2016 Harley-Davidson XG500: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
4,173 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data updated: . 2 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
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 2 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Steering behavior
2
100.0%
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.
Steering
2
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Steering
2
Steering: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
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). 0 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.
2017
1
2019
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2017
1
2019
1
2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
AT AROUND 3,000 MILES THE FORK BEARINGS/ STEERING NECK BEARINGS STARTED TO RUST CAUSING THE STEERING TO BECOME CHOPPY OR UNSAFE. THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER SPENDING ONE RAINY SEASON OUTSIDE, HOWEVER WAS PARKED INDOORS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V927000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
Reported: 2018-12-21 (December 21, 2018)
Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Street 500 (XG500), Street 750 (XG750), and 2017-2019 Street 750A (XG750A) motorcycles. The brake calipers may corrode internally after exposure to certain driving environments such as coastal regions or road salt, resulting in increased brake drag.
Consequence: Excessive brake drag can increase the risk of crash.
Remedy: Harley-Davidson has notified owners, and dealers will install new front and rear brake calipers, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2019. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0174.
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.
100.0%Usable mileage2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid incident date2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 2 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
Component
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Fuel/Propulsion System
981.8%ODI 10630357 · 550 mi
UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP, THE 2015 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET 500 AND 750 (XG500 AND XG750) MODELS LOSE FUEL PRESSURE WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS UNDER APPROXIMATELY 1/2 CAPACITY. THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED WHEN ACCELERATING UP HILLS. UPON LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE, THE MOTORCYCLE VIOLENTLY THRUSTS THE RIDER FORWARD, AND WHEN THE FUEL PRESSURE RECOVERS, THE RIDER IS UNEXPECTEDLY THRUST BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT BEST. IN MY CASE, MY NECK WAS STRAINED. MULTIPLE CASES ON THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN REPORTED T…
UNDER MODERATE TO HEAVY BRAKING, WITH THE FUEL TANK BETWEEN 3/4 AND FULL, FUEL LEAKS FROM THE UNDERSIDE AND PUDDLES UNDER THE BIKE. DEALERSHIP STAFF SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL.
VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. THROTTLE RESPONSE IS EXTREMELY ERRATIC. THIS CAUSED INEXPERIENCED RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL AT A LOW SPEED AND WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE AS IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL ONTO THE SIDEWALK. FUEL TANK WAS NEARLY FULL. CONTINUED RIDING EXHIBITED EXTREMELY ERRATIC THROTTLE CONTROL. VEHICLE IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE. *TR
I BROUGHT MY XG500 TO A HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER TO FIX A RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP. AFTER AN ESTIMATED 100 MILES, THE BIKE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO THE BACK WHEEL WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65MPH. THE THROTTLE WOULD REV UP THE ENGINE, BUT IT WASN'T MAKING ME MOVE. THIS PUT ME IN A VERY UNSAFE PREDICAMENT AND I HAD TO ROLL ACROSS LANES OF TRAFFIC WHILE DECELERATING.
JULY 3, 2015 - IT STALLED TWICE WHILE SITTING COMPLETELY STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY PULLED IN. IT IDLED LOW AND THEN COMPLETELY DIED. RESTARTING THE BIKE, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT MOVING WITH QUITE A BIT OF LEAPING AND LAGGING AND THE ENGINE SPUTTERING. ONCE UP AND THROUGH 1ST AND 2ND GEAR (SPUTTERING LIKE IF WAS MISSING FUEL) IT SEEMED TO SUDDENLY ENGAGE AND WAS OK. I COMPENSATED FOR THE LAGGING, BUT IT KEPT JUMPING AS IF SUDDENLY CATCHING WITHOUT PRESSURE ON THE THROTTLE INCREASING. IT DID THIS MOSTLY AT LOWER SPEEDS AT FIRST, B…
JULY 3, 2015 - IT STALLED TWICE WHILE SITTING COMPLETELY STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY PULLED IN. IT IDLED LOW AND THEN COMPLETELY DIED. RESTARTING THE BIKE, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT MOVING WITH QUITE A BIT OF LEAPING AND LAGGING AND THE ENGINE SPUTTERING. ONCE UP AND THROUGH 1ST AND 2ND GEAR (SPUTTERING LIKE IF WAS MISSING FUEL) IT SEEMED TO SUDDENLY ENGAGE AND WAS OK. I COMPENSATED FOR THE LAGGING, BUT IT KEPT JUMPING AS IF SUDDENLY CATCHING WITHOUT PRESSURE ON THE THROTTLE INCREASING. IT DID THIS MOSTLY AT LOWER SPEEDS AT FIRST, B…
AT AROUND 3,000 MILES THE FORK BEARINGS/ STEERING NECK BEARINGS STARTED TO RUST CAUSING THE STEERING TO BECOME CHOPPY OR UNSAFE. THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER SPENDING ONE RAINY SEASON OUTSIDE, HOWEVER WAS PARKED INDOORS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.
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
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
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.
2018: 0 complaints · 2019: 1 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2018
0
0
0
2019
0
0
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
2018
0
0
0
2019
1
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
Steering
Steering
—
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 · 50.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 5,345 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10958706 · 5,345 mi
THE FORK BEARINGS RUSTED UP AND BECAME NOTCHY AFTER RIDING IN RAINY WEATHER DURING THE WINTER. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING TO BE JERKY AND UNSTABLE.