2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster Problems
- Complaints
- 6filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 4,841miles, 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 2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster. The part named most often is visibility, with 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by engine cooling (2) and fuel 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 4,841 miles. Of all complaints, 1 an injury, 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.
- Engine cooling2 33%
- Fuel system1 17%
Example complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Custom 1200, mirrors on vehicle are very high stemmed, vibration will not allow rider to see traffic behind him when changing lanes. Dealer stated there was nothing he could do.”
NHTSA complaint #8016476, filed 2002-08Engine cooling: “Dt: the contact stated the rear upper valve cover leaked. The dealership replaced the front and rear upper valve covers. Since the valves were replaced the problem has not returned. Updated 1/4/2006 - the rear rocker box cover leaked. The front and rear box cover were replaced. The gaskets were replaced with updated ones.”
NHTSA complaint #10144509, filed 2005-12, 3,682 milesFuel system: “While driving, intake manifold leaks and motorcycle completely shuts down. Consumer adds that bike would stall intermittently and is also making a popping noise and backfiring.”
NHTSA complaint #8007255, filed 2002-04Transmission and drivetrain: “After motorcycle has been ridden for 30-45 minutes shift lever becomes almost unusable if motorcycle has been left to idle of is turned off, after a few minutes of moving up and down it can be used. Very dangerous if I can not shift into appropriate gear.”
NHTSA complaint #10048968, filed 2003-12, 6,000 milesMileage 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 3,682 and 6,000 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 2002 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 2002 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 2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster have?
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster is reported most often?
Visibility is named most often, in 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 2.
Has the 2002 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 2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster reported?
Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 4,841 miles and the middle half falls between 3,682 and 6,000 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 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.