2003 Harley-Davidson Softail Problems
- Complaints
- 7filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 625miles, 4 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail. The part named most often is fuel system, with 3 complaints (43% of the total), followed by body and structure (2) and engine (1). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 625 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Fuel system3 43%
- Body and structure2 29%
- Engine1 14%
- Equipment1 14%
- Tires1 14%
Example complaints
Fuel system: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10045300, filed 2003-11, 250 milesBody and structure: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10025972, filed 2003-07Engine: “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 the cam tensioner wear block failed.”
NHTSA complaint #10455520, filed 2012-04, 30,000 milesEquipment: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10080371, filed 2004-07Mileage when problems were reported
100% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 250 and 1,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10028305Oct 20, 2008Equipment. Harley davidson: a change to the final torque of the fork cap (part number 45419-80) and for tube plug (part number 45838-77). The new torque for both parts is 60-70 ft lbs (81.3-94.9nm).
Other model years of the Harley-Davidson Softail
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 7 | 625 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2000 | 7 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Harley-Davidson Softail model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail have?
NHTSA recorded 7 consumer complaints for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail is reported most often?
Fuel system is named most often, in 3 complaints (43% of the total), followed by body and structure with 2.
Has the 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail reported?
Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 625 miles and the middle half falls between 250 and 1,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.