Harley-Davidson ULTRA CLASSIC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
19,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 33 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 15.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 15.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 6.1% |
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 | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Electrical System: 4; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Tires: 2; Wheels: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 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 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 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 (11). 14 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 | 5 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 3 |
2000: 1; 2001: 3; 2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 6; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2014: 3
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10340231 · 2010-06-26 (June 26, 2010)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. FAULTY STATOR. CAUSED THE BIKE TO LOOSE LIGHTS AND STALL ON THE INTERSTATE IN MODERATE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED ME HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOR CO. KNOWS ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE REPLACEMENT STATOR IS A UPGRADED PART DUE TO THE FAILURES OF THE ORIGINAL STATORS. THEY ADVISED ME TO KEEP MY RECEIPTS IN THE EVENT IT IS RECALLED SO I MAY POSSIBLY GET A REFUND. BIKE HAD 19,000 MILES WHEN THE STATOR FAILED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10340231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10639457 · 2014-09-26 (September 26, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN TWO MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INJECTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10639457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063767 · 2004-03-24 (March 24, 2004)
I READ ABOUT THE RECALL ON 2001 TO 2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON TOURING BIKES. I HAVE A 2000 ULTRA CLASSIC & I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM BACK IN AUGUST OF 2003. THE BIKE WOULD JUST LOSE ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THIS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY. ODDLY ENOUGH, IT WAS IN FRONT OF THE H-D PLANT IN MILWAUKEE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED 14 TIMES IN A MATTER OF 2 WEEKS, AFTER REPLACING IGNITION RELAYS AND STARTER RELAYS AT THE GUIDANCE OF H-D MECHANICS, AND AFTER 3 SHOP VISITS, THE PROBLEM IS SUPPOSED TO BE RESOLVED. THIS BIKE ALSO DIED ON DARK HIGHW…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063767 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152558 · 2006-03-13 (March 13, 2006)
WHILE RIDING OUR 2001 ULTRA CLASSIC (HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE) ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE, THE RADIO AND HEADSETS QUIT WORKING. I NOTICED THE VOTE GAGE STOPPED WORKING. I PUT ON MY TURN SIGNAL TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT; THEY DID NOT WORK. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE BIKE SHUT DOWN AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE ONLY REASON THAT I DID NOT SHUT DOWN IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE WAS MY BATTERY WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT DIED. THE BIKE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE STATOR WAS BAD. …
Owner-reported narrative. 13,507 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 762151 · 2002-05-22 (May 22, 2002)
DRIVESHAFT BROKE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL TO FIRST GEAR AS VEHICLE WAS ROLLING. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTED. AN ACCIDENT WAS BARELY AVOIDED WHEN CAR BEHIND ALMOST STRUCK THE MOTORCYCLE. MFG. / DEALER WOULD NOT COVER UNDER ORIGINAL WARRANTY OR EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AT OWNER EXPENSE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 762151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8022602 · 2002-11-12 (November 12, 2002)
THE ORIGINAL SEAL FROM THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAK WHILE TRAVELING THE OIL BLOW ONTO THE REAR TIRE. CAUSING HIM TO SLIP ON THE ROAD. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8022602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10609422 · 2014-07-09 (July 9, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR PRESENT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FUEL LINE WAS CONNECTED BECAME FRACTURED IN HALF ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10422030 · 2011-08-23 (August 23, 2011)
CPSC# I1180305A. 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE RECENTLY DEVELOPED TWO FUEL LEAKS. ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FUEL INJECTED HARLEY DAVIDSON'S. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT FITTINGS THAT WERE USED TO CONNECT THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL TANK AND LANDING ON THE HOT ENGINE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10422030 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 |
|---|---|
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1992: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0