2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca 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 2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca, 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
- Fuel system1071.4%
- Electrical214.3%
- Brakes17.1%
- Other / unspecified17.1%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY GOES FROM FULL TO EMPTY IN 15 MINUTES.
THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT PROPERLY WORK DUE TO FLOAT ISSUES. THIS CAN LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND I DO NOT SEE WHY HARLEY HAS NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS OF YET...
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FUEL GAGE INDICATED 1/2 TANK, I STOPPED AND FILLED THE FUEL TANK. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED AND I WAS RIDING AWAY I SAW THE NEEDLE NOW INDICATED THE TANK WAS EMPTY. AFTER RIDING FOE SOME 20 MILES THE GAGE NEEDLE GRADUALLY BEGAN TO RISE TO 3/4 FULL THEN DROP THEN RISE TO 7/8 FULL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW EVERY TIME I HAVE FILLED THE TANK. THE FORUMS ARE FULL OF OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURE. THIS IS MY FIRST VEHICLE WITH THIS MANUFACTURE AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE TANK RUNS DRY IN THE DESERT OR ALIGAYTOR ALLEY OR DEEP IN THE FOREST. *TR
THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE (2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON V-ROD). *AK THE BIKE TYPICALLY STALL WHILE STARTING OUT IN FIRST GEAR. THE BIKE HAD TO BE REVVED UP HIGH TO GET IT GOING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED THE FRONT SPROCKET ON THE 2004 AND 2005 MODELS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOT THE EARLIER MODELS. *NM
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
2002 HARLEY VROD REAR BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. SWITCH DOES NOT LIGHT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. FAILURE IS PERMANENT. DOES NOT WORK. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. READ BLOGS INDICATING IT IS WIDESPREAD AND COSTS APPROX $150 AND RECURS. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEELS WERE OF SOLID DESIGN, BOWL SHAPED. AT 55-60 MPH WIND GOT CAUGHT IN WHEELS AND FORCED VEHICLE INTO A LANE CHANGE. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO.*AK
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 .