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U.S. public vehicle records

Harley-Davidson VRSCA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

33 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

5,657 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 to 2007 model years. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 33 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior618.2%
Fuel system concerns39.1%
Transmission and shifting13.0%
Engine operation13.0%
Electrical and battery issues13.0%

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline
9
Fuel/Propulsion System
8
Electrical System
7
Fuel System, Other
3
Service Brakes
3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
Wheels
2
Engine
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel System, Gasoline9
Fuel/Propulsion System8
Electrical System7
Fuel System, Other3
Service Brakes3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Wheels2
Engine1

Fuel System, Gasoline: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Electrical System: 7; Fuel System, Other: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Wheels: 2; Engine: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
21
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00021
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 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 (21). 9 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.

2002
1
2005
1
2006
2
2008
1
2010
11
2011
1
2012
5
2013
1
2014
2
2015
2
2016
4
2018
1
2020
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20021
20051
20062
20081
201011
20111
20125
20131
20142
20152
20164
20181
20201

2002: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2008: 1; 2010: 11; 2011: 1; 2012: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 4; 2018: 1; 2020: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10351101 · 2010-08-21 (August 21, 2010)

2002 HARLEY VROD REAR BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. SWITCH DOES NOT LIGHT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. FAILURE IS PERMANENT. DOES NOT WORK. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. READ BLOGS INDICATING IT IS WIDESPREAD AND COSTS APPROX $150 AND RECURS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351101 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10883833 · 2016-07-10 (July 10, 2016)

THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. I FELL OVER AND BROKE 3 RIBS. I SENT MY BIKE TO THE HD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FIXED THE DAMAGE TO MY BIKE. THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE MY BIKE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HIM. THE DEALERSHIP SAID HE WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MPH WENT THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED ON HIM. HD HAD MY BIKE FOR 5 MONTHS. ALL THEY DID WAS CHARGE ME FOR A WHOLE NEW FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. I TOLD THEM THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM SO I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW FRON…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10883833 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10510468 · 2013-05-03 (May 3, 2013)

THE FUEL GAGE INDICATED 1/2 TANK, I STOPPED AND FILLED THE FUEL TANK. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED AND I WAS RIDING AWAY I SAW THE NEEDLE NOW INDICATED THE TANK WAS EMPTY. AFTER RIDING FOE SOME 20 MILES THE GAGE NEEDLE GRADUALLY BEGAN TO RISE TO 3/4 FULL THEN DROP THEN RISE TO 7/8 FULL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW EVERY TIME I HAVE FILLED THE TANK. THE FORUMS ARE FULL OF OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURE. THIS IS MY FIRST VEHICLE WITH THIS MANUFACTURE AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,514 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510468 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10356063 · 2010-09-17 (September 17, 2010)

I PURCHASED A 2003 100TH ANNIVERSARY HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCA (VROD) AND THE GAS GAUGE INCORRECTLY REPORTS LEVEL (LESS MILES TO EMPTY THAN ACTUALLY CAPABLE). AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND VROD GAS GAUGE IS A COMMON ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, I CAN NOT DETERMINE WHEN THE GAS TANK IS LOW AND REQUIRING FUEL. I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO MY LOCAL HD DEALER AND THEY WERE OF NO HELP. VERY FRUSTRATING AND DISAPPOINTING FOR AN AMERICAN COMPANY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10356063 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11100329 · 2018-06-07 (June 7, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AND A PORTION OF THE STRUCTURE NEAR THE ENGINE BECAME DISLODGED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE NEARBY. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11100329 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10103202 · 2005-01-05 (January 5, 2005)

THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE (2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON V-ROD). *AK THE BIKE TYPICALLY STALL WHILE STARTING OUT IN FIRST GEAR. THE BIKE HAD TO BE REVVED UP HIGH TO GET IT GOING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED THE FRONT SPROCKET ON THE 2004 AND 2005 MODELS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE EARLIER MODELS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10103202 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10462158 · 2012-06-18 (June 18, 2012)

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT CITY SPEEDS, ANOTHER RIDER ON A DIFFERENT MOTORCYCLE RIDING BEHIND ME, INFORMED MY THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH MY MOTORCYCLE. I PROMPTLY TURNED OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF THE BIKE. I ALSO LOST 100% OF MY REAR BRAKING ABILITY. I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND HAD SMOKE COMING UP MY RIGHT LEG. I GOT OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AND NOTICED 6" FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE MOTORCYCLE. I TRIED TO BLOW OUT THE FLAMES AND SMOTHER IT WITH MY RIDING GLOVES, WITH NO LUCK. ONE OF THE OTHER RIDERS IN THE G…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462158 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

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.

2002
0
2003
0
2004
0
2006
0
2007
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20020
20030
20040
20060
20070

2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2006: 0; 2007: 0

Year-by-year records

Harley-Davidson VRSCA model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
2002130Not available
2003900
2004200
200670Not available
2007200