2005 American Ironhorse Texas Chopper Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 American Ironhorse Texas Chopper, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .