2004 Harley-Davidson VRSCA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
32,765 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Engine 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 10443830 · 2012-01-15 (January 15, 2012)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10443830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11351290 · 2020-08-26 (August 26, 2020)
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.,
Owner-reported narrative. 32,765 miles reported. Look up ODI 11351290 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.
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 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2006 | 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 323.1%ODI 10347860GAS 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 | 444.4%ODI 10250858 · 1,990 mi1) 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 … | 150.0%ODI 10443830THE 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. | 114.3%ODI 10451889 · 5,021 miTHE FUEL GAUGE IS NOT ACCURATE AT ALL. IT FLUCTUATES. IT MAY READ FULL AND THEN 1/4 TANK ALL IN THE SAME HOUR. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 430.8%ODI 10481319 · 8,000 mi1. 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… | 111.1%ODI 10882915 · 4,000 miA 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 228.6%ODI 10592618 · 3,100 miAFTER 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 | 150.0%ODI 10592155FUEL 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 |
| Electrical System | 215.4%ODI 10103202THE 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 | 111.1%ODI 10349419 · 5,000 miI 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 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 342.9%ODI 10349787 · 10,000 miTHE 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… | 150.0%ODI 10462158 · 18,900 miWHILE 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… |
| Fuel System, Other | 323.1%ODI 10344946 · 40,168 mi2002 VRSCA FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. IT HAS NEVER PERFORMED AS IT SHOULD. *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. |
| Service Brakes | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10883833 · 4,400 miTHE 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… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10725300 · 13,000 miI 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 … | 150.0%ODI 10462158 · 18,900 miWHILE 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… |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17.7%ODI 10351101 · 15,000 mi2002 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 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 228.6%ODI 10349787 · 10,000 miTHE 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… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Wheels | 17.7%ODI 8016474WHEELS 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 | 111.1%ODI 10157264 · 2,892 miI 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 | 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 miWHILE 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., | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | Too few reports for a range | 32,765 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11351290 · 32,765 miWHILE 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., |
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.
2006: 1 complaints · 2007: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 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 | Engine | Fuel System, Gasoline |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | — | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 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.