2002 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 2002 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
- Electrical233.3%
- Body & structure116.7%
- Fuel system116.7%
- Interior & seats116.7%
- Other / unspecified116.7%
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: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE LAST YEAR . HE LOCATED THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY PARTS AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME, AND DID NOT ANTICIPATE OF GETTING ANY PARTS. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR AND HE HAS NEVER BEEN CONTACTING BY THEM, NOTIFYING HIM OF FIXING THE MOTORCYCLE. AT THE TIME HE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE RECALL NOTICE SAID IT WAS A CIRCUIT BREAKER. THE SERVICE CODE WAS 0113. THERE WAS NOT A CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER ON THE NOTICE THAT HE RECEIVED. LATER, HE RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE. . HE DID NOT FEEL THAT DEALERSHIP WOULD FIX MOTORCYCLE THIS YEAR SINCE THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT LAST YEAR. *AK
MY 2002 ROAD KING FLHRI INTERMITTENTLY LOOSES ALL POWER WHILE IN USE JUST AS DESCRIBED IN 04V-134. THERE IS NO WARNING AND NO APPARENT CAUSE AND THERE MAY BE HUNDREDS OF MILE BETWEEN OCCURRENCES OR MINUTES. I REPORTED THIS DURING MY LAST MAINTENANCE VISIT AND IT HAS OCCURRED TWICE SINCE. THIS MODEL WAS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL.*AK
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
RE: 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHRI SEVERAL TIMES, DURING HIGH SPEED (> 55MPH) TURNS("SWEEPERS") I HAVE FELT A REAR WHEEL WOBLE. ACCORDING TO INTERNET BOARDS AND INDEPENDANT SHOPS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN AFTERMARKET PRODUCTS THAT ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. MY EXPERIENCE WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIPS HAS RANGED FROM DENIAL OF THE PROBLEM TO BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS NORMAL AND SAFE FOR TC-88 LINE OF TOURING MOOTORCYCLES. THE WOBBLE, HOWEVER DOES NOT FEEL SAFE BY ANY MEANS. ALL DRIVETRAIN AND SUSPENSION COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECS. NO REMEDIES ARE OFFERED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON.
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SEAL FRACTURED IN THE QUICK DISC, WHICH CONNECTS THE FUEL LINE FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE FUEL INJECTOR MANIFOLD. THE FAILURE CAUSED FUEL TO SPRAY OVER EVERYTHING, INCLUDING THE CONTACT'S PANTS LEG, EXHAUST, AND ENGINE BLOCK. HE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS NOT YET INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,200. UPDATED 05/19/08. *LJ THE TANK TO THE INJECTION MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. UPDATED 05/19/08.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING. WHEN I ORDERED THE BIKE I HAD THEM INSTALL A PASSENGER BACK REST. THE BIKE IS 10 YEARS OLD 48974 MILES. MY PASSENGER AND I WERE RIDING DOWN THE STREET AND THE BACK REST SUPPORT SNAPPED AND BROKE ON ONE SIDE. THE BREAK IS JUST ABOVE A WELD. MY GUESS IS IT HAD GOTTEN TO HOT DURING THE WELDING. THE BREAK IS PERFECTLY STRAIGHT ACROSS. ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A IT WAS SAWED. I CAME WAY TO CLOSE TO LOSING MY PASSENGER. AND SHE ISN'T A BIG GIRL ABOUT 120 LBS. *TR
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
ROAD KING BROKE DOWN AFTER ALL 5 BOLTS CONNECTING THE SPROCKET TO THE REAR HUB FAILED.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE MALFUNCTION RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION. *JB
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 .