RoadVitals

2004 Harley-Davidson Vrsca

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 Aug 26, 2020
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 Feb 19, 2009
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 2004 Harley-Davidson Vrsca, most frequently naming the engine and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 3 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

  • Engine150.0%
  • Fuel system150.0%

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
09E007000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

Feb 19, 2009
97 units potentially affected
The defect: HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING 97 LED TURN SIGNAL MOUNTING KITS, P/NOS. 69951-08 (BLACK) AND 69593-08 (CHROME), FOR INSTALLATION ON MY 2002 THROUGH 2009 VRSC MODEL MOTORCYCLES (EXCLUDING VRSCF MODEL). DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE MOUNTING BRACKET, P/NO. 70497-08, WHICH SECURES THE LED TURN SIGNAL CONTROLLER TO THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME, THE CONTROLLER MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE OIL FILTER.
The risk: OVER TIME, THIS CONTACT CAN LEAD TO A HOLE IN THE OIL FILTER AND ALLOW EXCESSIVE OIL TO GET ON THE REAR TIRE, CAUSING A LOSS OF TRACTION, POSSIBLY LEADING TO A CRASH AND POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: HARLEY-DAVIDSON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE EXISTING BRACKET WITH A NEW BRACKET, P/NO. 70497-08A, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 26, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 0138View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Aug 26, 2020

WHILE RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN I DOWN SHIFT OR COME TO A STOP THE MOTOR SHUTS DOWN. THE LOCAL DEALER SAYS THAT HAPPENS I'VE HAD MANY MECHANICS LOOK AT IT NO PERSON CAN FIND OUT WHY. I'M IN DANGER EVERY TIME. I'VE BEEN HOLDING UP TRAFFIC IN CONSTRUCTION ZONES, STOP LIGHTS & CITY TRAFFIC . I'VE OWNED THIS BIKE FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THIS STARTED HAPPENING I CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE. I'VE PAID MANY SHOPS TO FIND OUT WHY. LOCAL HARLEY DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE GAVE ME BACK THE BIKE & SAID GOOD LUCK.,

NHTSA ID
11351290
Incident
Jun 1, 2020
Mileage
32,765 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 15, 2012

THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2004 HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCA DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN ITS FILLED UP THE NEEDLE DISAPEARS PAST THE FULL MARK AND WHEN ITS CLOSE TO EMPTY IT MIGHT BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 3/4 TANK AND 1/4 TANK.

NHTSA ID
10443830
Incident
Mar 21, 2011

Manufacturer communications

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

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.8.8): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version 24.8.8. Release Date: Week of August 5, 2024. New Features for Harley-Davidson vehicles: Advanced Module Replace for 2021 and later Revolution Max; 2023 and later CVO Touring; and 2024 Street Glide (FLHX), Road Glide (FLTRX). New Features for LiveWire vehicles: Updated calibrations for 2024 S2DM EV1/ EV6; 2024 S2MH EV1; and 2024 S2DM, S2MH. Changes: Added Hand Control Module (HCM) (Part No. 71500522A and 71500536A) for reflash support.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.6.4): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version 24.6.4. Release Date: Week of May 1, 2024. New Features for LiveWire S2DM and S2MH, 2024 Revolution® Max, and 2024 Touring.

M1313

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

SERVICE BULLETIN M1313: VRSC FUEL PUMP SERVICE PROCEDURE REVISION. PURPOSE: This bulletin is to inform dealers of a change to replace fuel system parts on 2002-2006 VRSC models. Fuel pumps (Part No. 62109-01, 62111-04 & 62109-01A) and suction side fuel filters (Part No. 75170-04, 75170-04A) are no longer available as individual components. See PAB1022 for current options Parts and Accessories (P&A) engineering has developed.

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 Vrsca by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007210—
2006710—
2005010—
2004Viewing210—
2003910—
2002131034.3

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.