Menu

Harley-Davidson SportsterYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 59 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on record for the Harley-Davidson Sportster.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints59Top: VisibilitySafety recalls61971–2008 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Harley-Davidson Sportster years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Sportster median. Tap a year for its full report.

'71'72'85'88'92'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'05'07'08
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2008Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls2007Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2005Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall2003Not rated–/1008 complaints · 0 recalls2002Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls2001Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls2000Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls1999Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall1998Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall1992Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1988Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1985Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls1971Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Harley-Davidson Sportster problems

All model years combined: 59 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
Visibility121
Engine and engine cooling110
Power train100
Fuel system, gasoline70
Electrical system50
Service brakes, hydraulic52
Steering40
Exterior lighting31
Fuel system, other20
7 other systems81
6 recalls

Harley-Davidson Sportster recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Fuel system, gasoline: carburetor system04V-607 · 2005 · Dec 23, 2004 · 9,501 vehicles–Other: labels98V-267 · 1999 · Oct 23, 1998 · 232 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic96V-103 · 1996 · Jun 14, 1996 · 251 vehicles–Suspension72V-186 · 1972 · Jul 20, 1972 · 1,500 vehicles–Suspension71V-197 · 1972 · Oct 29, 1971 · 1,600 vehicles–Wheels71V-091 · 1971 · May 27, 1971 · 508 vehicles
1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the Sportster

  1. REAR VIEW MIRROR STEM FAILURESPE02083 · 2000–2003 · closed Feb 26, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-058