2005 Harley-Davidson SOFTAIL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
10,179 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 25.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Power Train: 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 | 4 |
| 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: 4; 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 (4). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2005: 3; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues 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 10132164 · 2005-08-09 (August 9, 2005)
2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE IN A RAINSTORM A DRIVER DID NOT SEE ME AND ALMOST HIT ME AS HE TURNED INTO MY LANE. AFTER I GOT HOME I DISCOVERED MY HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 11,000 MILES ON IT AND THE DEFICIENCY WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/WIRING HARNESSES COULD'VE KILLED ME. THE BIKE IS AT NEW RIVER HARLEY DAVIDSON AT JACKSONVILLE NORTH CAROLINA SUPPOSEDLY UNDER REPAIR (WITHIN THEIR APPOINTMENT SCHEDULE OF COURSE). THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AT NIGHT OR DAY IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND ONE WOULD EXPECT…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132546 · 2005-08-11 (August 11, 2005)
REPEAT DISCREPANCY, FAILURE OCCURRED AT NIGHT WHILE IN FORWARD MOTION ON STATE HIGHWAY 17 (NORTH CAROLINA) REF: REPORT # 10132164. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 10,257 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132546 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132549 · 2005-08-11 (August 11, 2005)
FROM WHAT I'M LEARNING THE HARD WAY, SOME 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES BURN OIL AT A RATE OF 1 QUART PER THOUSAND MILES - MINE IS ONE OF THEM. ACCORDING TO DEALER AND HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY, THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. OWNERS MANUAL STATES NOTHING ABOUT THIS, NOR WAS THIS INFORMATION MADE KNOWN TO ME AT TIME OF SALE IN OCT. 2004. OBVIOUSLY THIS COULD LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZURE IF NOT CHECKED FREQUENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY OR ACCIDENT IF IN MOTION AT TIME OF FAILURE. MOMENTARILY, IF MOTORCYCLE IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY I…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,180 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132549 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407109 · 2011-06-16 (June 16, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE REAR WHEEL ALONG WITH THE DRIVE CHAIN UNBOLTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE REAR WHEEL, DRIVE CHAIN, AND BOLTS CONNECTED TO THE DRIVE CHAIN WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED TWICE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT CAUSING THE FAILURE BUT THAT THE DEALER HAD NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT S…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407109 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V465000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 2004-09-30 (September 30, 2004)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A CONDITION OCCURS THAT COULD ALLOW PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL TANK. ON FUEL INJECTED VEHICLES, THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FUEL TO SPRAY OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE FUEL CAP IS REMOVED. ON CARBURETED VEHICLES, EXCESSIVE FUEL COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CARBURETOR, WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY ALLOW FUEL TO DRIP FROM THE AIR CLEANER.
Consequence: THESE SITUATIONS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR CREATE A FIRE HAZARD FOR PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON OR NEAR THE MOTORCYCLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST EACH CANISTER FOR BLOCKAGE, THEN REPLACE AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V607000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System
Reported: 2004-12-23 (December 23, 2004)
CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL SHUT-OFF VALVES. THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE 'ON' POSITION AND THE 'RESERVE' POSITION OF THE VALVE MAY HAVE BEEN REVERSED.
Consequence: IF THE BIKE WERE OPERATING WITH THE VALVE IN THE 'ON' POSITION, THE BIKE COULD RUN OUT OF FUEL, THE EXPECTED FUEL RESERVE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. THIS COULD LEAD TO THE DRIVER RUNNING OUT OF GAS WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL VALVE AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN FEBRUARY 7, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4080.
NHTSA campaign record ↗