RoadVitals

2004 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 Mar 25, 2010
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

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail, most frequently naming the engine, other / unspecified and suspension 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

  • Engine133.3%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%
  • Suspension133.3%

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

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

Filed Mar 25, 2010

THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC SECURITY SYSTEM ON A 2004 HD HERITAGE MOTORCYCLE. WE NOTICED AN ELECTRONIC FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AND OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR FOUND THAT IT OCCURRED ONLY AND CONSISTENTLY EVERY TIME WE PARKED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF OVERHEAD HIGH TENSION LINES. WHILE ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE TO US, PERHAPS THIS WILL HELP IN THE TOYOTA INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ID
10322215
Incident
Nov 10, 2008
Mileage
10,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jul 9, 2005

AFTER 500 MILES, WOBBLE WAS DISCOVERED IN HANDLEBARS BETWEEN 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOUR. TAKEN TO DEALER WAS TOLD IT WAS TRAIT ON MODEL. CALLED HARLEY, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER OF MY CHOICE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASE WAS MADE. THEY ADJUSTED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS. PROBLEM SOLVE. AFTER ANOTHER 500 MILES, SAME SITUATION OCCURRED. WOBBLE IN FRONT END BETWEEN 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOURS. TOOK BIKE BACK TO DEALER, ADJUSTED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS AND GREASED FRONT END. PROBLEM SOLVED. AFTER 1,000 MILES, WOBBLE COME BACK IN HANDLER BARS BETWEEN, 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOUR. TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH BIKE. THAT WAS THE TRAIT OF HERITAGE SOFTAIL. THEY RODE A NEW BIKE AND IT DONE THE SAME THING. THE BIKE IS SAFE TO RIDE AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. CALLED HARLEY AND THEY SAID THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BIKE. I TOLD HARLEY THEY HAD FIXED THE BIKE ON TWO PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS. HARLEY SAID SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK WITHIN 30 MINUTES. I CALLED GENERAL MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO FIX THE BIKE. THIS IS THE FOURTH ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END.

NHTSA ID
10128165
Incident
Jul 6, 2005
Mileage
500 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 5, 2004

VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW PIPES, AIR BREATHER AND CARBURETOR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10095116
Incident
Dec 26, 2003
Mileage
500 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Sep 28, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE SHOOK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE BIKES WHEELS WERE UNSTABLE. THE SOLID WHEELS CAUGHT WIND VORTICIES WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSTABLE. THE DEALER REFUSE TO CHANGE THE WHEELS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10075454
Incident
Apr 17, 2004

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—
2004Viewing410—
2003700—
2002400—
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.