2001 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic 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 2001 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, 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
- Electrical220.0%
- Engine220.0%
- Fuel system220.0%
- Powertrain (other)220.0%
- Suspension110.0%
- Transmission110.0%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE. FAULTY STATOR. CAUSED THE BIKE TO LOOSE LIGHTS AND STALL ON THE INTERSTATE IN MODERATE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED ME HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOR CO. KNOWS ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE REPLACEMENT STATOR IS A UPGRADED PART DUE TO THE FAILURES OF THE ORIGINAL STATORS. THEY ADVISED ME TO KEEP MY RECEIPTS IN THE EVENT IT IS RECALLED SO I MAY POSSIBLY GET A REFUND. BIKE HAD 19,000 MILES WHEN THE STATOR FAILED. *TR
WHILE RIDING OUR 2001 ULTRA CLASSIC (HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE) ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE, THE RADIO AND HEADSETS QUIT WORKING. I NOTICED THE VOTE GAGE STOPPED WORKING. I PUT ON MY TURN SIGNAL TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT; THEY DID NOT WORK. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE BIKE SHUT DOWN AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE ONLY REASON THAT I DID NOT SHUT DOWN IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE WAS MY BATTERY WAS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE OFF THE ROAD BEFORE IT DIED. THE BIKE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND I WAS ADVISED THAT THE STATOR WAS BAD. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM (SERVICE BULLETIN M-111 TC88 TOURING STATOR) AND SHOULD BE RECALLED, A BIKE STOPPING IN 70 MPH TRAFFIC IS NOT GOOD. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT HAD THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND I WAS ADVISED THAT MY BIKE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THIS MOTORCYCLE ONLY HAD 13,500 MILES ON IT WHEN THE STATOR FAILED. THE UPGRADED STATOR AND OTHER PARTS WERE REPLACED BY A HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALER AND THE OLD STATOR IS AVAILABLY. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TUNED UP AND THE OIL WAS CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO A DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS RESET, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE STATOR, BECAUSE IT BURNED UP. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE BIKE WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE DEALER NOTED THE STATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND IT WAS REPLACED. IN AUG. 2004 THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP ON THE SECOND DEFECT. *JB *SC
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN TWO MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INJECTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
CPSC# I1180305A. 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE RECENTLY DEVELOPED TWO FUEL LEAKS. ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FUEL INJECTED HARLEY DAVIDSON'S. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT FITTINGS THAT WERE USED TO CONNECT THE FUEL LINES TO THE FUEL TANK AND LANDING ON THE HOT ENGINE.*JB
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
DRIVESHAFT BROKE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN SHIFTING FROM NEUTRAL TO FIRST GEAR AS VEHICLE WAS ROLLING. TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTED. AN ACCIDENT WAS BARELY AVOIDED WHEN CAR BEHIND ALMOST STRUCK THE MOTORCYCLE. MFG. / DEALER WOULD NOT COVER UNDER ORIGINAL WARRANTY OR EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AT OWNER EXPENSE. *AK
REAR TOOTHED DRIVE BELT FAILED AS I BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM GASOLINE PUMP. THIS LEAVES THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY MEANS OF PROPULSION. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN COMUTER TRAFFIC IS WOULD BE VERY HAZARDOUS TO PERSONAL SAFETY. THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER HAULING THE VEHICLE NEARLY 100 MILES TO A DEALER WHICH HAD PARTS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 TO 70 MPH THE VEHICLE WOBBLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE HANDLEBARS CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER NO CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHERE THEY DETERMINED THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DESIGNED TO BE DRIVEN AT 55 MPH OR LESS. IT WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED MOTORCYCLES SHOULD HAVE THREE STABILIZER BARS HOWEVER THIS ONE ONLY HAS TWO. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
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
THE ORIGINAL SEAL FROM THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAK WHILE TRAVELING THE OIL BLOW ONTO THE REAR TIRE. CAUSING HIM TO SLIP ON THE ROAD. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR
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 .