2003 Harley-Davidson SOFTAIL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
625 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 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 System, Gasoline 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Structure: 2; Engine: 1; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Tires: 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 | 3 |
| 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: 3; 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 (3). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns 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 10013954 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
GASOLINE LEAK FROM FUEL LINE ON HARLEY-DAVIDSON FWSTI 2003. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 240 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025972 · 2003-07-12 (July 12, 2003)
WHEN GETTING OFF OF BACK OF HARLEY DAVIDSON MY LEG GOT CAUGHT ON THE LICENSE PLATE AND TORE MY LEG OPEN. WENT TO ER WHERE I HAD TO HAVE STITCHES ON THE INSIDE OF THE WOUND AND ON THE OUTSIDE. VERY PAINFUL! PLACEMENT OF LICENSE PLATE HOLDER IS NOT SAFE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045300 · 2003-11-02 (November 2, 2003)
MY BROTHER HAD A LOW SPEED (UNDER 20 MPH) CRASH ON A 2003 HARLEY HERITAGE SOFTAIL. UPON HITTING THE GROUND, THE BIKE BURST INTO FLAMES. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AS THE SPEED WAS LOW, THE IMPACT WAS NOT SEVERE (MY BROTHER ENDED UP WITH A SEVERELY SPRAINED ANKLE), BUT THE BIKE WAS TOTALED. I BELIEVE THERE IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THE BIKE IS A FUEL INJECTED TWIN CAM 88 ENGINE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048358 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH FRAME ON 2003 SUNDANCE SOFTAIL. *MR THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY AND WOULD NOT TRACK ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FRAME WAS TAKEN TO AN UNINTERESTED THIRD PARTY AND PLACED ON A LASER FRAME MACHINE. THE RESULTS SUPPORTED THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER EVALUATION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE CONSUMER. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057810 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
4 TIRES WERE REPLACED WITHIN 1,000 MILES DUE TO TIRES BEING OUT OF ROUND. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080371 · 2004-07-05 (July 5, 2004)
MOST OF THE HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES HAVE THE PASSENGER FOOTREST RIGHT BESIDE OR OVERTOP OF THE EXHAUST. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ACTUALLY BURN THROUGH MY PROTECTIVE BOOTS I WEAR. I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED YET, BUT SHOULD A CHILD OR PERSON WHO DOES NOT WEAR PROTECTIVE SHOES COULD SERIOUSLY HAVE MAJOR BURNS TO THEIR FEET AND ANKLES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080371 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455520 · 2012-04-17 (April 17, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TALE DEUCE MOTORCYCLE. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS CAUSING FRICTION TO THE INNER FUEL TANK AND BORE SEVERAL HOLES IN THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL LINES WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000. UPDATED 06/05/12 *BF THE CAM TENSIONER WEAR BLOCK FAILED.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455520 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.