2001 Harley-Davidson Road King 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 2001 Harley-Davidson Road King, 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
- Other / unspecified327.3%
- Engine218.2%
- Brakes218.2%
- Suspension19.1%
- Fuel system19.1%
- Driver assistance19.1%
- Electrical19.1%
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
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 (NA) HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC. WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES LONG IN THE RIM OF THE REAR TIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO NOTICING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
THE SHIFTER CONTROL ARM AND SHAFT HAS COME OFF MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING TWICE WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES. APPARENTLY HARLEY HAS USED A BOLT THAT DOES NOT GO COMPLETELY THRU TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. I HAD TO ASK FOR A LONGER BOLT WHEN I HAD TO PURCHASE THE NEW SHAFT AND SHIFTER ARM. I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS STRANDED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING OIL IS LEAKING ONTO BRAKES, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO SLIP, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED
IGNITION LOCK BROKE, LEFT SADDLEBAG WOULD NOT LOCK DUE TO THE LOCK BEING JAMMED AND THE LID WOULD NOT SEAL, THE RIGHT SADDLEBAG STRIKE PLATE CAME OFF, THE REAR ROCKER COVER WAS PITTED, DEALER REPLACED, WHILE DRIVING THE DIGITAL OIL DIPSTICK BLEW OUT, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN VEHICLE GOES ON ALONG SUSTAINED RUN, 200-300 MILES AND COME OFF FREEWAY IT WILL STALL EVERY TIME COMING TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY TWO DEALES. FUEL FILTER WAS CHANGED, INJECTION PORTS CLEANED, BUT PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING OIL IS LEAKING ONTO BRAKES, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO SLIP, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED
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
VIBRATION WOULD BE FELT WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE RUBBING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
BIKE CUTS OUT AND DIES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO RIDER OR EVEN DEATH: THIS HAS BEEN AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HARLEYS FROM 199 TO 2001 CRUISER MODELS AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON AS A RECALL ON ALL BIKE WITH THAT SYSTEM. SEE DISCUSSION BELOW: MINE CUT OUT AND I WAS ALMOST THROWN FROM THE BIKE INTO TRAFFIC AS IT SHUT DOWN AND LOCKED UP THE TIRES CLASSIC, THANKS FOR THE VERY THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS. I STARTED THIS THREAD TO TRY TO OUT IF THERE IS A LARGE POPULATION OF 1999-2001 MM EFI OWNERS THAT ARE NOT HAVING PROBLEMS, THAT MIGHT GIVE ME SOME CONFIDENCE THAT IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO TRY TO GET MINE REPAIRED AND REGAIN CONFIDENCE THAT IT WOULD STAY FIXED. THE MM EFI SYSTEM PROVED TO ME FOR 7 YEARS THAT IT CAN DO THE JOB JUST FINE BUT NOW SOMETHING IS BROKEN WITH IT. I DIDN'T/DON'T EXPECT ANY ELECTRO/MECHANICAL SYSTEM TO FUNCTION TROUBLE FREE FOREVER WITHOUT NEEDING MAINTENANCE. ALSO FRUSTRATING IS WHY THE MM EFI SYSTEM IS SO DIFFICULT TO TROUBLESHOOT AND FIX? THE 1999-2001 MM EFI PROBLEMS ARE LEGENDARY AND NOT THE FAULT OF BIKE OWNERS BUT THE MOCO. I REALLY THINK THE MOCO SHOULD RECALL THESE BIKES AND CONVERT THEM TO DELPHI EFI SYSTEMS. MINE STALLED IN CROWDED FAST TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE A BAD ACCIDENT. HARLEY ARE YOU LISTENING-THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS WAS HAPPENING WITH A BIG 3 AUTOMOBILE THERE WOULD BE A DOT RECALL. LAST EDITED BY EZRIDER; 06-08-2008 AT 03:37 PM. EZRIDER IS OFFLINE REPLY WITH QUOTE *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WOBBEL, UNSTEADY, WONDERING, FRON END, BIKE IS UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK
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
BIKE CUTS OUT AND DIES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO RIDER OR EVEN DEATH: THIS HAS BEEN AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HARLEYS FROM 199 TO 2001 CRUISER MODELS AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON AS A RECALL ON ALL BIKE WITH THAT SYSTEM. SEE DISCUSSION BELOW: MINE CUT OUT AND I WAS ALMOST THROWN FROM THE BIKE INTO TRAFFIC AS IT SHUT DOWN AND LOCKED UP THE TIRES CLASSIC, THANKS FOR THE VERY THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS. I STARTED THIS THREAD TO TRY TO OUT IF THERE IS A LARGE POPULATION OF 1999-2001 MM EFI OWNERS THAT ARE NOT HAVING PROBLEMS, THAT MIGHT GIVE ME SOME CONFIDENCE THAT IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO TRY TO GET MINE REPAIRED AND REGAIN CONFIDENCE THAT IT WOULD STAY FIXED. THE MM EFI SYSTEM PROVED TO ME FOR 7 YEARS THAT IT CAN DO THE JOB JUST FINE BUT NOW SOMETHING IS BROKEN WITH IT. I DIDN'T/DON'T EXPECT ANY ELECTRO/MECHANICAL SYSTEM TO FUNCTION TROUBLE FREE FOREVER WITHOUT NEEDING MAINTENANCE. ALSO FRUSTRATING IS WHY THE MM EFI SYSTEM IS SO DIFFICULT TO TROUBLESHOOT AND FIX? THE 1999-2001 MM EFI PROBLEMS ARE LEGENDARY AND NOT THE FAULT OF BIKE OWNERS BUT THE MOCO. I REALLY THINK THE MOCO SHOULD RECALL THESE BIKES AND CONVERT THEM TO DELPHI EFI SYSTEMS. MINE STALLED IN CROWDED FAST TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE A BAD ACCIDENT. HARLEY ARE YOU LISTENING-THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS WAS HAPPENING WITH A BIG 3 AUTOMOBILE THERE WOULD BE A DOT RECALL. LAST EDITED BY EZRIDER; 06-08-2008 AT 03:37 PM. EZRIDER IS OFFLINE REPLY WITH QUOTE *TR
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 .