2005 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 2005 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
- Other / unspecified333.3%
- Fuel system222.2%
- Transmission222.2%
- Brakes111.1%
- Electrical111.1%
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
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 AM A 55 YEAR OLD U.S. TAXPAYING REGISTERED VOTER WHO HAS BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR OVER 42 YEARS. I HAVE ADEQUATE HEALTH INSURANCE,OWN MY HOME,FAMILY MAN AND HAVE BEEN AT THE SAME JOB FOR 28 YEARS.I HATE WEARING MOTORCYCLE HELMETS AND HATE EVEN MORE,THE GOVERNMENT TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO WEAR ONE WHEN I RIDE MY BIKE.I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN FREEDOM OF CHOICE.IT SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE RIDER TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO WEAR ONE OR NOT AND NOT THE GOVERNMENT ! FORTUNATELY THERE ARE MORE STATES WITHOUT A MANDATORY HELMET LAW THAN THERE ARE WITH THEM.A MOTORCYCLE HELMET WILL ONLY SAVE YOUR LIFE IN A CRASH UP TO 13 MPH,AFTER THAT IT IS NOT OF MUCH USE. HELMETS IN MOST IF NOT ALL STATES ARE ILLEAGLE TO WEAR WHILE DRIVING A AUTOMOBILE BECAUSE IT RESTRICTS YOUR HEARING AND PERIPHERAL VISION. THEN WHY ARE WE FORCED TO WEAR THEM ON MOTORCYCLES ? IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.THE KEY TO MOTORCYCLE SAFETY IS DRIVER SAFETY EDUCATION BOTH FOR THE AUTOMOBILE AND MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR. PLEASE LET ALL OF THE LEGISLATORS KNOW OF MY CONCERN.A LOT OF LEGISLATORS WHO IMPOSE MANDATORY HELMET LAWS AND OTHER OPPRESSIVE MOTORCYCLE RELATED LAWS,HAVE NEVER EVEN TOUCHED A MOTORCYCLE BUT YET WANT TO GOVERN OUR LIVES WHEN IT COMES TO A LIFESTYLE/SPORT THAT WE DEARLY EMBRACE.THANKYOU FOR YOUR TIME ! *TR
I WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MANDATORY USE OF MOTORCYCLE HELMETS. I BELIEVE ANY PERSON WHO IS LEGALLY OPERATING A PROPERLY REGISTERED, LICENSED AND INSURED MOTORCYCLE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE FOR HIM OR HERSELF IF HE/SHE WANTS TO WEAR A HELMET OR NOT. FORCING ALL MOTORCYCLE RIDERS TO WEAR A HELMET IS DISCRIMINATION AND SHOULD NOT BE ENFORCED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM DELIVERY CONCERNING THE CARBURETOR. THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO TURN OFF OR START AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL VALVE, THE DRIVE BELT AND ADJUSTED THE TIMING. THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER.
NOT LONG AFTER MY 1000 MILE NEW VEHICLE CHECKUP, MY 2005 XL883R SPORTSTER'S FRONT BRAKE LEVER WOULD COLLAPSE TO THE HANDLE BAR. THE FRONT BRAKE WOULD OPERATE, BUT THE LEVER WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE REGULAR POSITION. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. AFTER RIDING A FEW HUNDRED YARDS, AND REPEATEDLY SQUEEZING THE BRAKE LEVER, THE LEVER WOULD FINALLY STAY FULLY AWAY FROM THE HANDLEBAR. THE ABOVE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERYTIME I RIDE THE SPORTSTER, AND NOW THE LEVER COLLAPSES AGAINST THE HANDLEBAR, AND THE FRONT BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. THE BIKE IS UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER I WANTED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I CAN'T BELIEVE MY BIKE IS THE ONLY BIKE IN THE US TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I'M WORRIED ABOUT RIDING IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF USING THE FRONT BRAKE WHILE MOTORCYCLE RIDING. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200 CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT TO 3RD GEAR BECAUSE IT WOULD LOCK. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO UP SHIFT TO FOURTH AND FIFTH GEAR BEFORE DOWN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR. THIS WENT ON FOR A MONTH. THE DEALER KEPT REPAIRING THE FAILURE, AT LEAST FOUR TIMES UNTIL THE WARRANTY HAS RAN OUT. THERE IS STILL A FAILURE WITH THE MOTOR CYCLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THEY STATED THERE SHOULD BE NO FAILURE BECAUSE THEY HAVE REPAIRED THE PROBLEMS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500 THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 9,000. UPDATED 5/10/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ESTABLISHMENT WHERE HE PURCHASED THE BIKE FROM HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH THE BIKE. IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE DAMAGE, THE CREATED A PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT LOCKED UP IN 3RD GEAR WHEN DOWN SHIFTING, THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED BUT WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE WAY IT SHIFTED. ALSO, THE STARTER HESITATED WHEN STARTING THE BIKE. UPDATED 07/01/10.*JB
DT: 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON WITH 37 MILES ON IT. AFTER THE OWNER LEFT WITH THE MOTORCYCLE SHE NOTICED THAT IT WAS CHOKING AND MAKING TERRIBLE NOISES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS ENGAGED. THE NOISE BEING A SEVERE CLICKING IN 4TH AND 5TH GEARS. IT WA S A TERRIBLE RATTLE AND RINGING IN THE TRANSMISSION. MOTORCYCLE WAS STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD MAKE A NOISE AND DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF THE STALLING, AND IT WAS NOW NOT AS BAD, BUT IS STILL STALLING/ CRACKING/RATTLING, AND RINGING WORSE. MOTORCYCLE IS IN THE SHOP FOR A SECOND TIME, AND THE DEALER HAS NOT EVEN LOOKED AT IT AS OF YET. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
NOT LONG AFTER MY 1000 MILE NEW VEHICLE CHECKUP, MY 2005 XL883R SPORTSTER'S FRONT BRAKE LEVER WOULD COLLAPSE TO THE HANDLE BAR. THE FRONT BRAKE WOULD OPERATE, BUT THE LEVER WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE REGULAR POSITION. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. AFTER RIDING A FEW HUNDRED YARDS, AND REPEATEDLY SQUEEZING THE BRAKE LEVER, THE LEVER WOULD FINALLY STAY FULLY AWAY FROM THE HANDLEBAR. THE ABOVE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERYTIME I RIDE THE SPORTSTER, AND NOW THE LEVER COLLAPSES AGAINST THE HANDLEBAR, AND THE FRONT BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. THE BIKE IS UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER I WANTED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I CAN'T BELIEVE MY BIKE IS THE ONLY BIKE IN THE US TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I'M WORRIED ABOUT RIDING IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF USING THE FRONT BRAKE WHILE MOTORCYCLE RIDING. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200 CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT TO 3RD GEAR BECAUSE IT WOULD LOCK. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO UP SHIFT TO FOURTH AND FIFTH GEAR BEFORE DOWN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR. THIS WENT ON FOR A MONTH. THE DEALER KEPT REPAIRING THE FAILURE, AT LEAST FOUR TIMES UNTIL THE WARRANTY HAS RAN OUT. THERE IS STILL A FAILURE WITH THE MOTOR CYCLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THEY STATED THERE SHOULD BE NO FAILURE BECAUSE THEY HAVE REPAIRED THE PROBLEMS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500 THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 9,000. UPDATED 5/10/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ESTABLISHMENT WHERE HE PURCHASED THE BIKE FROM HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH THE BIKE. IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE DAMAGE, THE CREATED A PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT LOCKED UP IN 3RD GEAR WHEN DOWN SHIFTING, THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED BUT WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE WAY IT SHIFTED. ALSO, THE STARTER HESITATED WHEN STARTING THE BIKE. UPDATED 07/01/10.*JB
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 .