Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Harley-Davidson XL883HUG, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 6 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 3 months of data.
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON 883 SPORTSTER. USED WITH 1600 MILES. PURCHASED AT SACRAMENTO HARLEY DAVIDSON ON 2-7-03. RIDING ON 2-11-03 WHEN ACCELERATOR STUCK. LOST CONTROL, RODE GUARD RAIL, TRIED TO SLOW BIKE, FELL FROM BIKE, BIKE CONTINUED SEVERAL YARDS OVER WIRE FENCE AND UP A HILL. LATER APPEARS THAT SIEVES HOLDING THROTTLE CABLES INTO HOUSING PERIODICALLY SLIP OUT AND PINCH CABLES, NOT ALLOWING THROTTLE HANDLE TO RETURN TO NEUTRAL POSITION. BECAUSE OF SURROUNDING CIRCUMSTANCES, STATE FARM PURSUED HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR RESTITUTION OF DAMAGES AT WHICH TIME HARLEY DAVIDSON SETTLED FOR A PARTIAL AMOUNT. I AM STILL SEEKING COUNCIL. NO ONE IS WILLING TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER, NOR WILL ANYONE HANDLE MY CASE FOR FEAR OF "GETTING A REPUTATION". ARE THEY ALL AFRAID OF HARLEY DAVIDSONS REPUTATION? I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS BIKE IS FAULTY. I WAS ORDERED TO KEEP THE BIKE IN ITS AFTER COLLISION STATE TILL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED OR UNTILL THE 2 YEAR STATUTE HAS PASSED. I AM AT A LOSS OF WHAT TO DO NEXT. THE BIKE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME, BUT BECAUSE OF THE REQUEST, I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT. SACRAMENTO HARLEY DAVIDSON IS UNWILLING TO PROVIDE PROOF OF PRE-PURCHASE SAFETY INSPECTION OR ANY OTHER RECORDS THAT PERTAIN TO THE BIKE. I CANNOT EVEN GET IT FIXED AND NO ONE WILL LOOK AT IT WITHOUT A HEFTY FEE. I WAS SEVERLY INJURED IN THE CRASH. I FRACTURED MY L-4 VERTEBRAE AND RUPTURED A DISC. I ALSO BROKE MY LEFT COLLAR BONE AND HAD MASSIVE ROAD RASH ON MY BACK, ARMS AND LEGS. I WAS IN A MAJOR TRAUMA CENTER HOSPITAL IN OUR AREA FOR 6 DAYS. I WAS FORTUNATE TO RETURN TO MY JOB AFTER 7 MONTHS WITHOUT LIMITATIONS PER SEY. I AM AN EMT-PARAMEDIC AND I FEEL THAT EVENTUALLY THINGS WILL CATCH UP WITH ME, AS MY JOB IS VERY PHYSICALLY DEMANDING. I STILL HAVE A MODERATE AMOUNT OF INTERMITTENT PAIN THAT I WILL HAVE THE REST OF MY LIFE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I LOOK FORWARD TO HOPEFULLY HEARING FROM YOU SOON. *AK
WHILE IN MOTION, THE CUSTOMER STATES THE MOTORCYCLE KEPT DYING. IT WOULD RESTART AND THEN DIE AGAIN WITH NO SPARKS. *JG
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL DRIFT TO THE RIGHT EVEN WHEN THE CONSUMER CAN HAVE HANDLE BARS POINTING STRAIGHT. CONTACTED DEALER,AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1684: MARKET SPECIFIC BATTERY INTRODUCTION. PURPOSE: Initial Release. This bulletin informs dealers of the availability of new batteries for new Original Equipment (OE) vehicle production and in the Parts and Accessories (P&A) catalog. Availability of the new Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries will vary by market and will be transitioning over the next few months. NOTE: The ring terminal screws are not compatible between Leoch and East Penn batteries. The new batteries will include new ring terminal screws, which must be used. The ring terminal screws from the old battery need to be discarded.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1555 (REV E): BATTERY WARRANTY GUIDELINES. PURPOSE: Revision E. Added: Added procedures for the DCA-8000 E Battery Tester.* Updated: All sections. This bulletin informs the dealership network that Harley-Davidson has provided guidelines for battery warranty.
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.
ENGINE; POWER TRAIN
GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1158: OIL FILTER PACKAGING AND CASE QUANTITY UPDATE. PURPOSE: To inform dealerships that Harley-Davidson has made updates to oil filters including new part numbers, packaging design, and bulk case quantity changes.
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1146: 68193-95 BULB WEDGE, FENDER TIP LAMP. Purpose: To inform dealers of an issue with the bulb wire terminals not being to specification. The light bulbs were used in numerous front and rear fender tip light assemblies for domestic and international applications.
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003Viewing | 3 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.