2003 Harley-Davidson ELECTRA GLIDE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
9,075 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 13 complaints (38.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 38.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission:Shift Pattern Indicator | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Electrical System: 5; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission:Shift Pattern Indicator: 1; Steering: 1; Suspension: 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 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 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: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 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 (8). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 7; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10037278 · 2003-09-05 (September 5, 2003)
I RIDE A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI (ULTRA CLASSIC) MOTORCYCLE. AT 2,500 RPM, 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYLCE EXPERIENCED FULL ELECTRICAL FAILURE - NO LIGHTS, NO SIGNALS, NO HORN, NO RADIO, NO FUEL INJECTION, NO ENGINE - ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LOOSE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. THE SECOND DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LOOSE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE AND INSTALLED A STAR WASHER TO KEEP THE CONNECTION TIGHT. COMING HOME FROM WISCONSIN, THE MOTORCYCLE SHUTDOWN AGAIN. I CHECKED THE BATTERY CABLE AND IT WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,075 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040435 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE VEERS TO THE LEFT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040911 · 2003-09-29 (September 29, 2003)
MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN (ENGINE & ELECTRONICS) WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES AT 30 MPH, SOMETIMES AT UP TO 60 MPH REGARDLESS OF WHAT GEAR I WAS IN.
Owner-reported narrative. 530 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041041 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
I RIDE A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON CLASSIC (FLHTCI). TO THIS DATE I HAVE ENCOUNTERED 8 OCCURENCES WHERE THE BIKE SHUTS OFF WHILE STARTING OUT IN FIRST GEAR. THE LATEST HAPPENED IN MILWAUKEE AT THE 100TH. MY WIFE WAS ON THE BACK, TO FOLLOW A GROUP OF OUR FRIENDS ONTO A 2 LANE HIGHWAY, IT IS WHERE THE BIKE STALLED AND QUIT. IN MY CASE I STILL HAVE DASH LIGHTS. I CYCLE THE IGNITION AND CUT OFF SWITCH AND PROCEED TO START THE BIKE. ON THE WAY HOME ON SEPT. 3, I DECIDED TO PHONE HARLEY CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING.…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043826 · 2003-10-28 (October 28, 2003)
MY 03 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC ELECTRAGLIDE EXPERIENCED TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE AT 60 MPH. TOWED TO DEALER WHO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG; THEY CALLED HARLEY WHO ARE SENDING A 40AMP FUSE ASSEMBLE TO REPLACE THE MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER WHICH IS DEFECTIVE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INTERNET POSTINGS REGARDING THIS DEFECT THAT HARLEY NEEDS TO RECALL. IN 04 ALL NEW HARLEY MODELS HAVE THE FUSE AND NOT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 14,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049518 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACES THE MOTORCYCLE VEERS LEFT. IF YOU REMOVE YOUR HANDS FROM THE HANDLEBARS THE BIKE WILL CROSS THE CENTERLINE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION. PROBLEM IS ONGOING SINCE NEW. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 12,628 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049518 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049825 · 2003-12-01 (December 1, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE SHIFT LEVER FELL OFF WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE DRIVER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER CLAMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063622 · 2004-03-22 (March 22, 2004)
MY HARLEY DAVIDSON 2003 ULTRA GLIDE CLASSIC WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063622 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.