RoadVitals

2002 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 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

  • 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.

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.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Feb 23, 2012

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 · filed Jun 4, 2004

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jul 18, 2007

REAR WHEEL WAS BENT CAUSING IT TO WOBBLE. I DID NOT FEEL IT WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE. TWO DIFFERANT TIMES I HAD PEOPLE PULL UP BESIDE ME AT STOP LIGHTS INFORMING ME OF THE WHEEL WOBBLE. I RIDE SOLO ALL THE TIME SO I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THIS HAD BEEN BENT. I GOT THE MOTORCYCLE UP ON A STAND TO INSPECT THE WHEEL AND SURE ENOUGH THE WHEEL WAS WOBBLING. THE SPOKES WHERE TIGHT. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO FREDERICK HARLEY DAVIDSON INSTEAD OF BATTLEY HARLEY DAVIDSON WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM BECAUSE OF THE DEALERSHIP BEING CLOSER TO HOME. I TOOK IT IN ON NOVEMBER 12, 2002 AFTER MAKING AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE. ON NOVEMBER 19, 2002 I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER TIM TO FIND OUT THE UPDATE ON WHEN IT WAS GOING TO BE READY. TIM INFORMED ME THAT THE NEW WHEEL THEY ORDERED FOR THE BIKE FROM THE FACTORY TURNED OUT TO BE BENT AND HAD TO RETURN IT FOR ANOTHER WHEEL. FREDERICK H/D COMPLETED THE REPAIR AND CALLED ME TO PICK IT UP ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2002. BECAUSE OF THE RAINEY WEATHER I REQUESTED TO PICK THE BLIKE UP THE FOLLOWING DAY WHICH WAS OK BY THEM. WHEN I ARRIVED AT H/D OF FREDERICK TO PICK UP THE BIKE I REQUESTED TIM TO WRITE A DOCUMENT FOR ME STATING THAT THE NEW WHEEL ORDERED BY THEM FROM THE FACTORY WAS ALSO BENT AND TIM INFORMED ME THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO MEET MY REQUEST BUT THAT I COULD CALL A NATHEN LEWIS ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2002 AT 301-694-8177 AND ASK HIM TO WRITE THE DOCUMENT. I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE TECH WORKING ON MY BIKE AT FREDERICK H/D COULD NOT TAKE MY BIKE OUT FOR A TEST DRIVE TO VERIFY MY STORY ABOUT NO BEING ABLE TO FEEL THE WHEEL WOBBLE DO TO BEING A RAINY DAY. THEY PUT THE BIKE ONTO A MACHINE CALLED A DEANO GLIDE TO NOTICE THE WOBBLING IN THE REAR WHEEL. I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO VERIFY IF THE WHEEL IS A DEFECT BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A CRASH AND GETS HURT. AS I SAID EARLIER I WAS SURPRIZED MYSELF THAT I COULD NOT FEEL THE WOBBLE IN THE WHEEL WHILE RIDING THE BIKE AT ANY SPEED BEFORE AND AFTER VERIFYING THE WOBBLE WHEN I INSPECTED IT ON THE BIKE STAND. DT

NHTSA ID 770066 · filed Nov 24, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Aug 14, 2009

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Nov 1, 2004

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Nov 2, 2012

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

Data on this page last refreshed .