Harley-Davidson DYNA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
7,061 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 to 2014 model years. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Wheels is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 17 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 29.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 11.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 11.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting | 1 |
Wheels: 3; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Equipment: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting: 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 | 9 |
| 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: 9; 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 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 3
Pattern summary
Wheels leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 560480 · 2001-03-21 (March 21, 2001)
WHEN THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE EXHAUST PIPE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE REAR BRAKE ROD CAUSING THE ROD TO NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH IN TURN CAUSING THE REAR BRAKE TO REMAIN APPLIED CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO SKID AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THE MECHANIC FOUND CORROSION ON THE BRAKE ROD, THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE FALLING APART AT THE EDGES DUE TO OVERHEATING OF THE PADS (MECHANIC WRITING IN FOR CONSUMER 1340 CC ENGINE). NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 766689 · 2002-09-04 (September 4, 2002)
TRANSMISSION LEAK CAUSED FLUID TO SLING ONTO REAR TIRE OF MOTORCYCLE WHICH COULD LEAD TO SLICK DANGEROUS CONDITIONS WHEN CORNERING AND OR BRAKING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 766689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457478 · 2012-05-04 (May 4, 2012)
WHEN THE FRONT BRAKE WAS APPLIED A CLUNK WAS HEARD AND FELT. UPON INSPECTION THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR DISK WAS SHIFTING UNDER THE BOLT HEADS THAT SECURE IT TO THE RIM. TORQUE VALUE WAS VERIFIED TO BE WITHIN LIMITS IAW THE HARLEY DAVIDSON MAINTENANCE MANUAL. TO FIND THE PROBLEM REQUIRES TWO PEOPLE. SOMEONE MUST SIT ON THE BIKE, CONTINUALLY APPLY THE FRONT BRAKE AND ROCK THE BIKE FORWARD AND THEN REARWARD. THE SECOND PERSON MUST POSITION THEMSELVES AT EYE LEVEL TO VIEW THE FRONT ROTOR DISK SHIFTING. THIS CONDITION IF ALLOWED TO CONTINUE CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10140509 · 2005-10-22 (October 22, 2005)
THE HANDLE BARS ON MY 2006 HD SOFTAIL MOTORCYCLE ARE NOT ALIGNED CORRECTLY. I PURCHASED THE BIKE AND NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT. THEY CONTACTED HD REPRESENTATIVE WHO LOOKED AND RODE THE BIKE ON 10-20-05 AND STATED IT WAS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE HANDLE BARS POINT 2 OR 3 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT, WHICH MAKES IT NOTICEABLE TO THE RIDER. HD REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM LIKE THIS; IF YOU BOUGHT A CAR AND THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOT CENTERED, YOU WOULD HAVE THE DEALER CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AS A CHILD, IF …
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10140509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10272783 · 2009-06-03 (June 3, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON BUELL BLAST MOTORCYCLE (NA). WHILE DRIVING OVER 55 MPH, THE MAIN FUSED CONTINUED TO BLOW AND THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT COULD ONLY TRADE IN THE VEHICLE FOR BLUE BOOK VALUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 1,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10272783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144339 · 2005-12-02 (December 2, 2005)
A RECALL WAS SENT TO ME, REGARDING AN EXPLOSION COULD RESULT, ON MY MOTORCYCLE, TOOK IT TO MY DEALER,WHO TORE INTO IT IMMEDIATELY AND FOUND THE PROBLEM. A NEW GAS TANK WAS TO BE SENT TO THE DEALER, HERE IS WHERE THE PROBLEM BEGINS; THE BIKE SAT ON MY DEALERS FLOOR, FOR OVER TWO WEEKS, BEFORE HARLEY DAVIDSON, WOULD GIVE A DECISION, AFTER, I CONTACTED, MY DEALER,AND HARLEY, A FEW DAYS PASSED AND SAID THEY ARE GOING TO SEND A NEW TANK,BUT IT WILL TAKE 6 TO 8 WEEKS FOR THAT TO HAPPEN, AFTER SEVERAL MORE PHONE CALLS AND A LOT OF BULL AND AGGRAVATI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144339 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 0 |
1998: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 0; 2008: 0; 2012: 1; 2014: 0