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1998 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Harley Davidson

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
8Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
19959
199611
19978
199814
199920
20003
2001
Compare all Harley Davidson years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
2Electrical System
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Exterior Lighting
1Seats
1
All reported categories
Structure
1Suspension
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 8 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 22, 2001
Power Train

SINCE PURCHASING THE MOTORCYCLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 1997 I HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED FAILURES WHEN SHIFTING INTO FORTH GEAR, IT WILL ACT AS IF IT GOES INTO A FALSE NEUTRAL. I'VE HAD MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE IT'S ORIGINAL PURCHASE, AND IN ALL CASES EVEN WITH A HARLEY REPRESENTATIVE…

Read full complaint

SINCE PURCHASING THE MOTORCYCLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 1997 I HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED FAILURES WHEN SHIFTING INTO FORTH GEAR, IT WILL ACT AS IF IT GOES INTO A FALSE NEUTRAL. I'VE HAD MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE IT'S ORIGINAL PURCHASE, AND IN ALL CASES EVEN WITH A HARLEY REPRESENTATIVE CHECKING THE TRANSMISSION WERE UNABLE TO CORECT THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP AND HARLEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY WOULD DO NOTHING MORE UNLESS THE TRANSMISSTION SUFFERED A MAJOR FAILURE, I'M STILL HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS, MISSING FORTH GEAR, AND EVEN HAVE AN ACTIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH HARLEY WILL NOT HONOR. I WILL BE HAPPY TO SEND YOU MY LETTER TO HARLEY AND THEIR RESPONCE TO ME IF NEEDED, PLEASE HELP, THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745680

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1998
Power Train

SPEEDOMETER FAILED, UNABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS DUE TO BACK ORDER.

NHTSA ODI #542034

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.