RoadVitals

2007 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.
2
Latest Jun 20, 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 Apr 26, 2007
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2007 Harley-Davidson Softail, most frequently naming the electrical, other / unspecified and powertrain (other) categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 5 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

  • Electrical133.3%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%
  • Powertrain (other)133.3%

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
07V173000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Apr 26, 2007
52,240 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A CONDITION THAT PERMITS THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE TO CONTACT A WELD BEAD ON THE OIL TANK. THIS MAY CAUSE THE WELD BEAD TO ABRADE THROUGH THE INSULATION ON THE CABLE AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT FROM THE BATTERY THROUGH THE OIL TANK AND OIL LINES.
The risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO AN OIL LEAK AND/OR POSSIBLE FIRE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BATTERY CADDY THAT WILL PROTECT THE CABLE AND ENSURE PROPER CABLE ROUTING. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4080.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 0130View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecifiedPowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 20, 2010

WHILE DRIVING A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT TRAIN. I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON HIGHWAY 12 IN BURBANK, WA. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, AND I GAVE THROTTLE, THE DRIVE BELT AND THE DRIVE TRAIN WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE REAR HUG PULLED OUT. WITH 3 BOLTS SHEERED OFF LAYING ON THE GROUND. LUCKILY WITH HELP I WAS ABLE TO WHEEL IT OFF TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT ANY BODY GETTING HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10339201
Incident
Jun 19, 2010
Mileage
6,321 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 24, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL DELUXE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V173000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BATTERY:CABLES) ON MAY 8 2007. HE CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL HIS VEHICLE REACHED 2,500 MILES. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD NOT CATCH FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAIRED BY ANOTHER DEALER. HIS VEHICLE HAS YET TO CATCH FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE ENGINE SIZE, TRANSMISSION TYPE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 11/06/07.L *JB

NHTSA ID
10206766
Incident
May 8, 2007

Manufacturer communications

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

SB-M-1220

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

HARLEY DAVIDSON: ENGINE IDLE TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE CALIBRATION OFFERS LIMITED REAR CYLINDER COOLING WITH THE MOTORCYCLE STOPPED WHILE THE ENGINE IS LEFT AT IDLE ONCE THE TEMPERATURE THRESHOLD IS EXCEEDED. MODELS 2007-08 DYNA AND SOFTAIL (FXD, FXDC, FXDL, FXDWG, FXDB, FXDF, FXDSE, FXDSE, FXST, FSXTB, FXSTC, FXSTD, FXCW, FXCWC, FLST, FLSTC, FLSTF, FLSTN, FLSTSB, FLSTSC, FXSTSSE AND FXSTSSE); 2009 DYNA AND SOFTAIL (FLST, FLSTC, FLSTF, FLSTN, FLSTSB, FXCW, FXCWC, FXST, FXSTB, FXSTC, FXD, FXDB, FXDC, FXDF, AND FXDL). *PE

M-1186

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE: REFINEMENT TO THE ECM CALIBRATION FOR 2007 BIG TWIN MODEL WILL SMOOTH THE TORQUE CURVE APPLICATION IN A MANNER THAT MINIMIZES HIGH SHOCK LOADS TO DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS, WHICH COULD CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE. *PE

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

M-1231

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE: THE STARTER FASTENERS MAY LOSE CLAMP LOAD. THIS CAN CAUSE THE STARTER TO LOOSEN AND LEAD TO POOR GROUND CONTACT RESULTING IN POOR STARTING AS WELL AS POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO STARTER. *PE

M-1215B

STEERING

STEERING STEM NUT/WASHER. THIS BULLETIN IS TO INFORM DEALERS OF UPDATED PARTS AND SERVICE PROCEDURES TO ELIMINATE LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD ON UPPER STEERING STEM NUT. *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—
2007Viewing210—
2006000—
2005430—
2004410—
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.