU TO LOOSE PRESSURE AND YOUR REAR BRAKES WILL FAIL. THE DOT4 FLUID IS EATING THROUGH THE RESERVOIR CAPS ON THE BARS AS WELL. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS COASTING UP TO A RED LIGHT. LUCKILY THIS WAS NOT AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OR EVEN A NORMAL STOP, AS I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO WHATEVER WAS IN FRONT OF ME. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IF THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ALREADY. I BELONG TO AN INTERNET FORUM WHERE THE PROBLEM IS DISCUSSE…

Look up ODI 10349787 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Wheels
17.7%
ODI 8016474

WHEELS WERE OF SOLID DESIGN, BOWL SHAPED. AT 55-60 MPH WIND GOT CAUGHT IN WHEELS AND FORCED VEHICLE INTO A LANE CHANGE. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO.*AK

Look up ODI 8016474 at NHTSA ↗

111.1%
ODI 10157264 · 2,892 mi

I WAS TRAVELING AT 30-MPH WHEN A SIDE WIND BLOWING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MPH BLEW ME AND THE MOTORCYCLE ACROSS MULTIPLE LANES INTO THE CURB. GIVEN MY EXPERIENCE I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE MOTORCYCLE UPRIGHT AND RODE THE CURB FOR ABOUT 20-FT UNTIL I COULD GET OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. PARKED AND CHECKED FOR DAMAGES. THE CONCRETE CURB GROUND THE FRAME DOWN AND ALSO TORE THE RADIATOR SHROUD AND EXHAUST PIPES. WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY NOT HAVE BEEN BLOWN OVER AND INJURED. VROD IS TO LIGHT FOR THE SOLID WHEELS THAT CATCH WIND LIKE A SAIL. *JB

Look up ODI 10157264 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Engine
00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

150.0%
ODI 11351290 · 32,765 mi

WHILE RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN I DOWN SHIFT OR COME TO A STOP THE MOTOR SHUTS DOWN. THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THAT HAPPENS I'VE HAD MANY MECHANICS LOOK AT IT NO PERSON CAN FIND OUT WHY. I'M IN DANGER EVERY TIME. I'VE BEEN HOLDING UP TRAFFIC IN CONSTRUCTION ZONES, STOP LIGHTS & CITY TRAFFIC . I'VE OWNED THIS BIKE FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THIS STARTED HAPPENING I CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE. I'VE PAID MANY SHOPS TO FIND OUT WHY. LOCAL HARLEY DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE GAVE ME BACK THE BIKE & SAID GOOD LUCK.,

Look up ODI 11351290 at NHTSA ↗

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
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
Fuel System, GasolineToo few reports for a range5,000 mi3 (sparse)
ODI 10250858 · 1,990 mi

1) NORMAL DRIVING UNDER PARTIAL THROTTLE (PARTIAL ENGINE LOAD) 2) ENGINE HESITATES, STUTTERS AND LOSES POWER (SINCE THIS IS A 2-WHEELED MOTORCYCLE, THE BIKE BECOMES UNSTABLE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN THIS OCCURS IN A CORNER, LUCKILY I COULD CONTROL THE VEHICLE EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED, BUT MORE INEXPERIENCED RIDERS MIGHT LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE) 3) THERE IS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM "FUEL MODULE FLANGE REPLACEMENT PRODUCT PROGRAM" M-1141A ISSUED ON OCTOBER30, 2003. SINCE THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION, AND LOOSING CONTROL …

Look up ODI 10250858 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10349419 · 5,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 HARLEY VROD. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR A YEAR. I STILL NEED TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

Look up ODI 10349419 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10367849 · 9,881 mi

FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON V-ROD IS NOT ACCURATE. THE GAUGE WILL DISPLAY FULL WHEN IN FACT THE BIKE IS EMPTY. AFTER FILLING THE BIKE THE GAUGE WILL READ ?? (ANYWHERE). THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON WITH THE FAILURE. I HAVE TAKEN IT AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICE, UNDER WARRANTY, "2" TIMES AND EACH TIME IT BREAKS WITHIN A MONTH OR TWO. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD WITH THIS MODEL HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURE REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR

Look up ODI 10367849 at NHTSA ↗

Electrical SystemToo few reports for a range5,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10349419 · 5,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 HARLEY VROD. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR A YEAR. I STILL NEED TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

Look up ODI 10349419 at NHTSA ↗

Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge SystemToo few reports for a range21,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10452270 · 21,000 mi

FUEL GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY ONCE IT GETS TO 3/4 FULL. *JS

Look up ODI 10452270 at NHTSA ↗

Fuel/Propulsion SystemToo few reports for a range4,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10882915 · 4,000 mi

A FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED JERKING AND EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION. MOTORCYCLE DIES FREQUENTLY AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAFELY RIDE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR, BUT LIKE MANY OTHERS MY PARTICULAR MODEL FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE COVERED ASSEMBLED DATES.

Look up ODI 10882915 at NHTSA ↗

Service BrakesToo few reports for a range4,400 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10883833 · 4,400 mi

THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. I FELL OVER AND BROKE 3 RIBS. I SENT MY BIKE TO THE HD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FIXED THE DAMAGE TO MY BIKE. THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE MY BIKE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM. THE DEALERSHIP SAID HE WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH WENT THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED ON HIM. HD HAD MY BIKE FOR 5 MONTHS. ALL THEY DID WAS CHARGE ME FOR A WHOLE NEW FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. I TOLD THEM THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM SO I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW FRON…

Look up ODI 10883833 at NHTSA ↗

Structure:BodyToo few reports for a range40,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 11100329 · 40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AND A PORTION OF THE STRUCTURE NEAR THE ENGINE BECAME DISLODGED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE NEARBY. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Look up ODI 11100329 at NHTSA ↗

WheelsToo few reports for a range2,892 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10157264 · 2,892 mi

I WAS TRAVELING AT 30-MPH WHEN A SIDE WIND BLOWING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MPH BLEW ME AND THE MOTORCYCLE ACROSS MULTIPLE LANES INTO THE CURB. GIVEN MY EXPERIENCE I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE MOTORCYCLE UPRIGHT AND RODE THE CURB FOR ABOUT 20-FT UNTIL I COULD GET OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. PARKED AND CHECKED FOR DAMAGES. THE CONCRETE CURB GROUND THE FRAME DOWN AND ALSO TORE THE RADIATOR SHROUD AND EXHAUST PIPES. WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY NOT HAVE BEEN BLOWN OVER AND INJURED. VROD IS TO LIGHT FOR THE SOLID WHEELS THAT CATCH WIND LIKE A SAIL. *JB

Look up ODI 10157264 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

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
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

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.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

2006: 1 complaints · 2007: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2006111
2007000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2006700
2007200

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
ComponentFuel System, GasolineElectrical SystemFuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge SystemFuel/Propulsion SystemService BrakesStructure:BodyWheels
Fuel System, Gasoline—
1
ODI 10349419 · 5,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 HARLEY VROD. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR A YEAR. I STILL NEED TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

Look up ODI 10349419 at NHTSA ↗

00000
Electrical System
1
ODI 10349419 · 5,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 HARLEY VROD. THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT FOR A YEAR. I STILL NEED TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

Look up ODI 10349419 at NHTSA ↗

—00000
Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System00—0000
Fuel/Propulsion System000—000
Service Brakes0000—00
Structure:Body00000—0
Wheels000000—

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.

1 patterns with matching reports.

Hard or delayed shifting

1 mentions · 11.1% of complaints

Median mileage: 4,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10882915 · 4,000 mi

A FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED JERKING AND EXCESSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION. MOTORCYCLE DIES FREQUENTLY AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAFELY RIDE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN FOR, BUT LIKE MANY OTHERS MY PARTICULAR MODEL FALLS OUTSIDE OF THE COVERED ASSEMBLED DATES.

Look up ODI 10882915 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(hard shift\w*|rough shift\w*|delay\w* shift\w*|shift\w* hard|jerk\w*|lurch\w*)\b