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1998 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Road King

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
3Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19973
19984
19998
2001
Compare all Road King years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Suspension
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 3 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. 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

What owners actually said

3 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2002
Suspension

THE REAR CAM BEARING ON MY 1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROADKING HAS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURE IS ENTIRELY AWARE OF THE DESIGN DEFECT. I FAIL TO SEE THE LOGIC ON HOW MY VEHICLE MUST DAMAGE OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS BEFORE HARLEY DAVIDSON BACKS UP THEIR OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED ON 8-1-02 THAT I'M NOW HEARING A NOISE NEAR …

Read full complaint

THE REAR CAM BEARING ON MY 1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROADKING HAS FAILED. THE MANUFACTURE IS ENTIRELY AWARE OF THE DESIGN DEFECT. I FAIL TO SEE THE LOGIC ON HOW MY VEHICLE MUST DAMAGE OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS BEFORE HARLEY DAVIDSON BACKS UP THEIR OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED ON 8-1-02 THAT I'M NOW HEARING A NOISE NEAR REAR CAM BEARING AREA. I ASKED TO HAVE MY HARLEY REPAIRED "HARLEY DAVIDSON FAILED TO DO SO". I FEEL H-D SHOULD REPLACE THE CAM BEARING PRIOR TO FAILURE. I TRIED TO CONTACT H-D MOTOR COMPANY AND GOT NOWHERE. I GUESS WHEN DEMAND IN A PRODUCT IS HIGH, THE DEALER DOESN'T HAVE TO BACK IT UP . DID I MENTION "ILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER HARLEY DAVIDSON. PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ODI #766833

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2002
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING MOTORCYCLE KEEPS BLOWING A 15 AMP FUSE, IT CAUSES LOSS OF RUNNING LIGHTS/ TAIL LIGHT/ HEADLIGHTS, AND PASSING LIGHTS. DEALER NOTIFIED AND WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8002802

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE LIGHTS STICK ON OR FLICKER WHEN GOING DOWN HIGHWAY. ALSO, MASTER CYLINDER WAS WEAK . CONSUMER ORDERED KIT. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEALER STATED NOTHING THEY COULD DO.*AK

NHTSA ODI #893277

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.