2004 Harley-Davidson XL883C 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 2004 Harley-Davidson XL883C, 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
- Engine250.0%
- Brakes125.0%
- Electrical125.0%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
2004 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 886 XLC CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILS AND RENDERS THE MOTORCYCLE USELESS. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC, THE RIDER COULD BE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR
THE MOTORCYCLE SPUTTERS OFF IDLE LEAVING THE MOTORCYCLE UNABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE TO THE RIDER AS THE MOTORCYCLE WILL STOP FORWARD MOTION. REPLACEMENT OF THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR SOLVES THIS PROBLEM. *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
To change the rear tire requires the following several steps including, removal of disc brake pads and compressing the brake caliper piston inward, removing the axle and drive belt also required . After completion of the Disassembly and then reassembly of components including brake pads.The rear brake master cylinder failed, to function, no hydraulic pressure was supplied to activate the brake caliper. I believe when compressing the caliper piston inward (which is a common and necessary practice) caused the master cylinder to fail. Researching this issue I found that this is a common failure to 2004 - 2006 Harley Sportster motorcycles.
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
2004 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 886 XLC CRANK POSITION SENSOR FAILS AND RENDERS THE MOTORCYCLE USELESS. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN TRAFFIC, THE RIDER COULD BE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. *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 .