2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster Problems
- Complaints
- 6filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 6,300miles, 2 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 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster. The part named most often is visibility, with 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by brakes (1) and electrical system (1). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 6,300 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 an injury, 2 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Visibility complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part.
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.
- Brakes1 17%
- Electrical system1 17%
- Other or unknown1 17%
- Steering1 17%
Example complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “I purchased the motorcycle new and it has been nothing but a major problem from the mirrors falling off will moving, head light aimed at the sky not too the road, part of the forward gear shift control falling off over and over, leaking oil from the head and the lower end and from the air cleaner. …”
NHTSA complaint #752641, filed 2001-09Brakes: “Riding my 2001 Harley-Davidson 1200s (Sportster 1200 sport) home from work and the brakes locked up. Weather conditions: mist/light rain. The bike had just had its 10k service done a few weeks prior at local h-d dealership and they also put on new tires front & rear. The bike shook violently from side to side and I ended up laying it down. My r knee was scraped up and my l hand swollen and l ankle bruised. Very lucky as I was wearing leather jacket and boots. No broken bones. Ins co (progressive) suggested a different shop (not dealer) that they use. …”
NHTSA complaint #10013564, filed 2003-03, 11,300 milesElectrical system: “While driving, the motorcycle stalled. The consumer tried to restart the motorcycle, but was unable to do so. The consumer had to turn the circuit breaker on to restart. The consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and the mechanic could not duplicate the problem. The vehicle would not idle properly and the motorcycle lost power. The consumer there was a problem with the wiring.”
NHTSA complaint #10066994, filed 2004-05Other or unknown: “My 6 year old son and my ex-husband were killed by another driver while they were on a motorcycle. I would like to know why there is not a law prohibiting children from riding as a passenger on a motorcycle. I was not allowed by law to put aaron in the car without being placed in a car seat, yet his father, even after my repeated request for him not to was able to put him on the back of his harley. …”
NHTSA complaint #10142470, filed 2005-11Mileage when problems were reported
100% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 1,300 and 11,300 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 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster 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.
NHTSA investigations
- PE02083Rear view mirror stem failuresClosed · Nov 12, 2002
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster.
Other model years of the Harley-Davidson Sportster
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 8 | 2,142 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 6 | 4,841 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2001 | 6 | 6,300 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2000 | 9 | 4,250 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1999 | 6 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 6 | 19,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1996 | 6 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Harley-Davidson Sportster model years
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster have?
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster is reported most often?
Visibility is named most often, in 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by brakes with 1.
Has the 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster 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 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 6,300 miles and the middle half falls between 1,300 and 11,300 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 31, 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.