Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Flhrci, most frequently naming the brakes, electrical and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 6 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 2 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 3 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 4 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
REAR BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO USE OF DOT 5 BREAK FLUID AT HIGH ALTITUDE IN HOT WEATHER. ON TRIP OVER SIERRAS ON JULY 16, 2006, I AND FOUR OTHERS HAD REAR BRAKE OR OTHER HYDRALIC FAILURE. *NM
THE STOCK HORN ON MY 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN ANEMIC AT BEST FROM NEW AND HAD PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WEAKER IN VOLUME AND NOW ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERS HAS CLAIMED THAT THE LOW VOLUME IS TYPICAL OF HD HORNS AND THAT, SINCE THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE 12 MONTH ORIGINAL WARRANTY, IT IS NOT A HD PROBLEM. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT YET. IF THERE IS, I MIGHT NOT BE AROUND TO COMPLAIN. *JB
CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE IN A NEW 2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE AT 3284 MILES AND AGAIN AT 7420 MILES. THE FIRST WAS DUE TO A CRACKED FLYWHEEL, WHICH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE SECOND DUE TO A BROKEN OIL PUMP. THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED BY AN ENGINEER'S MEASUREMENTS TO BE MIS-ALIGNED CRANKCASE, AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. *LA
HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHRCI 2003. THE HOSES TO THE OIL COOLER COULD POSSIBLY RUBBED AGAINST THE ENGINE CRANKCASE. THE HOSES MAY LEAK OIL WHICH CAN CAUSE THE REAR TIRE TO SPIN OUT IF THE OIL CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL#03E051000 FROM A THIRD PARTY, HOWEVER WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT A FIX HAD NOT BEEN DEVELOPED AND TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER WHO MAY PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HOSE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1684: MARKET SPECIFIC BATTERY INTRODUCTION. PURPOSE: Initial Release. This bulletin informs dealers of the availability of new batteries for new Original Equipment (OE) vehicle production and in the Parts and Accessories (P&A) catalog. Availability of the new Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries will vary by market and will be transitioning over the next few months. NOTE: The ring terminal screws are not compatible between Leoch and East Penn batteries. The new batteries will include new ring terminal screws, which must be used. The ring terminal screws from the old battery need to be discarded.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1555 (REV E): BATTERY WARRANTY GUIDELINES. PURPOSE: Revision E. Added: Added procedures for the DCA-8000 E Battery Tester.* Updated: All sections. This bulletin informs the dealership network that Harley-Davidson has provided guidelines for battery warranty.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.8.8): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version 24.8.8. Release Date: Week of August 5, 2024. New Features for Harley-Davidson vehicles: Advanced Module Replace for 2021 and later Revolution Max; 2023 and later CVO Touring; and 2024 Street Glide (FLHX), Road Glide (FLTRX). New Features for LiveWire vehicles: Updated calibrations for 2024 S2DM EV1/ EV6; 2024 S2MH EV1; and 2024 S2DM, S2MH. Changes: Added Hand Control Module (HCM) (Part No. 71500522A and 71500536A) for reflash support.
ENGINE; POWER TRAIN
GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1158: OIL FILTER PACKAGING AND CASE QUANTITY UPDATE. PURPOSE: To inform dealerships that Harley-Davidson has made updates to oil filters including new part numbers, packaging design, and bulk case quantity changes.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.6.4): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version 24.6.4. Release Date: Week of May 1, 2024. New Features for LiveWire S2DM and S2MH, 2024 Revolution® Max, and 2024 Touring.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1146: 68193-95 BULB WEDGE, FENDER TIP LAMP. Purpose: To inform dealers of an issue with the bulb wire terminals not being to specification. The light bulbs were used in numerous front and rear fender tip light assemblies for domestic and international applications.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.