RoadVitals

2005 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.
5
Latest Oct 10, 2020
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 May 5, 2005
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 American Ironhorse Texas Chopper, most frequently naming the transmission, body & structure and electrical 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

  • Transmission233.3%
  • Body & structure116.7%
  • Electrical116.7%
  • Other / unspecified116.7%
  • Tires & wheels116.7%

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
05V199000

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

May 5, 2005
199 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH SHOCK ABSORBERS MANUFACTURED BY PROGRESSIVE SUSPENSION, INC. THE SHOCK ABSORBERS HAVE A SPRING PLATE ASSEMBLY THAT WAS INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN RESULTING IN THE SHOCK ABSORBER FAILING TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND IN SOME INSTANCES COULD SUDDENLY DECOMPRESS WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN OPERATION.
The risk: SHOCK ABSORBER FAILURE WILL CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO LEAN GREATLY TO THE SIDE OF THE DEFECTIVE SHOCK ABSORBER INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL SHOCK ABSORBERS AND REPLACE ALL DEFECTIVE SHOCK ABSORBERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 18, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN IRONHORSE AT 1-888-618-4766.
AMERICAN IRONHORSE MOTORCYCLE COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Oct 10, 2020

METZELER ME880 MARATHON TIRE SIZE 280/35/18 HAS SEPARATIONS ON THE SIDEWALLS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TIRE ALL THE WAY AROUND. TIRE WAS MADE IN GERMANY WITH STAMPED 1717 CODE. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY AS I HAVE JUST NOTICED IT DUE TO ANOTHER TIRE WITH SAME SEPARATIONS IN A DIFFERENT SIZE.

NHTSA ID
11363692
Incident
Oct 10, 2020
Mileage
2,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 23, 2008

WE HAVE A 2005 AMERICAN IRONHORSE TEXAS CHOPPER MOTORCYCLE THAT MY HUSBAND WAS RIDING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 60-65 MPH. HE HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE BIKE AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SLOWING DOWN. HE GOT TO AN EXIT RAMP BEFORE HE DOWNSHIFTED THE BIKE, AND WHEN HE SHIFTED DOWN THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND HE SKIDDED SEVERAL FEET. HE WAS LUCKY NOT TO BE KILLED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OUR DEALER THAT THE BIKE HAS A ROADMAX TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TRIED TO REACH AMERICAN IRONHORSE IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS, SEVERAL TIMES. THEY DON'T RESPOND TO MY CALLS. I HAD ORIGINALLY ASKED THEM FOR HELP REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION SINCE THE BIKE ONLY HAS 4500 MILES ON IT, AND THEY REFUSED BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO SUGGEST SOMEONE LOOK INTO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. SO FAR, NO ONE HAS RETURNED MY CALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10243174
Incident
Aug 31, 2008
Mileage
4,420 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 11, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE PULLED VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT AND MADE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE REAR TIRE WHICH CREATED A HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BEARINGS- TRIPLE TREES NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MECHANIC AT THE SERVICE DEALER MENTIONED THAT SOME MOTORCYCLES RIDE STRAIGHT AND SOME PULL. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO OBSERVED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTORCYCLE WHICH MAY BE RELATED TO THE FRAME, THE TIRES OR THE TRIPLE TREES. *NM

NHTSA ID
10170570
Incident
Sep 30, 2006
Transmission
Filed Aug 22, 2005

2005 IRONHORSE TEXAS CHOPPER CLAMP THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH CABLE WAS TORN OFF RESULTING IN THE MOTORCYCLE COMING TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP.*MR ADDITIONALLY THIS CAUSED THE SECOND CLAMP TO BE PULLED DOWNWARD, PEELING THE PAINT OFF THE MOTORCYCLE IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND REQUESTED WARRANTY REPAIR: REPLACEMENT OF THE TWO CLAMPS, REPLACEMENT OF THE CLUTCH CABLE AND PAINTING OF THE FRAME. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS THE CONSUMER'S REQUEST CAME BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS DENIED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10135628
Incident
Jul 1, 2005
Electrical
Filed Jun 20, 2005

DT: CONTACT STATES THERE ARE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTORCYCLE. WHEN THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER GOES OUT THERE ARE NO LIGHTS/SIGNALS, OR TAIL LIGHTS. THE LOCAL SERVICE DEALER STATED NOT WASH THE MOTORCYCLE WITH WATER BECAUSE WATER WOULD GET IN THE CONNECTIONS UNDER THE SEAT AND UNDERNEATH THE GASOLINE TANK.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE MAIN COMPUTER BUT THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10121868
Incident
May 14, 2005

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

American Ironhorse Texas Chopper by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007100—
2005Viewing510—
2004620—
2003410—
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.