RoadVitals

1999 Harley-Davidson Sportster

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.
6
Latest Aug 27, 2001
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 Oct 23, 1998
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 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Harley-Davidson Sportster, most frequently naming the visibility, exterior lighting and other / unspecified 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

  • Visibility342.9%
  • Exterior lighting114.3%
  • Other / unspecified114.3%
  • Powertrain (other)114.3%
  • Steering114.3%

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
98V267000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Oct 23, 1998
232 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE CERTIFICATION LABEL INCORRECTLY INDICATES THE FRONT TIRE SIZE AS 100/90-19 57H INSTEAD OF THE CORRET DESIGNATION MH90-21 56H. ALSO THE CERTIFICATION LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE CORRECT MODEL DESIGNATION. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
The risk: IF INCORRECT TIRE INFORMATION IS GIVEN, UNDERRATED TIRES COULD BE PLACED ON THE MOTORCYCLE CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR OR, IN EXTREME CASES, POSSIBLE TIRE BLOWOUTS.
The remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH NEW CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 27, 2001

CONSUMER STATES THE SIGNAL LIGHT IS LOOSE AND SLIDES OUT OF POSITION FROM THE BRAKE HANDLE ASSEMBLY AND WAS DANGLING.NLM

NHTSA ID
562710
Visibility
Filed May 18, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ENTIRE MIRROR BROKE RIGHT OFF AND FLEW OFF. THIS LEFT TURN SIGNALS HANGING BY THE CABLE. MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
862113
Incident
May 14, 2000
Steering
Filed Feb 23, 2000

RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON. CONTACTED DEALER AND MADE APPT. TOOK IN MOTORCYCLE AND REFUSED TO FIX IT, DID NOT HAVE PARTS AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE IN. WAS TOLD AT THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THE HANDLEBARS WERE PROBABLY OKAY TO GO AHEAD AND RIDE IT. ON THE RECALL IT STATES THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
719129
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 9, 2000

I RECEIVED A RECAL NOTICE ON 11/17/99, I HAVE BEEN CONTACTING THE DEALER SINCE AND THEY HAVE DENIED ME THE REPAIR WITH THE EXCUSE OF UN ABEILABILITY OF PARTS. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REPORT PARTS HAVE BEEN SENT AND SHOULD BE AVEILABLE. RECALL%96V167000. *AK

NHTSA ID
718527
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 10, 2000

SPEEDOMETER GAUGE FAILED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
550330
Incident
Oct 11, 1999
Visibility
Filed Aug 31, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT EXTERIOR MIRROR FELL OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. MANUFACTOR HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
846238
Incident
Jun 25, 1999

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Sportster by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008200—
2007100—
2005720—
2003901—
2002601—
2001601—
2000901—
1999Viewing610—
1998600—
1997100—
1996610—
1993200—
1992100—
1988200—
1985100—
1972020—
1971010—

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.