Harley-Davidson XG500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
550 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 14 complaints (71.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 35.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 21.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 14.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Power Train: 2; Steering: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Engine: 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 | 13 |
| 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: 13; 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 (13). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2017: 2; 2019: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10630357 · 2014-09-03 (September 3, 2014)
UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP, THE 2015 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET 500 AND 750 (XG500 AND XG750) MODELS LOSE FUEL PRESSURE WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS UNDER APPROXIMATELY 1/2 CAPACITY. THE PROBLEM IS EXACERBATED WHEN ACCELERATING UP HILLS. UPON LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE, THE MOTORCYCLE VIOLENTLY THRUSTS THE RIDER FORWARD, AND WHEN THE FUEL PRESSURE RECOVERS, THE RIDER IS UNEXPECTEDLY THRUST BACKWARDS, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT BEST. IN MY CASE, MY NECK WAS STRAINED. MULTIPLE CASES ON THIS PROBLEM HAVE BEEN REPORTED T…
Owner-reported narrative. 550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630357 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10663574 · 2014-12-11 (December 11, 2014)
VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY. THROTTLE RESPONSE IS EXTREMELY ERRATIC. THIS CAUSED INEXPERIENCED RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL AT A LOW SPEED AND WAS THROWN FROM VEHICLE AS IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL ONTO THE SIDEWALK. FUEL TANK WAS NEARLY FULL. CONTINUED RIDING EXHIBITED EXTREMELY ERRATIC THROTTLE CONTROL. VEHICLE IS VERY UNPREDICTABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 94 miles reported. Look up ODI 10663574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10732410 · 2015-07-07 (July 7, 2015)
LIKE MANY OTHERS, SINCE DAY 1 MY HARLEY STREET 500 HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A "LAG AND LEAP" ISSUE. THE FIRST DAY I HAD MY BIKE I EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WHERE WHEN STARTING FROM A STOP, OR MAKING A TURN AT LOW SPEEDS, THE BIKE WOULD STALL LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GAS, AND THEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AGAIN, ALMOST THROWING ME OFF THE BACK OF THE BIKE. I BROUGHT MY BIKE TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME I WAS LOW ON GAS, FILLED ME UP AND SENT ME ALONG MY WAY. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE TIME (IT IS 100% REPRODUCIBLE) THE BIKE TRAVELS FOR …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10732410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10732830 · 2015-07-08 (July 8, 2015)
I PREVIOUSLY FILED A REPORT ABOUT MY MOTORCYCLE STALLING AND SURGING ON 4/18 WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH IN WET WEATHER. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP BROUGHT MY BIKE IN AND HAD IT FOR A WEEK WHILE WAITING FOR A NEW FUEL PUMP. I AM ON MY SECOND FUEL PUMP. THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AS BEFORE BUT A COMPLETELY NEW FUEL PUMP. I WAS ALMOST HIT WHILE TAKING OFF SLOWLY FROM A LIGHT WHEN THE BIKE SURGED AND THE CAR BEHIND ME EXPECTED ME TO CONTINUE MOVING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I AM FINANCIALLY TIED INTO IT AND IT IS UNSAFE TO RIDE. MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10732830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958706 · 2017-03-05 (March 5, 2017)
THE FORK BEARINGS RUSTED UP AND BECAME NOTCHY AFTER RIDING IN RAINY WEATHER DURING THE WINTER. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING TO BE JERKY AND UNSTABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,345 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11233260 · 2019-07-19 (July 19, 2019)
AT AROUND 3,000 MILES THE FORK BEARINGS/ STEERING NECK BEARINGS STARTED TO RUST CAUSING THE STEERING TO BECOME CHOPPY OR UNSAFE. THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER SPENDING ONE RAINY SEASON OUTSIDE, HOWEVER WAS PARKED INDOORS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11233260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10745446 · 2015-07-31 (July 31, 2015)
JULY 3, 2015 - IT STALLED TWICE WHILE SITTING COMPLETELY STOPPED AT STOP SIGNS WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY PULLED IN. IT IDLED LOW AND THEN COMPLETELY DIED. RESTARTING THE BIKE, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT MOVING WITH QUITE A BIT OF LEAPING AND LAGGING AND THE ENGINE SPUTTERING. ONCE UP AND THROUGH 1ST AND 2ND GEAR (SPUTTERING LIKE IF WAS MISSING FUEL) IT SEEMED TO SUDDENLY ENGAGE AND WAS OK. I COMPENSATED FOR THE LAGGING, BUT IT KEPT JUMPING AS IF SUDDENLY CATCHING WITHOUT PRESSURE ON THE THROTTLE INCREASING. IT DID THIS MOSTLY AT LOWER SPEEDS AT FIRST, B…
Owner-reported narrative. 32 miles reported. Look up ODI 10745446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11407932 · 2021-04-13 (April 13, 2021)
UNDER MODERATE TO HEAVY BRAKING, WITH THE FUEL TANK BETWEEN 3/4 AND FULL, FUEL LEAKS FROM THE UNDERSIDE AND PUDDLES UNDER THE BIKE. DEALERSHIP STAFF SAYS THAT THIS IS NORMAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11407932 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1