2007 Harley-Davidson XL1200L 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 2007 Harley-Davidson XL1200L, 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
- Body & structure120.0%
- Brakes120.0%
- Electrical120.0%
- Engine120.0%
- Fuel system120.0%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE IS A RECALL ON MY MOTORCYCLE AND I ASKED BUT THEY DONT HAVE THE PART TO FIX IT. *TR
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
I WAS RIDING MY STOCK 2007 HD SPORTSTER 1200 YESTERDAY ON A PAVED ROAD APPROX. 35 MPH WHEN I RAN OVER A ROUGH PORTION OF ROAD. THE RIGHT FOOT PEG / REAR BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY CAME OFF FROM ITS MOUNTING POSITION ON THE LOWER FRAME AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE ROAD. I PULLED OVER TO DISCOVER THAT THE TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE BRACKET / ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME HAD SHEARED OFF. I WEIGH 185 LBS AND THE MOTORCYCLE DID NOT BOTTOM-OUT ON THE ROUGH ROAD, NOR DID THE BRAKE / FOOT PEG ASSEMBLY STRIKE THE ROAD. THE BOLTS APPEAR TO HAVE SIMPLY SHEARED OFF FROM MY WEIGHT ON THE FOOT PEG ON A ROUGH PATCH OF ROAD. LUCKILY, I MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP IT WITH NO USABLE REAR BRAKE AS THE CONTROL WAS DRAGGING ON THE ROAD. I DID RESEARCH LAST NIGHT ON THE INTERNET AND READ SEVERAL POSTINGS ON A MOTORCYCLE BLOG WITH OWNERS OF 2007 SPORTSTER 1200 MOTORCYCLES THAT REPORTED EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE, SO I AM REPORTING IT TO YOU. THERE IS NO VISIBLE RUST ON THE BOLTS WHERE THEY SHEARED OFF. THEY APPEAR TO BELOW-GRADE STEEL BOLTS THAT FAILED UNDER NORMAL USE. I WAS LUCKY THAT I MAINTAINED CONTROL AS MY FOOT DROPPED TO THE GROUND AT 35 MPH - IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND IF THERE IS A RESOLUTION UNDERWAY.
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON XL1200L. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 06V476000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR). HE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE COMPONENT IS ON BACK ORDER. PRESENTLY, NO FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 200. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PAID FOR A BRAND NEW 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON 1200XL, ON JULY 28, 07. I PICKED IT UP FROM STUBBS HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER ON JULY 30, 07. THE DEALER FAILED TO DISCLOSE A RECALL ON THE MOTORCYCLE WHICH WAS ISSUED IN JUNE 07 FOR THE HEAT SHIELD MANIFOLD. SUBSEQUENTLY, I BURNT MY LEG ON THE PIPES, AND INCURRED A LOT OF PAIN, AND A SCAR ON MY LEG WHICH IS PERMANENT AND UNSIGHTLY. I FOUND OUT AFTERWARDS, THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY OWN FROM INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT. THE DEALER NEVER TOOK ANY INITIATIVE TO NOTIFY ME ON THEIR OWN. I BELIEVE THE DEALER IS LIABLE FOR CAUSING MY INJURY, DUE TO NEGLECT TO DISCLOSE SAFETY INFORMATION, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS WAS MY FIRST EVER MOTORCYCLE, AND BECAUSE OF THIS AND OTHER ISSUES OF NEGLECT BY THIS DEALER, I HAVE HAD TO ENDURE COUNTLESS HOURS OF MY TIME TO TRY AND GET THIS DEALER TO HONOR SAFETY AND ETHICAL ISSUES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
5 DAY OLD HARLEY, SPORTSTER FAIL TO START. FUEL PUMP OUT. NEW PART ON 20 BACKORDER. NOT ACCEPTABLE. *TR
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 .