RoadVitals

2004 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200R

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 May 28, 2008
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 Jun 8, 2006
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.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200R, most frequently naming the brakes category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Brakes4100.0%

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

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
06V201000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Jun 8, 2006
9,506 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE FRONT MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN BUILT WITH INADEQUATE LUBRICATION ON THE SECONDARY CUP. THIS COULD CAUSE THE SLIDING RESISTANCE OF THE PISTON TO BE EXCESSIVE, WHICH IN TURN COULD CAUSE THE RETURN OF THE PISTON TO BE SLOW UPON RELEASE OF THE BRAKE.
The risk: THE PISTON MAY NOT RETURN COMPLETELY. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT COULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH OR INJURIES.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REBUILD THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 0125View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed May 28, 2008
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN, BUT THE BRAKES LOCKED AND NEVER UNLOCKED. THE VEHICLE SLID TO A STOP ON ITS SIDE AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,400. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID
10229060
Incident
Mar 30, 2008
Mileage
13,400 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 25, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V201000, REGARDING THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10166552
Incident
Aug 25, 2006
Mileage
17,365 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 4, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED NHTSA RECALL LETTER, #06V201000 WAS RECEIVED REGARDING THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT EXHIBITED PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE RECALL DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
10164537
Incident
Jul 8, 2006
Mileage
400 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 3, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT A RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED PERTAINING TO THE FRONT MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE BACK BRAKE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT WARN VEHICLES TRAVELING FROM BEHIND THE MOTORCYCLE THAT IT WAS ABOUT TO STOP. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERS FOR REPAIRS AND THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A TIME FRAME FOR WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR OVER TWO MONTHS FOR REMEDY ON THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10164321
Incident
Jun 30, 2006
Mileage
3,500 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200R by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005310—
2004Viewing410—

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.