2003 Harley-Davidson FXDL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
40,425 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 14.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 14.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 14.3% |
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 | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Equipment: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage: 1; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System: 1; Suspension: 1; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 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 (1). 5 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 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2006: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10019672 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE KICK STAND, AND THE MOTORCYCLE COLLAPSED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029599 · 2003-07-10 (July 10, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH DYNA LOW RIDER.*MR WHILE DRIVING BIKE AT 55 TO 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE VIBRATED SO BAD IT PUT THE CONSUMER HANDS TO SLEEP. THE SHOCKS BOTTOMED OUT WHEN GOING OVER LITTLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *TS. THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLE IN THE MOTOR WHEN FIRST STARTED FOR 5-10 MINUTES, BUT CEASED WHEN THE MOTOR BECAME HOT, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY WHEN THERE WAS 2 GALLONS OF GAS LEFT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058335 · 2004-02-17 (February 17, 2004)
I AM AN ATTORNEY IN 2 CASES WHERE 2003 MODELS OF HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES, BEING DRIVEN JUST A FEW MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERS AFTER PURCHASE, SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OF THE FRONT FORKS. ONE RIDER DIED, AND THE OTHER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURY. POROSITY OF THE FORK APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL FACTOR OF THE FAILURES. ONE OCCURRED IN JUNE 2003; AND THE OTHER, THE FATALITY OCCURRED IN OREGON IN OCTOBER 2003. I HAVE LISTED ONLY THE FATALITY INFORMATION BELOW. INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059338 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE THE DRIVER FELT A VIBRATION IN THE REAR. THE REAR WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND THREW THE DRIVER TO THE GROUND. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10165580 · 2006-08-15 (August 15, 2006)
MY HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE STALLED OUT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE LATER BEING THE DATE OF INDICANT. THE STALL WAS CAUSED BY THE SEPARATION OF THE LINING ON THE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. SMALL PIECES OF THIS LINING GOT INTO THE CARBURETOR AND CUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY FROM GETTING THROUGH THE PRIMARY AND SCENERY JETS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 22,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398537 · 2011-05-02 (May 2, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA GLIDE FXDL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAD AN UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWIN CAM CHAIN TENSIONER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 6/8/11 *CN UPDATED 06/23/11
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398537 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8017508 · 2002-08-29 (August 29, 2002)
TURNING SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT WIRING IS IN WAY OF REAR WHEEL,WIRE COULD BE CUT AND RESULT IN VEHICLE FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8017508 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V218000 · Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
Reported: 2004-05-07 (May 7, 2004)
ON CERTAIN DYNA, XL, AND TOURING MOTORCYCLES, THE TAIL LIGHT BULB CAN FALL OUT OF THE SOCKET.
Consequence: THE TAIL LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BECOME INOPERATIVE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BULBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.
NHTSA campaign record ↗