Motorcycles · Harley-Davidson · Cruiser & retro
IllustrationIllustration (AI-generated) of a 2019 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic (Softail), not a photo of a specific motorcycle. Free to use under CC BY 4.0: credit The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Download and credit text
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 2000 to 2026 models.
9 of 12 describe a wobble or a front wheel problem.
1 reported a crash.
6 of 11 describe the brakes or the brake light switch.
5 of 9 describe Twin Cam 88 cam bearing failures.
After 2012, no model year drew more than 5.
Fewest complaints on file: 2001 (1), 2010 (1), 2021 (1). Few complaints is not a clean bill of health, just fewer owners filing.
What each year's complaints describe comes from reading their text. These are counts, not rates: there are no sales figures per motorcycle model year. A complaint is not proof of a defect.
Popular years get more complaints just because more were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect them. There are no U.S. sales figures by motorcycle model year, so these are counts, not rates.
The rear brake line may contact the Body Control Module (BCM), resulting in a hole in the brake line, a brake fluid leak, and loss of the rear brakes.
The mounting tab on the rear shock pre-load adjuster may break, allowing the rear shock absorber adjuster to damage the rear tire, causing a loss of tire pressure.
A fastener securing the rear shock absorber may break and allow the rear shock absorber adjuster to damage the rear tire, causing a loss of tire pressure.
Certain motorcycles were built with a condition that permits the positive battery cable to contact a weld bead on the oil tank.
Certain softail motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of part 567, 'certification.' the VIN/certification label contains incorrect tire size and inflation pressures for the front wheel.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific bike's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
~86 hpClaimed crank figure
From the makers' U.S. spec sheets (the EU sheet for horsepower where the U.S. one leaves it out), checked against a sample on Nov 11; years and versions differ.
Filed as: FLSTC, FLHCS, FLSTCI, FLHC, FLHCS ANV. Source: NHTSA owner complaints (model years 2000-2026) and recalls. Every motorcycle
Also counted in the Harley-Davidson Softail family page.
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