2004 Harley-Davidson ROAD KING problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
3,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 10.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 10.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 2 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 |
Suspension: 2; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Suspension:Rear: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 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 (5). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
2004: 6; 2005: 3; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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 10086292 · 2004-08-09 (August 9, 2004)
PASSING A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER A ABOUT 70MPH FRONT END STEERING ON NEW 04 ELECTRAGLIDE CLASSIC BEGAN A WOBBLING OF THE FRONT TIRE. IT WAS EXTREMELY NOTICABLE AND NEARLY CAUSED THE BIKE TO GO INTO THE TRACTOR TRAILER. IN ORDER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM I REDUCED MY SPEED W/O APPLYING BRAKES TO ABOUT 40MPH AND THE WOBBLING FINALLY STOPPED. *AK *TC
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087113 · 2004-08-03 (August 3, 2004)
WHEN BRAKING THERE WOULD BE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, WHICH COULD CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198293 · 2007-08-02 (August 2, 2007)
HARLEY DAVIDSON ROADKING 2004 PURCHASED NEW. GEAR SHIFTER WENT "FLACID" AND I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THIS HAPPENED ONCE IN 2004; TWICE IN 2005; TWICE IN 2006; AND ONCE LAST WEEK IN 2007. EACH TIME THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS TIGHTENED BY THE AMERICAN HARLEY DEALER HERE IN WESTERN NEW YORK; AND ONE TIME IN 2006 HARLEY REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER. ON SUCH A NEW BIKE, IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REOCCUR. I COULD BE THROWN OVER THE HANDLEBARS TO MY DEATH IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS BIKE IS ONL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10198293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134022 · 2005-08-24 (August 24, 2005)
DT: THE CALLER HAD WARRANTY WORK DONE ON GAS TANK LINE AND THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS OF THE SAME DESIGN ONLY SHORTER. THE CALLER SAID THE LINE FROM THE GAS PUMP WAS RUBBING ON TANK AND CAUSING A HOLE IN THE LINE INSIDE THE TANK. DEALER SAID THE REPLACEMENT PART WILL FAIL. THE CALLER DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM YET WITH REPLACEMENT PART. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10134022 at NHTSA ↗