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FaultScore report

2003 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide problems

Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 2003 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide with NHTSA between 2002 and 2007. The largest single group is the electrical system.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide All 2003 cars
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Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

13

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

9,075 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

100%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

How 2003 compares with every other Harley-Davidson Electra Glide

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2003 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 8 61.5%

Median failure at 6,500 miles

Engine & Cooling 2 15.4%

Median failure at 25,000 miles

Suspension 1 7.7%
Steering 1 7.7%

Median failure at 12,628 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 7.7%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 2 22.2%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 3 33.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 3 33.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 11.1%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Sep 2002 peak 3 Jun 2007

NHTSA investigations into the 2003 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE03055 Opened 4 Dec 2003 Closed 19 Mar 2004 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

MOTORCYCLE STALLING

ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF MY 2003 FLH-SERIES HARLEYS ALLEGING SUDDEN ENGINE SHUTDOWN DUE TO TRIPPING OF THE MAIN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BREAKER FOR NO APPARENT REASON.SUBSEQUENTLY, HARLEY-DAVIDSON NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS RECALLING THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES TO REPLACE THE MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER IN SUBJECT VEHICLES.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 25,000 miles EL Paso, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WAS LOST. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

NHTSA complaint #10193751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Garden City, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DT: WITHOUT WARNING THE MOTORCYCLE LOST POWER. THE HEADLIGHTS AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS MOTORCYCLE NOW AND CANNOT ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. MANUFACTURER IS WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE DEALER SAYS.

NHTSA complaint #10126223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Southwest Ranches, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE INTERMINTELY SHUTS DOWN WHILE IAM RIDING IT.IT HAS DONE THIS OVER THE PAST YEAR. IWAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS CONDITION. HARLEY REPLACED THE MAIN BREAKER,HOWEVER THE BIKE STILL SHUTS DOWN TOTALLY WHILE RIDING.WHEN THIS HAPPNES IT IS AS IF THE IGNATION WAS SHUT DOWN OR THE BATTERY SUDDENLY REMOVED EVERYTHING DIES. I HAD IT INTO A HARLEY DEALER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THEY COULDNT FIND THE PROBLEM, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN I ALMOST WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT . THE MOTORCLCLE IS IN THE HARLEY SHOP AGAIN, AND THEY ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THE FACTORY TO TRY AND RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.NOTE IAM A POLICE OFFICER IN FLORIDA AND BELEIVE ME IAM NOT EXAGERATING THE PROBLEM. IT IS A GRAVE SAFETY CONCEARN,TWO OF THE INCIDENTS HAPPNED AT NIGHT AND IWAS LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING TRAFFIC W/OUT LIGHTS OR ENGINE POWER. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10110607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Severn, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(0302 - REPLACEMENT OF A FUSE AMP) BUT THERE WERE NOT PARTS AVAILABLE. SERVICE MANGER MIKE DILLINGER.

NHTSA complaint #10074221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100 miles Sykesville, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY HARLEY DAVIDSON 2003 ULTRA GLIDE CLASSIC WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10063622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,628 miles Covington, GA

STEERING

WHILE DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACES THE MOTORCYCLE VEERS LEFT. IF YOU REMOVE YOUR HANDS FROM THE HANDLEBARS THE BIKE WILL CROSS THE CENTERLINE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION. PROBLEM IS ONGOING SINCE NEW.

NHTSA complaint #10049518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Warwick, GA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE SHIFT LEVER FELL OFF WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE DRIVER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER CLAMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10049825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,500 miles Dallas, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

MY 03 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC ELECTRAGLIDE EXPERIENCED TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE AT 60 MPH. TOWED TO DEALER WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG; THEY CALLED HARLEY WHO ARE SENDING A 40AMP FUSE ASSEMBLE TO REPLACE THE MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER WHICH IS DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INTERNET POSTINGS REGARDING THIS DEFECT THAT HARLEY NEEDS TO RECALL. IN 04 ALL NEW HARLEY MODELS HAVE THE FUSE AND NOT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER.

NHTSA complaint #10043826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,500 miles West Pittston, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I RIDE A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON CLASSIC (FLHTCI). TO THIS DATE I HAVE ENCOUNTERED 8 OCCURENCES WHERE THE BIKE SHUTS OFF WHILE STARTING OUT IN FIRST GEAR. THE LATEST HAPPENED IN MILWAUKEE AT THE 100TH. MY WIFE WAS ON THE BACK, TO FOLLOW A GROUP OF OUR FRIENDS ONTO A 2 LANE HIGHWAY, IT IS WHERE THE BIKE STALLED AND QUIT. IN MY CASE I STILL HAVE DASH LIGHTS. I CYCLE THE IGNITION AND CUT OFF SWITCH AND PROCEED TO START THE BIKE. ON THE WAY HOME ON SEPT. 3, I DECIDED TO PHONE HARLEY CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE BIKE TO MY DEALER WHERE THEY COULD CALL THE TECHNICIANS AND HELP FIND THE PROBLEM. HARLEY HAS TOLD ME THAT IF I HEARD OF ANYONE WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM, HAVE HIM OR HER CALL THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE IN MILWAUKEE. THE NUMBER IS TOLL FREE, AND IT'S ON THEIR WEB SITE. IN THIS CASE, I'M AFRAID TO HAVE A PASSENGER ON THE BIKE WITH THE FEAR THAT THE BIKE WILL QUIT IN A MAJOR INTERSECTION, WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #10041041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 530 miles Columbia, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN (ENGINE & ELECTRONICS) WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES AT 30 MPH, SOMETIMES AT UP TO 60 MPH REGARDLESS OF WHAT GEAR I WAS IN.

NHTSA complaint #10040911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

SUSPENSION

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE VEERS TO THE LEFT.

NHTSA complaint #10040435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,075 miles Stafford, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I RIDE A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI (ULTRA CLASSIC) MOTORCYCLE. AT 2,500 RPM, 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYLCE EXPERIENCED FULL ELECTRICAL FAILURE - NO LIGHTS, NO SIGNALS, NO HORN, NO RADIO, NO FUEL INJECTION, NO ENGINE - ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LOOSE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. THE SECOND DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LOOSE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE AND INSTALLED A STAR WASHER TO KEEP THE CONNECTION TIGHT. COMING HOME FROM WISCONSIN, THE MOTORCYCLE SHUTDOWN AGAIN. I CHECKED THE BATTERY CABLE AND IT WAS STILL TIGHT. EACH TIME, I WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 55 MPG AND 60 MPH, WHICH IS BETWEEN 2300 RPM AND 2500 RPM. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF THE IGNITION, WAIT A MOMENT, AND TURN ON THE IGNITION AGAIN. THE SYSTEM RESET ITSELF AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE RIDING. A TOTAL ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN IS DANGEROUS. THUS FAR, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; IF IN AN INTERSECTION, I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION.

NHTSA complaint #10037278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Buffalo, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST SYSTEM CROSS OVER PIPE IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO SEAT, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE BURNE DWHILE DRIVING, EVEN IF PROPERLY DRESSED.

NHTSA complaint #8018669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.