RoadVitals

1988 Harley-Davidson Sportster Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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 Feb 11, 1999
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
1
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Harley-Davidson Sportster, 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

  • Transmission2100.0%

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

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE MAGNETS INSIDE THE CLUTCH BASKET ON THE END OF THE TRANSMISSION MAINSHAFT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE STATOR WHICH IS BOLTED ONTO THE CRANKCASE. THE RESULT IS THAT THE ELECTRICAL GENERATING SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY RUINED AND THE TRANSMISSION GEARS SHEAR OFF TEETH. THIS CAN HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO LOCK UP THE TRANSMISSION AND THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY DRIVE MECHANISMS RESULTING IN LOCKING UP THE REAR WHEEL, CAUSING THE RIDER TO GO DOWN.

NHTSA ID 703193 · filed Feb 11, 1999

THE TRANSMISSION DOOR ON THE 4-SPEED HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER EVOLUTION MODEL (PRODUCED FROM 1984-1991) HAS A BEARING THAT SUPPORTS THE TRANSMISSION MAINSHAFT. THE BEARING GETS WORN TO THE POINT WHERE THE MAGNETS ON THE INSIDE OF THE CLUTCH BASKET AT THE END OF THE MAINSHAFT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE STATOR MOUNTED OVER THE TRANSMISSION DOOR. THE RESULT IS THAT THE CLUTCH BASKET MAGNETS BREAK UP AND THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION START TO SHATTER. THIS CAN CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. ANOTHER RESULT IS THAT, IF THE MAGNETS INSIDE THE CLUTCH BASKET DON'T CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO SHATTER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BECAUSE THE MAGNETS ARE BROKEN, CEASES TO PUT OUT ENOUGH DC POWER TO BOTH RUN THE MOTORCYCLE AND RECHARGE THE BATTERY. THIS WILL CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO NOT HAVE ENOUGH CHARGE IN THE BATTERY TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE AFTER YOU PARK IT, LEAVING YOU STRANDED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY MOTORCYCLE THREE (3) TIMES IN LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. HARLEY DAVIDSON REDESIGNED THE CHARGING SYSTEM IN 1992 AND MOVED THE CHARGING SYSTEM TO THE FRONT CRANKSHAFT, THUS ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 80,000 TO 100,000 OF THIS MODEL OF 4-SPEED EVOLUTION SPORTSTER STILL ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FILED IN TEXAS IN APPROXIMATELY 1985 ALLEGING EXACTLY THE SAME COMPLAINTS. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID 700667 · filed Nov 16, 1998

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

Data on this page last refreshed .