Harley-Davidson Road King Complaints

31 consumer complaints on file.

#10644788October 15, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BIKE CUTS OUT AND DIES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO RIDER OR EVEN DEATH: THIS HAS BEEN AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HARLEYS FROM 199 TO 2001 CRUISER MODELS AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON AS A RECALL ON ALL BIKE WITH THAT SYSTEM. SEE DISCUSSION BELOW: MINE CUT OUT AND I WAS ALMOST THROWN FROM THE BIKE INTO TRAFFIC AS IT SHUT DOWN AND LOCKED UP THE TIRES CLASSIC, THANKS FOR THE VERY THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS. I STARTED THIS THREAD TO TRY TO OUT IF THERE IS A LARGE POPULATION OF 1999-2001 MM EFI OWNERS THAT ARE NOT HAVING PROBLEMS, THAT MIGHT GIVE ME SOME CONFIDENCE THAT IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO TRY TO GET MINE REPAIRED AND REGAIN CONFIDENCE THAT IT WOULD STAY FIXED. THE MM EFI SYSTEM PROVED TO ME FOR 7 YEARS THAT IT CAN DO THE JOB JUST FINE BUT NOW SOMETHING IS BROKEN WITH IT. I DIDN'T/DON'T EXPECT ANY ELECTRO/MECHANICAL SYSTEM TO FUNCTION TROUBLE FREE FOREVER WITHOUT NEEDING MAINTENANCE. ALSO FRUSTRATING IS WHY THE MM EFI SYSTEM IS SO DIFFICULT TO TROUBLESHOOT AND FIX? THE 1999-2001 MM EFI PROBLEMS ARE LEGENDARY AND NOT THE FAULT OF BIKE OWNERS BUT THE MOCO. I REALLY THINK THE MOCO SHOULD RECALL THESE BIKES AND CONVERT THEM TO DELPHI EFI SYSTEMS. MINE STALLED IN CROWDED FAST TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE A BAD ACCIDENT. HARLEY ARE YOU LISTENING-THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS WAS HAPPENING WITH A BIG 3 AUTOMOBILE THERE WOULD BE A DOT RECALL. LAST EDITED BY EZRIDER; 06-08-2008 AT 03:37 PM. EZRIDER IS OFFLINE REPLY WITH QUOTE *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458022May 10, 2012
SEATS
I HAVE A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING. WHEN I ORDERED THE BIKE I HAD THEM INSTALL A PASSENGER BACK REST. THE BIKE IS 10 YEARS OLD 48974 MILES. MY PASSENGER AND I WERE RIDING DOWN THE STREET AND THE BACK REST SUPPORT SNAPPED AND BROKE ON ONE SIDE. THE BREAK IS JUST ABOVE A WELD. MY GUESS IS IT HAD GOTTEN TO HOT DURING THE WELDING. THE BREAK IS PERFECTLY STRAIGHT ACROSS. ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A IT WAS SAWED. I CAME WAY TO CLOSE TO LOSING MY PASSENGER. AND SHE ISN'T A BIG GIRL ABOUT 120 LBS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235145July 21, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
NAME: GERARD BU 973 802 2644 HD REFERENCE # 880109 I HAVE A HD ROAD KING 1999. IT WAS A KNOW DEFECT ON THE CAM BEARINGS OF THIS YEAR AND THERE WAS EVEN A RECALL BUT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION BY MAIL OR ANYTHING. AFTER 6K MILES THE CAM BROKE WHICH COULD LEAD TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND EXPENSES. HD SAID THAT THEY (JOHN AT HD MILWAUKEE) HAD A GRACE PERIOD OF ONLY 5 YEARS SO IT IS TOO LATE. AND THEY CAN NOT DO ANYTHING FOR IT. IT SEEMS NOT BE VERY HONEST THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR IT SINCE THEY NEW THERE WAS A DEFECT REGARDLESS OF THE ISSUE SINCE IT WAS A MANUFACTURING FLAW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226921May 7, 2008
WHEELS:RIM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 (NA) HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC. WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES LONG IN THE RIM OF THE REAR TIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO NOTICING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225216April 21, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SEAL FRACTURED IN THE QUICK DISC, WHICH CONNECTS THE FUEL LINE FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE FUEL INJECTOR MANIFOLD. THE FAILURE CAUSED FUEL TO SPRAY OVER EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE CONTACT'S PANTS LEG, EXHAUST, AND ENGINE BLOCK. HE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS NOT YET INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,200. UPDATED 05/19/08. *LJ THE TANK TO THE INJECTION MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED 05/19/08.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198293August 2, 2007
POWER TRAIN
HARLEY DAVIDSON ROADKING 2004 PURCHASED NEW. GEAR SHIFTER WENT "FLACID" AND I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THIS HAPPENED ONCE IN 2004; TWICE IN 2005; TWICE IN 2006; AND ONCE LAST WEEK IN 2007. EACH TIME THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS TIGHTENED BY THE AMERICAN HARLEY DEALER HERE IN WESTERN NEW YORK; AND ONE TIME IN 2006 HARLEY REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER. ON SUCH A NEW BIKE, IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REOCCUR. I COULD BE THROWN OVER THE HANDLEBARS TO MY DEATH IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS BIKE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD, AND I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS ANOTHER "CHINA" PRODUCT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED DUE TO CHEAP STEEL!!! AMERICAN HARLEY CHARGED FOR LABOR THE TIME THAT THEY REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER, BUT THEY DID REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10170716October 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAM BEARINGS FAILED IN A 1999 ROADKING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 5YR/50,000MILES BUT ONLY IF THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY. I HAVE 27,000 MILES CURRENTLY WITH A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS PROBLEM IS A MILEAGE OCCURRENCE NOT A TIME FACTOR SITUATION. THE MOTOR COMPANY HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT STATING IT WAS PAST THE YEARS OF SERVICE. HOW MANY ENGINES HAVE TO FAIL OR WRECKS HAVE TO OCCUR BEFORE THERE IS A TOTAL RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE COMPANY IS TREATING IT SOLELY ON A MONEY FACTOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161862July 7, 2006
EQUIPMENT
THE SHIFTER CONTROL ARM AND SHAFT HAS COME OFF MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING TWICE WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES. APPARENTLY HARLEY HAS USED A BOLT THAT DOES NOT GO COMPLETELY THRU TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. I HAD TO ASK FOR A LONGER BOLT WHEN I HAD TO PURCHASE THE NEW SHAFT AND SHIFTER ARM. I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS STRANDED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137366September 22, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN GETS WORSE AND BECOMES INAUDIBLE. THE HARLEY MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE ALL HORNS WITH BETTER QUALITY PARTS. MINE HAS BEEN REPLACED AT MY COST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137781September 19, 2005
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
ROAD KING BROKE DOWN AFTER ALL 5 BOLTS CONNECTING THE SPROCKET TO THE REAR HUB FAILED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE MALFUNCTION RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134022August 24, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DT: THE CALLER HAD WARRANTY WORK DONE ON GAS TANK LINE AND THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS OF THE SAME DESIGN ONLY SHORTER. THE CALLER SAID THE LINE FROM THE GAS PUMP WAS RUBBING ON TANK AND CAUSING A HOLE IN THE LINE INSIDE THE TANK. DEALER SAID THE REPLACEMENT PART WILL FAIL. THE CALLER DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM YET WITH REPLACEMENT PART. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133609August 20, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
RE: 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHRI SEVERAL TIMES, DURING HIGH SPEED (> 55MPH) TURNS("SWEEPERS") I HAVE FELT A REAR WHEEL WOBLE. ACCORDING TO INTERNET BOARDS AND INDEPENDANT SHOPS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS THAT ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. MY EXPERIENCE WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIPS HAS RANGED FROM DENIAL OF THE PROBLEM TO BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND SAFE FOR TC-88 LINE OF TOURING MOOTORCYCLES. THE WOBBLE, HOWEVER DOES NOT FEEL SAFE BY ANY MEANS. ALL DRIVETRAIN AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECS. NO REMEDIES ARE OFFERED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129245July 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE LAST YEAR . HE LOCATED THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY PARTS AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME, AND DID NOT ANTICIPATE OF GETTING ANY PARTS. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND HE HAS NEVER BEEN CONTACTING BY THEM, NOTIFYING HIM OF FIXING THE MOTORCYCLE. AT THE TIME HE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE RECALL NOTICE SAID IT WAS A CIRCUIT BREAKER. THE SERVICE CODE WAS 0113. THERE WAS NOT A CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER ON THE NOTICE THAT HE RECEIVED. LATER, HE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE. . HE DID NOT FEEL THAT DEALERSHIP WOULD FIX MOTORCYCLE THIS YEAR SINCE THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT LAST YEAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121991May 24, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: CONSUMER STATES: MOTOR CUTS OUT UPON ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR IF STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE AND MAKING A TURN. ALSO, IT CUTS OUT. IT MAKES A NOISE PRESSURE RELEASE OF THE AIR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091270September 19, 2004
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)
WOBBEL, UNSTEADY, WONDERING, FRON END, BIKE IS UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091250September 18, 2004
SUSPENSION:REAR
I HAVE REPORTED THIS BEFORE BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM YOU... CAN YOU PLEASE HELP? POOR HANDLING MOTORCYCLE, 2004 HARLEY DAVIDSON, FLHTCI - MOTORCYCLE TENDED TO WANT TO "PULL" TO THE LEFT, ESPECIALLY WHEN DECELERATING - SEVERAL VISITS TO THE DEALER FOR "ALIGNMENTS" OF THE ENGINE/FRAME/DRIVETRAIN - PROBLEM MINIMIZED BUT NOT ELIMINATED. - "HIGH SPEED WOBBLES" OCCURRED REGULARLY AND WITHOUT NOTICE WHICH I HANDLED BECUASE I AM AN EXPERIENCED RIDER AND VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE. - REMOVAL OF TIRE TO REPAIR PUNCTURE AND CHECK OF SWINGARM FOUND THE SWINGARM MOVES LEFT TO RIGHT ABOUT 1/4 INCH.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086292August 9, 2004
TIRES, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, SUSPENSION
PASSING A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER A ABOUT 70MPH FRONT END STEERING ON NEW 04 ELECTRAGLIDE CLASSIC BEGAN A WOBBLING OF THE FRONT TIRE. IT WAS EXTREMELY NOTICABLE AND NEARLY CAUSED THE BIKE TO GO INTO THE TRACTOR TRAILER. IN ORDER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM I REDUCED MY SPEED W/O APPLYING BRAKES TO ABOUT 40MPH AND THE WOBBLING FINALLY STOPPED. *AK *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087113August 3, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN BRAKING THERE WOULD BE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, WHICH COULD CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082583July 24, 2004
SUSPENSION
MOTORCYCLE STABILITY ISSUE. I PURCHASED NEW WITH ABOUT 20 TEST MILES, AN FLHTCI, 2004, HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYLE. IMMEDIATELY UPON RIDING I FOUND IT "PULLED" TO THE LEFT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ROLL OFF THE THROTTLE(DECELERATE). THE AMOUNT OF DEFLECTION WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SWERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD I NOT BEEN AN EXPERIENCED RIDER. DEALER HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BUT IS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080516July 7, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2002 ROAD KING FLHRI INTERMITTENTLY LOOSES ALL POWER WHILE IN USE JUST AS DESCRIBED IN 04V-134. THERE IS NO WARNING AND NO APPARENT CAUSE AND THERE MAY BE HUNDREDS OF MILE BETWEEN OCCURRENCES OR MINUTES. I REPORTED THIS DURING MY LAST MAINTENANCE VISIT AND IT HAS OCCURRED TWICE SINCE. THIS MODEL WAS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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