Harley-Davidson SOFTAIL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
43 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
1,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2013 model years. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 43 complaints (9.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 11.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 7.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Wheels | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Equipment | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Power Train: 4; Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Wheels: 3; Electrical System: 2; Equipment: 2; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 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: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 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 (21). 18 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 | 3 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
2000: 3; 2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 7; 2004: 6; 2005: 6; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 889733 · 2001-06-04 (June 4, 2001)
WAS DRIVING MOTORCYCLE WHEN CAM BEARINGS BLEW OUT AND SCATTERED METAL PIECES THROUGHOUT ENGINE, CAUSING IT TO STALL OUT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 889733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131971 · 2005-08-08 (August 8, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL FXSTS. THE CONTACT WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. HE PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE BRAND NEW AND IN THE WINTER THE GAS TANK RUSTED IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS. . HARLEY DAVIDSON PUT A LINER INSIDE THE GAS TANK TO PREVENT IT FROM RUSTING AND IT DID NOT WORK. THE ACTUALLY LINER WAS PEELING AND COMING OFF INSIDE THE TANK. IF IT GOT THROUGH THE FUEL FILTER INTO THE CARBURETOR IT WOULD CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO STALL. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10131971 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8009793 · 2002-05-14 (May 14, 2002)
WHEN TURNING HANDLE BARS FROM SIDE TO SIDE HANDLES WILL HIT FUEL TANK ON EITHER SIDE OF CYCLE. FUEL TANK GETS DENTED. DEALER STATED IT WAS A KNOWN DEFECT, AND THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8009793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132164 · 2005-08-09 (August 9, 2005)
2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE IN A RAINSTORM A DRIVER DID NOT SEE ME AND ALMOST HIT ME AS HE TURNED INTO MY LANE. AFTER I GOT HOME I DISCOVERED MY HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 11,000 MILES ON IT AND THE DEFICIENCY WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/WIRING HARNESSES COULD'VE KILLED ME. THE BIKE IS AT NEW RIVER HARLEY DAVIDSON AT JACKSONVILLE NORTH CAROLINA SUPPOSEDLY UNDER REPAIR (WITHIN THEIR APPOINTMENT SCHEDULE OF COURSE). THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AT NIGHT OR DAY IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND ONE WOULD EXPECT…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206766 · 2007-10-24 (October 24, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL DELUXE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V173000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES) ON MAY 8 2007. HE CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL HIS VEHICLE REACHED 2,500 MILES. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT CATCH FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED BY ANOTHER DEALER. HIS VEHICLE HAS YET TO CATCH FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIF…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10206766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 756187 · 2001-12-29 (December 29, 2001)
THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAPS THE FOOT UNDER IT DUE TO ITS DESIGN. HARLEY HAS REDISIGNED IT FOR THE 2001 MODELS BUT WON'T REPLACE IT ON THE OLDER MODELS. I WROTE TO THEM AND THEY REFUSED IN WRITING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DEFECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 756187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128165 · 2005-07-09 (July 9, 2005)
AFTER 500 MILES, WOBBLE WAS DISCOVERED IN HANDLEBARS BETWEEN 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOUR. TAKEN TO DEALER WAS TOLD IT WAS TRAIT ON MODEL. CALLED HARLEY, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER OF MY CHOICE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASE WAS MADE. THEY ADJUSTED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS. PROBLEM SOLVE. AFTER ANOTHER 500 MILES, SAME SITUATION OCCURRED. WOBBLE IN FRONT END BETWEEN 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOURS. TOOK BIKE BACK TO DEALER, ADJUSTED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS AND GREASED FRONT END. PROBLEM SOLVED. AFTER 1,000 MILES, WOBBLE COME BACK …
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128165 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 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 0; 2010: 0; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 0