RoadVitals

2004 Harley-Davidson Road King

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Aug 2, 2007
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Sep 30, 2004
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Harley-Davidson Road King, most frequently naming the suspension, brakes and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Suspension327.3%
  • Brakes218.2%
  • Electrical19.1%
  • Engine19.1%
  • Fuel system19.1%
  • Powertrain (other)19.1%
  • Tires & wheels19.1%
  • Driver assistance19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

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.gov
04V465000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Sep 30, 2004
2,828 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A CONDITION OCCURS THAT COULD ALLOW PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL TANK. ON FUEL INJECTED VEHICLES, THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FUEL TO SPRAY OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE FUEL CAP IS REMOVED. ON CARBURETED VEHICLES, EXCESSIVE FUEL COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CARBURETOR, WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY ALLOW FUEL TO DRIP FROM THE AIR CLEANER.
The risk: THESE SITUATIONS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR CREATE A FIRE HAZARD FOR PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON OR NEAR THE MOTORCYCLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST EACH CANISTER FOR BLOCKAGE, THEN REPLACE AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 10
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 2, 2007
1 injury reported

HARLEY DAVIDSON ROADKING 2004 PURCHASED NEW. GEAR SHIFTER WENT "FLACID" AND I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THIS HAPPENED ONCE IN 2004; TWICE IN 2005; TWICE IN 2006; AND ONCE LAST WEEK IN 2007. EACH TIME THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS TIGHTENED BY THE AMERICAN HARLEY DEALER HERE IN WESTERN NEW YORK; AND ONE TIME IN 2006 HARLEY REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER. ON SUCH A NEW BIKE, IT MAKES NO SENSE THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REOCCUR. I COULD BE THROWN OVER THE HANDLEBARS TO MY DEATH IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THIS BIKE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD, AND I'M WONDERING IF THIS IS ANOTHER "CHINA" PRODUCT THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED DUE TO CHEAP STEEL!!! AMERICAN HARLEY CHARGED FOR LABOR THE TIME THAT THEY REPLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER, BUT THEY DID REIMBURSE ME FOR THE PART. *TR

NHTSA ID
10198293
Incident
Jul 24, 2007
Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 2005

HORN GETS WORSE AND BECOMES INAUDIBLE. THE HARLEY MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE ALL HORNS WITH BETTER QUALITY PARTS. MINE HAS BEEN REPLACED AT MY COST. *NM

NHTSA ID
10137366
Incident
Sep 21, 2005
Fuel system
Filed Aug 24, 2005

DT: THE CALLER HAD WARRANTY WORK DONE ON GAS TANK LINE AND THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS OF THE SAME DESIGN ONLY SHORTER. THE CALLER SAID THE LINE FROM THE GAS PUMP WAS RUBBING ON TANK AND CAUSING A HOLE IN THE LINE INSIDE THE TANK. DEALER SAID THE REPLACEMENT PART WILL FAIL. THE CALLER DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM YET WITH REPLACEMENT PART. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

NHTSA ID
10134022
Incident
Aug 5, 2005
Mileage
13,100 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 24, 2005

DT: CONSUMER STATES: MOTOR CUTS OUT UPON ACCELERATION FROM STOP OR IF STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE AND MAKING A TURN. ALSO, IT CUTS OUT. IT MAKES A NOISE PRESSURE RELEASE OF THE AIR. *AK

NHTSA ID
10121991
Incident
Jun 14, 2004
Suspension
Filed Sep 18, 2004

I HAVE REPORTED THIS BEFORE BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM YOU... CAN YOU PLEASE HELP? POOR HANDLING MOTORCYCLE, 2004 HARLEY DAVIDSON, FLHTCI - MOTORCYCLE TENDED TO WANT TO "PULL" TO THE LEFT, ESPECIALLY WHEN DECELERATING - SEVERAL VISITS TO THE DEALER FOR "ALIGNMENTS" OF THE ENGINE/FRAME/DRIVETRAIN - PROBLEM MINIMIZED BUT NOT ELIMINATED. - "HIGH SPEED WOBBLES" OCCURRED REGULARLY AND WITHOUT NOTICE WHICH I HANDLED BECUASE I AM AN EXPERIENCED RIDER AND VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE. - REMOVAL OF TIRE TO REPAIR PUNCTURE AND CHECK OF SWINGARM FOUND THE SWINGARM MOVES LEFT TO RIGHT ABOUT 1/4 INCH.*AK

NHTSA ID
10091250
Incident
Sep 18, 2004
Mileage
50 mi
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Aug 9, 2004

PASSING A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER A ABOUT 70MPH FRONT END STEERING ON NEW 04 ELECTRAGLIDE CLASSIC BEGAN A WOBBLING OF THE FRONT TIRE. IT WAS EXTREMELY NOTICABLE AND NEARLY CAUSED THE BIKE TO GO INTO THE TRACTOR TRAILER. IN ORDER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM I REDUCED MY SPEED W/O APPLYING BRAKES TO ABOUT 40MPH AND THE WOBBLING FINALLY STOPPED. *AK *TC

NHTSA ID
10086292
Incident
Aug 1, 2004
Mileage
3,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 3, 2004

WHEN BRAKING THERE WOULD BE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE, WHICH COULD CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10087113
Incident
Jul 14, 2004
Mileage
5,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 24, 2004

MOTORCYCLE STABILITY ISSUE. I PURCHASED NEW WITH ABOUT 20 TEST MILES, AN FLHTCI, 2004, HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYLE. IMMEDIATELY UPON RIDING I FOUND IT "PULLED" TO THE LEFT, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ROLL OFF THE THROTTLE(DECELERATE). THE AMOUNT OF DEFLECTION WOULD HAVE CAUSED A SWERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAD I NOT BEEN AN EXPERIENCED RIDER. DEALER HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BUT IS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10082583
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
20 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

58

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

WIRING HARNESSES IN ACCESSORY LED FUEL GAUGES PART NO. 75237-03 WERE MANUFACTUREED IMPROPERLY. MODEL YEAR UNKNOWN. *MJ

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Road King by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004Viewing101037.8
2003100—
2002600—
2001800—
1999400—
1998300—
1997100—

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.