Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2003 Harley-Davidson Fxdl with NHTSA between 2002 and 2011.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
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 Fxdl
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
220.0%
Median failure at 22,850 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
220.0%
Engine & Cooling
220.0%
Median failure at 58,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Equipment & Accessories
110.0%
Suspension
110.0%
Electrical System
110.0%
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.
Aug 2002peak 4May 2011
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Medford, ORCrash1 injured1 killed
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM AN ATTORNEY IN 2 CASES WHERE 2003 MODELS OF HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES, BEING DRIVEN JUST A FEW MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERS AFTER PURCHASE, SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OF THE FRONT FORKS. ONE RIDER DIED, AND THE OTHER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURY. POROSITY OF THE FORK APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL FACTOR OF THE FAILURES. ONE OCCURRED IN JUNE 2003; AND THE OTHER, THE FATALITY OCCURRED IN OREGON IN OCTOBER 2003. I HAVE LISTED ONLY THE FATALITY INFORMATION BELOW. INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING.
NHTSA complaint #10058335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 58,000 milesKing City, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA GLIDE FXDL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAD AN UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWIN CAM CHAIN TENSIONER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 6/8/11 *CN UPDATED 06/23/11
NHTSA complaint #10398537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 22,850 milesGilboa, NY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
MY HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE STALLED OUT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE LATER BEING THE DATE OF INDICANT. THE STALL WAS CAUSED BY THE SEPARATION OF THE LINING ON THE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. SMALL PIECES OF THIS LINING GOT INTO THE CARBURETOR AND CUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY FROM GETTING THROUGH THE PRIMARY AND SCENERY JETS.
NHTSA complaint #10165580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scottsdale, AZ
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE THE DRIVER FELT A VIBRATION IN THE REAR. THE REAR WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND THREW THE DRIVER TO THE GROUND. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #10059338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Medford, ORCrash1 injured1 killed
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM AN ATTORNEY IN 2 CASES WHERE 2003 MODELS OF HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES, BEING DRIVEN JUST A FEW MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERS AFTER PURCHASE, SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OF THE FRONT FORKS. ONE RIDER DIED, AND THE OTHER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURY. POROSITY OF THE FORK APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL FACTOR OF THE FAILURES. ONE OCCURRED IN JUNE 2003; AND THE OTHER, THE FATALITY OCCURRED IN OREGON IN OCTOBER 2003. I HAVE LISTED ONLY THE FATALITY INFORMATION BELOW. INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING.
NHTSA complaint #10058335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mooresville, IN
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
PROBLEMS WITH DYNA LOW RIDER.*MR WHILE DRIVING BIKE AT 55 TO 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE VIBRATED SO BAD IT PUT THE CONSUMER HANDS TO SLEEP. THE SHOCKS BOTTOMED OUT WHEN GOING OVER LITTLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *TS. THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLE IN THE MOTOR WHEN FIRST STARTED FOR 5-10 MINUTES, BUT CEASED WHEN THE MOTOR BECAME HOT, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY WHEN THERE WAS 2 GALLONS OF GAS LEFT.
NHTSA complaint #10029599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mooresville, IN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
PROBLEMS WITH DYNA LOW RIDER.*MR WHILE DRIVING BIKE AT 55 TO 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE VIBRATED SO BAD IT PUT THE CONSUMER HANDS TO SLEEP. THE SHOCKS BOTTOMED OUT WHEN GOING OVER LITTLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *TS. THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLE IN THE MOTOR WHEN FIRST STARTED FOR 5-10 MINUTES, BUT CEASED WHEN THE MOTOR BECAME HOT, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY WHEN THERE WAS 2 GALLONS OF GAS LEFT.
NHTSA complaint #10029599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mooresville, IN
SUSPENSION
PROBLEMS WITH DYNA LOW RIDER.*MR WHILE DRIVING BIKE AT 55 TO 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE VIBRATED SO BAD IT PUT THE CONSUMER HANDS TO SLEEP. THE SHOCKS BOTTOMED OUT WHEN GOING OVER LITTLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *TS. THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLE IN THE MOTOR WHEN FIRST STARTED FOR 5-10 MINUTES, BUT CEASED WHEN THE MOTOR BECAME HOT, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY WHEN THERE WAS 2 GALLONS OF GAS LEFT.
NHTSA complaint #10029599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mooresville, IN
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
PROBLEMS WITH DYNA LOW RIDER.*MR WHILE DRIVING BIKE AT 55 TO 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE VIBRATED SO BAD IT PUT THE CONSUMER HANDS TO SLEEP. THE SHOCKS BOTTOMED OUT WHEN GOING OVER LITTLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *TS. THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLE IN THE MOTOR WHEN FIRST STARTED FOR 5-10 MINUTES, BUT CEASED WHEN THE MOTOR BECAME HOT, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY WHEN THERE WAS 2 GALLONS OF GAS LEFT.
NHTSA complaint #10029599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ballston SPA, NY
EQUIPMENT
THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE KICK STAND, AND THE MOTORCYCLE COLLAPSED.
NHTSA complaint #10019672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cleveland, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
TURNING SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT WIRING IS IN WAY OF REAR WHEEL,WIRE COULD BE CUT AND RESULT IN VEHICLE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #8017508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.