RoadVitals

2000 Harley-Davidson Softail

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.
7
Latest Mar 3, 2006
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.
0
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

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Harley-Davidson Softail, most frequently naming the engine, fuel system and brakes categories. 3 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine228.6%
  • Fuel system228.6%
  • Brakes114.3%
  • Other / unspecified114.3%
  • Tires & wheels114.3%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 3, 2006

I PURCHASED FORM PERFORMANCE MACHINEINC A CONTOUR BELT DRIVE PRIMARY FOR MY 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL DUCE. AFTER HAVING A HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER INSTALL IT I PUT 400 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN AT ABOUT 20 MPH THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH HUB RETAINING CLIP COMING OFF LETTING THE CLUTCH HUB JAMMING INTO THE OUTER COVER. I SENT IT BACK TO PERFORMANCE MACHINE WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR A REFUND. THEY TELL ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND ARE RETURNING IT. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM THAT COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR IF IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED 1/2 MILE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD I WOULD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 65 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ID
10151740
Incident
Jun 28, 2005
Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2005

DT: CAM CHAIN TENSIONERS WORE OUT. IF IT GOES THROUGH ALL THE WAY THE ENGINE WILL LOCK UP. IT WILL DISINTEGRATE THE METAL PIECES WHERE THE ENGINE WILL LOCK UP. IT HAPPENS IN THE HOT WEATHER, CONSUMER HEARD EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE, AND WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE TENSIONERS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED FOR BOTH HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYLCLES HE OWNS. *AK *SB

NHTSA ID
10125883
Incident
Jun 13, 2005
Tires & wheels
Filed Feb 21, 2003

THE TIRES LOST AIR PRESSURE, WHILE DRIVING.*JB

NHTSA ID
10008982
Incident
Feb 15, 2003
Brakes
Filed Dec 29, 2001

THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAPS THE FOOT UNDER IT DUE TO ITS DESIGN. HARLEY HAS REDISIGNED IT FOR THE 2001 MODELS BUT WON'T REPLACE IT ON THE OLDER MODELS. I WROTE TO THEM AND THEY REFUSED IN WRITING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
756187
Incident
May 5, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Apr 19, 2001

WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO TAKE MOTORCYCLE OUT OF HIS GARAGE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM CARBURETOR. DEALERSHIP WAS IN POSSESSION OF MOTORCYCLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT DEFECT WAS A RESULT OF BAD GAS. THE CONSUMER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE SERVICED LAST SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER - THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MOTORCYCLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
886292
Incident
Mar 15, 2001
Engine
Filed Sep 12, 2000

THE CAM BEARING PROBLEM WAS KNOWN AT THE TIME I PURCHASED MY MOTORCYCLE FOR CLOSE TO $20,000, BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED THIS WAS A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE COULD HAVE COST ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND OUR LIVES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. HARLEY DAVIDSON SENT A SERVICE REPAIRMAN.

NHTSA ID
731169
Incident
Jul 5, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Jun 28, 2000

WOULD FILL MOTORCYCLE WITH FUEL & ABOUT 1/2 GALLON WOULD LEAK OUT & WOULD TRAIL MOTORCYCLE WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ID
864383

Manufacturer communications

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

M-1233

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

HARLEY DAVIDSON: A CHANGE TO THE FINAL TORQUE OF THE FORK CAP (PART NUMBER 45419-80) AND FOR TUBE PLUG (PART NUMBER 45838-77). THE NEW TORQUE FOR BOTH PARTS IS 60-70 FT LBS (81.3-94.9NM). *PE

56

WHEELS:HUB

CHROME HARDWARE TORQUE PROCEDURE. *TT

120202

STRUCTURE

NEW STYLE CRUCIFIX SEALS FOR OIL LEAKAGE FROM REAR MAIN BEARING AREA. *TT

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 Softail by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013100—
2012310—
2011310—
2010100—
2009000—
2008100—
2007210—
2006000—
2005430—
2004410—
2003700—
2002400—
2001200—
2000Viewing700—
1999010—
1998310—
1997110—
1996310—
1995310—

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.