Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 2003 Harley-Davidson Vrsca with NHTSA between 2006 and 2018.
The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.
Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 3 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 44
Against the median year of the Harley-Davidson Vrsca. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
20% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
89% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2003 compares with every other Harley-Davidson Vrsca
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 Vrsca
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
660.0%
Median failure at 5,000 miles
Wheels
110.0%
Median failure at 2,892 miles
Body & Structure
110.0%
Median failure at 40,000 miles
Brakes
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 4,400 mi
Electrical System
110.0%
Median failure at 5,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
777.8%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
111.1%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
111.1%
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.
May 2006peak 2Jun 2018
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 4,400 milesChula Vista, CACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
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 FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. I HAVE PICS OF THE DAMAGE, BUT IT'S JUST DAMAGE FROM FALLING OVER. I DID AN INSURANCE CLAIM SO I HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10883833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 40,000 milesCaledonia, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #11100329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,400 milesChula Vista, CACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES
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 FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. I HAVE PICS OF THE DAMAGE, BUT IT'S JUST DAMAGE FROM FALLING OVER. I DID AN INSURANCE CLAIM SO I HAVE THAT DOCUMENTATION AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10883833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,000 milesLees Summit, MO
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10882915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 21,000 milesSewell, NJ
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY ONCE IT GETS TO 3/4 FULL.
NHTSA complaint #10452270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,881 milesJackson, TN
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10367849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lake Ariel, PA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10356063 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,000 milesBrooklyn, OH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10349419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,000 milesBrooklyn, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #10349419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,990 milesLivonia, MI
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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 OF THE VEHICLE CAN EASILY RESULT FROM THIS PROBLEM, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY E MANDATORY RECALL, NOT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET PROVES THAT THIS IS A VERY WIDE-SPREAD ISSUE CAN EASILY TAKE OVER 5 YEARS TO OCCUR, SINCE MOTORCYCLES ARE OFTEN RIDDEN VERY LITTLE FOR PLEASURE PURPOSES ONLY.
NHTSA complaint #10250858 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,892 milesST. Simons Island, GA
WHEELS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10157264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.