Harley Davidson Sportster 2003

Model Sportster made in 2003 by Harley Davidson got 11 consumer complains there is 1 investigation as well as 2 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to engine and engine cooling, equipment and service brakes, hydraulic. Technical service bulletines regarding equipment, wheels. The car had one investigation (visibility).

Model 2003

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
EQUIPMENT - OTHER - OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
113303/04/200310001424Service manual incorrectly described the rear belt deflection adjustment procedure. *scc05/05/2003
WHEELS
113102/07/200310001423Rear wheel spacer identification. *tt05/05/2003

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
VISIBILITY
PE02083HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY11/12/200202/26/2003REAR VIEW MIRROR STEM FAILURES03V058000
 Prompted by the referenced owner complaint, odi opened this pe after determining that harley davidson dealers had frequently replaced the original equipment (oe) mirrors on 2002 sportster 1200 custom model motorcycles because of stem fractures on the mirror assembly.the stembeing the tubular structure which connects the actual mirror head assembly to the motorcycle.the single crash allegation has not been confirmed.of the two injuries, one occurred when the separated mirror struck the operator.the other occurred during the unconfirmed crash. subsequently, harley davidson notified the agency that it was recalling the subject motorcycles to address the stem failures.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
05/01/20042142104/26/2003
 Speedometer-tachometer bracket breaks from excessive engine vibration through mounting bolt holes causing gauge assembly to fall off while riding. unit hangs by the wires & interferes with the steering forks & control of vehicle. also excessive engine vibration as deemed normal by the manufacturer causes numbness in the hands & feet within 7 miles of riding & ultimately difficulty in controlling vehicle.*ak
05/18/2002
 Ok, my complaint is on a 2003 harley davidson 1200 custom sportster. the front headlight has fallen off due to the bolt shearing from vibration and so has the rear view mirror on the left side. harley has replaced the engine at about 1300 miles, stating that it had an unsafe vibration. the engine replacement did not fix the excessive vibration and i have since lost these parts. they now tell me that the unsafe vibration is indeed safe. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
1
 2003 harley davidson sportster leaking oil out of the air cleaner.*mr *ts
EQUIPMENT
04/27/20034
 The mirrors have a tendency to shear off while riding. both left and right side mirrors have each sheared off 2 times while riding. this motorcycle was purchased in 8/1998 and the first incident occurred in 10/1998 with the right side mirror. the second incident occurred in 4/2000 with the left side mirror. the third incident occurred in 9/2001 with the right side mirror again. and the most recent incident took place on 4/27/2003 with the left side mirror again. each time this occurred, the owner replaced the mirrors with the same style genuine harley davidson factory mirrors. the material that the factory mirrors are built from cannot withstand the vibration of the motorcycle and continue to shear off. the motorcycle only has 14k miles on it and should not have experienced so many failures in the mirrors during this time. *tt
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1
 The consumer applied the brake but there was no reaction. the consumer almost rear ended another vehicle. the consumer later noticed that brake fluid was leaking out. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that someone forgot to put the washers in the brake line. *nlm
STEERING
05/01/20042142104/26/2003
 Speedometer-tachometer bracket breaks from excessive engine vibration through mounting bolt holes causing gauge assembly to fall off while riding. unit hangs by the wires & interferes with the steering forks & control of vehicle. also excessive engine vibration as deemed normal by the manufacturer causes numbness in the hands & feet within 7 miles of riding & ultimately difficulty in controlling vehicle.*ak
STRUCTURE
05/03/20042500310/05/2003
 Tl*the contact owns a 2003 harley davidson sportster sport. the frame bracket that holds the speedometer failed due to metal fatigue. the dealer replaced the part but it failed again after 2,500 miles. the part was replaced a third time and has failed again. the # of cylinders was unknown. the current mileage is 7,500 and failure mileage was 2,500. updated 06/26/07. *jb
05/01/20042142104/26/2003
 Speedometer-tachometer bracket breaks from excessive engine vibration through mounting bolt holes causing gauge assembly to fall off while riding. unit hangs by the wires & interferes with the steering forks & control of vehicle. also excessive engine vibration as deemed normal by the manufacturer causes numbness in the hands & feet within 7 miles of riding & ultimately difficulty in controlling vehicle.*ak
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
08/12/20037504
 While riding speedometer does not register the correct rate of speed. when this occurs consumer has to reach down and turn the vehicle off while still riding, and turn it back on again before the speedometer will show the correct the rate of speed. vehicle had been at repair shop four times for this problem, and the manufacturer had been informed.*ak
VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES - EXTERIOR
08/16/20034100304/29/2003
 Left rearview mirror stem broke and mirror fell off. third time a mirror on the same side has broke off of my 2003 harley davidson 1200 custom sportster. the mirrors are factory and are long stemmed.*ak
07/01/20031006/30/2003
 Mirrors on 2003 harley davidson 1200 custom do not sit out wide enough to see what is behind you. have almost been in two accidents because i was not able to see behind me. spent 200.00 on aftermarket mirrors and have same problem. *nlm

Car dealers selling


StateCityZipNamePhone
CASAN JOSE95128SAN JOSE HARLEY-DAVIDSON408-998-1464
ILVILLA PARK60181WILDFIRE HARLEY DAVIDSON630-834-6571
WIMADISONCAPITAL CITY HARLEY DAVIDSON608 221 2761