RoadVitals

2005 Harley-Davidson V-Rod

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.
2
Latest Oct 20, 2006
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.
1
Latest Sep 30, 2004
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Harley-Davidson V-Rod, most frequently naming the electrical and other / unspecified categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical150.0%
  • Other / unspecified150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
04V465000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Sep 30, 2004
2,828 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A CONDITION OCCURS THAT COULD ALLOW PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL TANK. ON FUEL INJECTED VEHICLES, THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FUEL TO SPRAY OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE FUEL CAP IS REMOVED. ON CARBURETED VEHICLES, EXCESSIVE FUEL COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CARBURETOR, WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY ALLOW FUEL TO DRIP FROM THE AIR CLEANER.
The risk: THESE SITUATIONS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR CREATE A FIRE HAZARD FOR PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON OR NEAR THE MOTORCYCLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST EACH CANISTER FOR BLOCKAGE, THEN REPLACE AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Oct 20, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE'S ELECTRICITY TO THE LIGHTS HAD LOST POWER ON SIX OCCASIONS. THE SERVICE DEALER CONTINUED TO CHANGE FUSES BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD NEVER BE SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID
10171440
Incident
Jan 1, 2006
Mileage
3,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 26, 2005

THE SOLID WHEELS ON MY 2005 HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCA MOTORCYCLE ARE A SAFETY HAZARD ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHENEVER I GET CAUGHT IN THE "WAKE" OF ANY LARGER VEHICHLES PASSING ME OR WHENVER I PASS LARGER VEHICLES AND WHENEVER THERE IS A CROSS WIND ON ANY ROAD OR HIGHWAY. THESE WHEELS (FRONT AND BACK) CATCH THE WIND AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO WOBBLE. ON ONE OCASSION RECENTLY, I WAS ON INTERSTATE 10 IN TRAFFIC AND THERE WAS ALSO A CROSSWIND. IT WAS MOST DISTRESSING TO HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT FOR THE CROSS WIND AND THE TURBULENCE FROM (ESPECIALLY) S.U.V.'S & 18 WHEELER'S WHENEVER I PASSED OR WAS PASSED. THIS IS A DAILY OCCURANCE (WHEN THERE IS A CROSSWIND) OR ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10118516
Incident
Apr 26, 2005
Mileage
8 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

HD-PA-1022

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

HARLEY DAVIDSON: A RETROFIT ASSEMBLY AND KIT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED, BY ENGINEERING, USING CURRENT V ROD FUEL SENDER AND FUEL MODULE, DUE TO PARTS NO LONGER PRODUCED AND RESOURCING OPTIONS ARE EXHAUSTED. MODEL 2002-2006 V ROD. *PE

HD-TT-426-A

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

HARLEY DAVIDSON: WHEN FUEL PUMP IS INSTALLED, A CONFUSION OF DIAGNOSING HISTORIC DTC, THERE IS A RISE IN PDI SYSTEM RELAY WARRANTY CLAIMS. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson V-Rod by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005Viewing210—
2004300—

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.