2003 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide 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 2003 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide, 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
- Electrical861.5%
- Engine215.4%
- Steering17.7%
- Suspension17.7%
- Transmission17.7%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: WITHOUT WARNING THE MOTORCYCLE LOST POWER. THE HEADLIGHTS AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS MALFUNCTIONED. DEALER HAS MOTORCYCLE NOW AND CANNOT ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. MANUFACTURER IS WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE DEALER SAYS.*AK
MY 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE INTERMINTELY SHUTS DOWN WHILE IAM RIDING IT.IT HAS DONE THIS OVER THE PAST YEAR. IWAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS CONDITION. HARLEY REPLACED THE MAIN BREAKER,HOWEVER THE BIKE STILL SHUTS DOWN TOTALLY WHILE RIDING.WHEN THIS HAPPNES IT IS AS IF THE IGNATION WAS SHUT DOWN OR THE BATTERY SUDDENLY REMOVED EVERYTHING DIES. I HAD IT INTO A HARLEY DEALER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THEY COULDNT FIND THE PROBLEM, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN I ALMOST WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT . THE MOTORCLCLE IS IN THE HARLEY SHOP AGAIN, AND THEY ARE COMMUNICATING WITH THE FACTORY TO TRY AND RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.NOTE IAM A POLICE OFFICER IN FLORIDA AND BELEIVE ME IAM NOT EXAGERATING THE PROBLEM. IT IS A GRAVE SAFETY CONCEARN,TWO OF THE INCIDENTS HAPPNED AT NIGHT AND IWAS LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING TRAFFIC W/OUT LIGHTS OR ENGINE POWER. THANK YOU.*AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WAS LOST. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
EXHAUST SYSTEM CROSS OVER PIPE IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO SEAT, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE BURNE DWHILE DRIVING, EVEN IF PROPERLY DRESSED.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ON FLAT SURFACES THE MOTORCYCLE VEERS LEFT. IF YOU REMOVE YOUR HANDS FROM THE HANDLEBARS THE BIKE WILL CROSS THE CENTERLINE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION. PROBLEM IS ONGOING SINCE NEW. *LA
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE VEERS TO THE LEFT.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THE SHIFT LEVER FELL OFF WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. THE DRIVER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER CLAMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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 .