RoadVitals

2005 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.
3
Latest Jan 15, 2013
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200R, most frequently naming the brakes and engine categories. 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

  • Brakes266.7%
  • Engine133.3%

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
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

Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2013

MY HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE THE MOTOR LOCKED UP, CAUSING A SKID, THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS BUT HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, OR HURT FOR LIFE. THE REASON THE MOTOR LOCKED UP WAS BECAUSE SCREWS FROM THE AIR FILTER VIBRATED LOSE AND WERE SUCKED INTO THE MOTOR CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LOCK UP. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VIBRATIONS, SO PUTTING SCREWS IN A PLACE THAT CAN BE SUCKED INTO THE MOTOR IS A FLAW, AND THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED. THESE SCREWS CAN'T BEEN SEEN, AND THE DRIVER HAS NO IDEA THEY MAY BE LOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10493098
Incident
Jan 8, 2013
Mileage
21,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 11, 2006

FAILURE OF FRONT BRAKE. NEAR WRECK WITH STOPPING CAR. CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER CANNOT GET REPAIR PARTS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT IS GETTING WORSE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT GETTING MORE FREQUENT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10167853
Incident
Sep 11, 2006
Mileage
6,580 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 23, 2006

SAFETY RECALL ON 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER1200R--- DEFECTIVE FRONT MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON 7/05/06. PROMISED RECALL KIT BY 7/10/06. AS OF TODAY ( 8/23/06 ) DEALER HAS STILL NOT RECEIVED RECALL KIT RESULTING IN ME DRIVING AN UNSAFE MOTORCYCLE!!! I WANT MY BIKE FIXED NOW!!!*JB

NHTSA ID
10166370
Incident
Jun 15, 2005

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200R by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005Viewing310—
2004410—

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.