RoadVitals

2002 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.
4
Latest Aug 8, 2005
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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Harley-Davidson Softail, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and fuel system categories. 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

  • Driver assistance120.0%
  • Engine120.0%
  • Fuel system120.0%
  • Other / unspecified120.0%
  • Transmission120.0%

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

Fuel system
Filed Aug 8, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL FXSTS. THE CONTACT WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. HE PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE BRAND NEW AND IN THE WINTER THE GAS TANK RUSTED IN LESS THAN THREE YEARS. . HARLEY DAVIDSON PUT A LINER INSIDE THE GAS TANK TO PREVENT IT FROM RUSTING AND IT DID NOT WORK. THE ACTUALLY LINER WAS PEELING AND COMING OFF INSIDE THE TANK. IF IT GOT THROUGH THE FUEL FILTER INTO THE CARBURETOR IT WOULD CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO STALL. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER SERVICE. SEVERAL TIMES. THEY SUGGESTED THAT CONSUMER KEEP MORE GAS IN THE GAS TANK IN THE WINTER. CONSUMER MAINTAINED THAT HE KEPT THE MOTORCYCLE IN LIVING ROOM IN THE WINTER AND THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, COSTUMER SERVICE SUGGESTED THAT CONSUMER CHANGE THE FUEL TANK, AND CALL INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET THEM TO PURCHASE A NEW FUEL TANK. HE HAS ONLY SPOKEN TO ONE PERSON AT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY WOULD NOT LET HIM SPEAK TO ANYONE ELSE. HE FIRST STARTED NOTICING THE RUST INSIDE THE TANK IN MARCH OF 2005. THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED THREE TIMES. HE HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CLEANED THE CARBURETOR, AND THEY TOLD HIM THIS WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. EVERY 2500 MILES CONSUMER TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO DEALER FOR A TUNE UP. *AK

NHTSA ID
10131971
Incident
Mar 1, 2005
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 29, 2003

WHEN ACCELERATING THE MOTORCYCLE WILL NOT MOVE. WHEN CONSUMER OPENS THE THROTTLE COMPLETELY, MOTORCYCLE THEN LURCHES FORWARD, POSING A SAFETY HAZARD TO THE RIDER AND OTHER VEHICLES/PEDESTRIANS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10031431
Mileage
1,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jan 21, 2003

THE SPOKES ARE CORRODING AND TURNING BLACK AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PH (MODEL/STANDARD FXSTI) SCC

NHTSA ID
10004304
Incident
Nov 1, 2002
Mileage
500 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Dec 18, 2002

THE MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATED EXCESSIVELY, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE OIL TANK BEING LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER SEAT.TS ALSO THE CLUTCH WAS READJUSTED.*JB

NHTSA ID
10001160
Incident
Dec 1, 2002

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

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—
2002Viewing400—
2001200—
2000700—
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.