1999 Harley-Davidson Sportster Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 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
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THE SIGNAL LIGHT IS LOOSE AND SLIDES OUT OF POSITION FROM THE BRAKE HANDLE ASSEMBLY AND WAS DANGLING.NLM
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES THE SIGNAL LIGHT IS LOOSE AND SLIDES OUT OF POSITION FROM THE BRAKE HANDLE ASSEMBLY AND WAS DANGLING.NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPEEDOMETER GAUGE FAILED. *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .