2016 Harley-Davidson Vrscf 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 2016 Harley-Davidson Vrscf, 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
- Brakes250.0%
- Electrical125.0%
- Exterior lighting125.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The taillight continues to fail without warning (no warning lamps came on) causing unsafe conditions on the road which can result in a serious accident. The taillight fails and the brake light and turn signal lights would not work. I have replaced it several times and now Harley Davidson says this part is no longer manufactured. Please note that this is an ongoing problem, and that the said taillight is an integral part and unique part of this motorcycle and there are no other manufacturers making an aftermarket replacement for this part. I would also like to point out that there are many other V-Rod owners having the same taillight failure issues and this is NOT an isolated problem with my motorcycle. In other words, this is an extremely common issue with these motorcycles. On July 15, 2019 I wrote Harley-Davidson Motor Company and did not respond. See attached letter. I hope that by reporting this manufacturer defect we all find a way to resolve this on going safety issue.
The contact owns a 2016 Harley-Davidson VRSCF V-ROD motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding approximately 10 mph, the braking system experienced a failure while attempting to stop. The contact stated that when pressing the front brake lever, the lever was hard to press and the motorcycle did not stop or slow down causing the rider to use his legs and feet to stop the motorcycle from crashing into an entrance gate. The motorcycle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the ABS module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The motorcycle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The taillight continues to fail without warning (no warning lamps came on) causing unsafe conditions on the road which can result in a serious accident. The taillight fails and the brake light and turn signal lights would not work. I have replaced it several times and now Harley Davidson says this part is no longer manufactured. Please note that this is an ongoing problem, and that the said taillight is an integral part and unique part of this motorcycle and there are no other manufacturers making an aftermarket replacement for this part. I would also like to point out that there are many other V-Rod owners having the same taillight failure issues and this is NOT an isolated problem with my motorcycle. In other words, this is an extremely common issue with these motorcycles. On July 15, 2019 I wrote Harley-Davidson Motor Company and did not respond. See attached letter. I hope that by reporting this manufacturer defect we all find a way to resolve this on going safety issue.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
I custom ordered a rear fender with LED lights included to GR Customs tel. (949) 395-8888. However, the turning lights are barely visible. Contacted the Company and sales person Aaron rebutted that they has sold hundreds of those without a problem. I send pictures and videos. He says “they are clearly visible”. When motorcycle is running, rear tail lights are On (running lights). Even when the running lights are on (low luminosity), the turn light are not noticeable. He insisted that the running lights are not always ON and that’s why the turning lights are not visible. This aftermarket part does not comply with FMVSS 108/SAE 585 which states the minimum and maximum luminosity (Candela) for exterior lights on vehicles and motorcycles. This creates a safety hazard if installed, due to not sufficient lighting luminosity to make aware vehicle traffic behind. Making aware rear drivers of motorcycle drivrer’s intentions using the lights is of upmost importance. This business should not sell this aftermarket parts or at least disclose they don’t comply withe SAE 585 standards contained in FMVSS 108. I have an exemplar for testing before sending it back to Company. I have photos and video to share.
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 .