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1996 Harley-Davidson SoftailProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 3 owner complaints about the 1996 Harley-Davidson Softail, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints30 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem1Engine and engine cooling

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 4, 2001. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1996 Harley-Davidson Softail has problems

3 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling10
Fuel system, gasoline10
Power train10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1996 Harley-Davidson Softail recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

Recall 96V-204 · Oct 22, 1996 · 176,515 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE FUEL FLOW TO BE UNPREDICTABLE THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN INCREASING THE RISK OF A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Harley-Davidson.

Best & worst years

1996 vs. every other Softail year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Softail median. How we score

'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'07'08'10'11'12'13
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What Softail owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WAS DRIVING MOTORCYCLE WHEN CAM BEARINGS BLEW OUT AND SCATTERED METAL PIECES THROUGHOUT ENGINE, CAUSING IT TO STALL OUT. *AK
Complaint 889733 · Jun 4, 2001

Own a 1996 Softail?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.