RoadVitals

2005 Harley-Davidson Xl

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.
3
Latest Mar 25, 2011
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Harley-Davidson Xl, most frequently naming the fuel system, interior & seats and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Fuel system133.3%
  • Interior & seats133.3%
  • Suspension133.3%

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

Fuel system
Filed Mar 25, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON XB (N/A). THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT LATER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP AND THE WIRES HAD BLOWN THE FUSES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID
10392866
Incident
May 1, 2010
Mileage
10,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 18, 2006

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A MOTORCYCLE TRAILER FROM KENDON INDUSTRIES, 3711 E. LA PALMA AVE, ANAHEIM, CA 92806. THE TRAILER WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR A LONG BIKE (CHOPPER STYLE). THE FIRST TIME I USED THE TRAILER, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE TIE DOWNS FOR THE BIKE AND COME LOOSE AND THE BIKE VERY NEARLY CAME LOOSE FROM THE TRAILER INTO HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. KENDON TRAILERS HAVE A FRONT WHEEL MOUNTING UNIT THAT OPERATES IN A WAY THAT AS YOU MOVE THE MOTORCYCLE FORWARD INTO THE MOUNTING UNIT THE MOUNTING UNIT ROCKS FORWARD SECUTING THE FRONT WHEEL AGAINST THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER. THE TRAILER ALSO HAS FOUR TIE DOWN POINTS (TWO AT THE FRONT AND TWO AT THE REAR). THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE TRAILER IS THE FACT THAT THE FRONT TIE DOWN POINTS ARE BEHIND THE STEARING HEAD OF THE MOTORCYCLE. AS A RESULT, WHEN THE TRAILER HITS A BUMP, THE ACTION OF THE TRAILER IS TO PULL THE BIKE BACKWARDS (AWAY FROM THE FRONT SECURING UNIT). THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY I MUST HAVE HIT A BUMB WHICH CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO PULL OUT OF THE FRONT UNIT. THIS ALSO INCREASED THE SLACK IN THE TIE DOWNS WHICH ALLOWED THE BIKE TO FLOP FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND ALMOST CAUSED THE BIKE TO EXIT THE TRAILER (WHICH HAS NO SIDES OR REAR SECURITY). *NM

NHTSA ID
10176495
Incident
Feb 5, 2006
Suspension
Filed Oct 6, 2005

DT: 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON WIDE GLIDE. THE FRONT FORKS WERE SO WEAK THAT THEY SAGGED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS NOT BRAKING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPRINGS WERE TOO WEAK IN THE FORKS. THE CONSUMER FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. HE TRIED TO GET THE AFTER MARKET SPRINGS, BUT THEY WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THIS A WEEK AGOON SEPTEMBER 29, 2005. *AK UPDATED 03/09/06

NHTSA ID
10138786
Incident
Sep 29, 2005

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Xl by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005Viewing310—
1999200—
1998200—
1997010—
1996010—
1995010—
1990020—
1989010—

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.