2002 Harley-Davidson Softail 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 Softail, 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
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
THE MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATED EXCESSIVELY, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE OIL TANK BEING LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER SEAT.TS ALSO THE CLUTCH WAS READJUSTED.*JB
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
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
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
THE SPOKES ARE CORRODING AND TURNING BLACK AFTER ONLY TWO WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PH (MODEL/STANDARD FXSTI) SCC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATED EXCESSIVELY, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE OIL TANK BEING LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER SEAT.TS ALSO THE CLUTCH WAS READJUSTED.*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 .