Harley-Davidson FXDWG problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
41 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
5,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2013 model years. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 41 complaints (24.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 9.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 7.3% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 7.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 7.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 |
| Engine | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 10; Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Power Train: 3; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Suspension: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 26 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (26). 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 3; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2005: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 10; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10232565 · 2008-06-27 (June 27, 2008)
WHILE RIDING IN HEAVY MORNING TRAFFIC IN HOUSTON TX. MOTORCYCLE BEGINS TO DISPLAY LOSS OF FUEL SYMPTOMS AND QUIT RUNNING ALMOST CAUSING SEVER ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BIKE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. WHERE I WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND LIMP THE BIKE A FEW BLOCKS THEN IT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. BIKE HAD A BUILD DATE OF 9/07 IT WAS PURCHASED 6/08. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE REGULATORS ON ITS 08 MODELS FOR MANY MONTHS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAD BEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 958 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232617 · 2008-06-29 (June 29, 2008)
FUEL PUMP AND/OR LINES INTERNAL TO FUEL TANK FAIL AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO RUN POORLY OR EVEN DIE OUT AND FAIL TO RESTART. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107892 · 2005-01-25 (January 25, 2005)
MY 2003 HARLEY FXDWG WAS RIDDEN TO ORANGE COUNTY HARLEY AND SAT IN THE SUN FOR 1 HOUR. THE TEMP WAS 64-70 AND I HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS, WHICH WAS CHEVRON 91 OCT. GETTING BACK ONTO THE 405 FREEWAY AT 70 MPH THE BIKE FELT AS IF IT LACKED POWER. AFTER 30 SEC THE BIKE STARTED SPUTTERING AS IF IT WASN'T GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR WAS VAPOR LOCKING CAUSING ME TO LOSE SPEED AND POWER. THIS SPUTTERING CONTINUED FOR 3-4 MILES. I FINALLY COMPLETELY BACKED OF THE THROTTLE AND JUST BARELY OPENED IT, WHERE AS AFTER ABOUT 30 SEC THE BIKE REGAINED FULL POWER (G…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107893 · 2005-01-25 (January 25, 2005)
THIS IS A MODIFICATION TO COMPLAINT 10107892 WHICH HAD THE WRONG PHONE NUMBER. MY 2003 HARLEY FXDWG WAS RIDDEN TO ORANGE COUNTY HARLEY DAVIDSON AND SAT IN THE SUN FOR 1 HOUR. THE TEMP WAS 64-70. I HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS, WHICH WAS CHEVRON 91 OCT. GETTING BACK ONTO THE 405 FREEWAY AT 70 MPH THE BIKE FELT AS IF IT LACKED POWER. AFTER 30 SEC THE BIKE STARTED SPUTTERING AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR WAS VAPOR LOCKING CAUSING ME TO LOSE SPEED AND POWER. THIS SPUTTERING CONTINUED FOR 3-4 MILES, AFTER WHICH I COMPLETELY BACKED OFF THE THROTT…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235070 · 2008-07-20 (July 20, 2008)
AIT APROX 1,800 MILES, MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE FUEL FILTER SHELL WHILE I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE. I WAS EXITING INTERSTATE 65 SOUTH IN BRENTWOOD, TN AND UPON ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM THE EXIT, I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR. THE MOTORCYCLE GAVE NO WARNING/INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. UPON ATTEMPTING TROUGH THE EXIT RAMP. THE BIKE SPUTTERED AND ALMOST STOPPED, WHILE THE AUTOMOBILES BEHIND ME LOCKED UP THEIR BRAKES TRYING TO AVOID ME. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME AFTER SUFFERING INTERMITTENT SPUTTERI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,862 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10269581 · 2009-05-21 (May 21, 2009)
BRAND: HARLEY DAVIDSON. MODEL: XR1200 (NEW MODEL NOT REPORTED IN YOUR MODEL LIST). CRASH WITH INJURIES. FRONT BRAKES FAILURE BY LOCK-UP ON A NEW HD XR1200 OWNED BY HD AND LENT TO ME FOR A DEMO-RIDE (OR TEST). THE MAIN WITNESS HAS STATED IN WRITING THAT HE HAS CHECKED AND DOUBLE-CHECKED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL WAS STILL BLOCKED BY THE FRONT BRAKES EVEN AFTER THE CRASH. THERE IS ALSO A POLICE REPORT WITH PICS, AND A MEDICAL REPORT WITH XRAYS. ALL THE DOCUMENTS ARE AT YOUR DISPOSAL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10269581 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10861925 · 2016-04-28 (April 28, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL 3RD NEW BATTERY FROM HARLEY. WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY-DOES NOT HOLD CHARGE AND STARTED SMOKING. WORKS WHEN IT WANTS----KEEP BRING BATTERIES BACK TO HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY JUST GIVE A NEW ONE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10861925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10404076 · 2011-06-01 (June 1, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDWG LOW RIDER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE CHANGING THE BATTERY HE NOTICED THAT A FACTORY WELD WAS CRACKED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT REFUSED TO DO ANY WORK ON IT SINCE HE WELDED THE FRAME HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 07/08/11 *BF UPDATED 07/18/11
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404076 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 |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 2; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 0; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 0; 2012: 0; 2013: 0