RoadVitals

2003 American Ironhorse Texas Chopper

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Aug 29, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Dec 11, 2003
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 American Ironhorse Texas Chopper, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes250.0%
  • Body & structure125.0%
  • Suspension125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
03V521000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

Dec 11, 2003
2,395 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL BRAKE ROTOR-CARRIERS,THE ROTOR-CARRIERS CAN CRACK WHILE IN SERVICE AND POSSIBLY BREAK.
The risk: THIS CAN CAUSE A PARTIAL LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM OR THE POTENTIAL FOR ROTOR-CARRIER DETACHMENT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ROTOR-CARRIER ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 26, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT AMERICAN IRONHORSE AT 1-817-665-2045.
AMERICAN IRONHORSE MOTORCYCLE COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structureSuspension
Filed Aug 29, 2007
Crash reported2 injuries reported

POOR DESIGN IN MOTORCYCLE SHOCK MOUNT LED TO FAILURE OF WELD AND BREAKAGE CAUSING REAR WHEEL OF MOTORCYCLE TO LOCK AGAINST FENDER RESULTING IN A CRASH AND INJURIES. SAME MAKE AND MODEL MOTORCYCLES HAS A HISTORY OF FAILURE IN SAME AREA. *JB

NHTSA ID
10201150
Incident
Aug 12, 2007
Mileage
1,480 mi
Filed Mar 3, 2006

E-MAIL FOIA REQUEST ALL DOCUMENTS RELATED TO COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS RE DEFECTS OF THE 2003 TEXAS CHOPPER MFD BY AMERICAN IRONHORSE. *TS *NM***NAR***

NHTSA ID
10152982
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Brakes
Filed Jul 22, 2004

COMPLAINT IS A RESULT TO DAMAGE DONE TO VEHICLE STEMMING FROM WORK DONE BY DEALER DURING SAFETY RECALL REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE ROTORS. VEHICLE FRAME HAS BEEN LEFT EXPOSED TO CORROSION SHORTENING THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF VEHICLE FRAME. JAN. 31, 2004: I RECEIVED A NHTSA SAFETY RECALL NOTICE {NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V521}. APR. 1, 2004: THE DEALER NOTIFIED ME THAT THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. APR. 30, 2004: I DISCOVERED THAT THE POLISHED BILLET ALUMINUM CENTERS OF THE NEWLY INSTALLED LEFT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR AND REAR BRAKE ROTOR WERE SCRATCHED. THE POLISHED BILLET ALUMINUM REAR WHEEL WAS ALSO SCRATCHED AND GOUGED IN NUMEROUS LOCATIONS. I CONTACTED THE DEALER DURING THE WEEK OF MAY 3 TO INFORM THEM OF WHAT I FOUND. MAY 17, 2004: AMERICAN IRONHORSE WAS CONTACTED, VIA EMAIL, ABOUT THE DAMAGE. MAY 19, 2004: I WAS CONTACTED BY AMERICAN IRONHORSE AND WAS INFORMED THAT ARRANGEMENTS WERE BEING MADE TO HAVE THE DEALER REMOVE THE FRONT & REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLIES AND SHIP THEM TO AMERICAN IRONHORSE. MAY 29, 2004: THE DAMAGE TO THE ROTORS AND REAR WHEEL WAS SATISFACTORILY REPAIRED, HOWEVER; I DISCOVERED THAT THE POWDER COAT FINISH ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME RAILS AND CENTER CROSS MEMBER WAS SIGNIFICANTLY DAMAGED (SCRATCHES AND ABRASIONS). IN ADDITION, A PIECE OF THE FRAME ASSEMBLY WAS BROKEN AT THE WELD. MAY 31, 2004: BIKERS DREAM (DENVER) & AMERICAN IRONHORSE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DAMAGE I DISCOVERED. JUN. 9, 2004: AMERICAN IRONHORSE PICKED UP MY MOTORCYCLE AT BIKERS DREAM (DENVER) AND TRANSPORTED IT TO THEIR FACTORY IN FT. WORTH, TX. JULY. 19, 2004: WHAT IS DISCOVERED IS MISMATCH OF COLOR AND FINISH, OVER SPRAY OF PAINT & CLEAR COAT, DAMAGE DONE TO PREVIOUSLY UNDAMAGED AREAS BY SANDING, AREAS OF PREVIOUS DAMAGE NOT ADDRESSED BY RESTORAL AND NEW DAMAGE IN THE FORM OF SCRATCHES & GOUGES IN THE OUTER PRIMARY COVER. JUL. 20, 2004: AMERICAN IRONHORSE IS CONTACTED ABOUT THE CONDITION OF THE MOTORCYCLE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE TO MAKE THIS RIGHT BY ME. *JB

NHTSA ID
10082475
Incident
May 29, 2004
Brakes
Filed Apr 26, 2004

NHTSA RECALL 03V521000 CONCERNING BRAKE ROTOR FAILURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN FEBRUARY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. MECHANIC COULD NOT TELL THE CONSUMER WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10071614

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

American Ironhorse Texas Chopper by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007100—
2005510—
2004620—
2003Viewing410—
2002110—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.