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.
9
Latest Nov 2, 2012
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.
0
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.
2
1 injuries, 1 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, most frequently naming the electrical, other / unspecified and body & structure categories.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Monthly complaints peaked at 1 in Nov 2002. Most recent month: 1.View as table
Monthly owner complaints for the 2002 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic
Month
Complaints filed
Cumulative
Nov 2002
1
1
Oct 2003
1
2
May 2004
1
3
Jun 2004
1
4
Nov 2004
1
5
Jul 2007
1
6
Aug 2009
1
7
Feb 2012
1
8
Nov 2012
1
9
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Electrical444.4%
Other / unspecified222.2%
Body & structure111.1%
Engine111.1%
Tires & wheels111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA (N/A) EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN COMMANDER 2 TIRES, SIZE: 140/90/B16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED CRACKS WITHIN THE TREAD OF THE REAR TIRE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED THAT HE SHOULD PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRE WAS 8,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10483198
Incident
Oct 8, 2012
Mileage
70,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 23, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER 20 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL LOST POWER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY HAVING SEVERAL PARTS REPLACED INCLUDING A NEW BATTERY AND AN IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE REPAIRS DID NOT COMPLETELY REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,066.
NHTSA ID
10449044
Incident
Jun 20, 2011
Mileage
22,700 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 14, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 (NA) HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLT ON THE PASSENGER FLOOR WAS FAILING AND SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FLOORBOARD HAS ONLY ONE BOLT. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME REGARDING THIS ISSUE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON (REFERENCE NUMBER 993461). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
NHTSA ID
10280456
Incident
Mar 12, 2009
Mileage
8,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 18, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE AND DROVE INTO A DITCH. HE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. HE WAS DIAGNOSED AS BRAIN DEAD AND PASSED AWAY THE NEXT DAY. THE ROAD SURFACE WAS SMOOTH AND DRY. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, POWERTRAIN, AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000.
NHTSA ID
10196667
Incident
Apr 24, 2007
Mileage
27,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 1, 2004
THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONSUMER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
NHTSA ID
10099179
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Electrical
Filed Jun 4, 2004
ON APRIL 23, 2004 CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL LETTER REGARDING CIRCUIT BREAKER. DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. *AK *NM
NHTSA ID
10075735
Incident
Jun 4, 2004
Electrical
Filed May 20, 2004
A CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIPS AND THE MOTORCYCLE SHUTS DOWN . IT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED THAT A FUSE REPLACEMENT PREVENTS THIS FROM HAPPENING. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT IF CONSUMER DOESN'T USE A CIRCUIT BREAKER IT WILL VOID THE WARRANTY. *AK
NHTSA ID
10073990
Mileage
18,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 9, 2003
I HAVE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL POWER FAILURE ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON 2002 ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE WHILE IN MOTION. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MOTORCYCLE IN VARIOUS WEBSITE FORUMS. WHEN THE POWER FAILS, THE MOTOR SHUTS DOWN, AND THERE IS NO HORN, NO LIGHTS, NO DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS, ETC. THAT MAKES THIS A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM IS BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO A CIRCUIT BREAKER DEFECT THAT SOME DEALERS CORRECT BY REPLACING IT WITH A MAXI FUSE. MY LOCAL HD DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF A PROBLEM BUT HARLEY DAVIDSON CORPORATION HAS BEEN MADE AWARE BY MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME EVENT. THIS HAS PERSONALLY HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 4 TIMES. LUCKILY NEITHER I NOR MY PASSENGER WAS HURT. *LA
NHTSA ID
10041550
Incident
Aug 28, 2003
Mileage
12,800 mi
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.