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: 3 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Equipment. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 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
8 reports
30,000 miles · Oct 15, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
BIKE CUTS OUT AND DIES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO RIDER OR EVEN DEATH: THIS HAS BEEN AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HARLEYS FROM 199 TO 2001 CRUISER MODELS AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON AS A RECALL ON ALL BIKE WITH THAT SYSTEM. SEE DISCUSSION BELOW: MINE CUT OUT AND I WAS ALMOST THROWN FROM T…
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BIKE CUTS OUT AND DIES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO RIDER OR EVEN DEATH: THIS HAS BEEN AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HARLEYS FROM 199 TO 2001 CRUISER MODELS AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON AS A RECALL ON ALL BIKE WITH THAT SYSTEM. SEE DISCUSSION BELOW: MINE CUT OUT AND I WAS ALMOST THROWN FROM THE BIKE INTO TRAFFIC AS IT SHUT DOWN AND LOCKED UP THE TIRES CLASSIC, THANKS FOR THE VERY THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS. I STARTED THIS THREAD TO TRY TO OUT IF THERE IS A LARGE POPULATION OF 1999-2001 MM EFI OWNERS THAT ARE NOT HAVING PROBLEMS, THAT MIGHT GIVE ME SOME CONFIDENCE THAT IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO TRY TO GET MINE REPAIRED AND REGAIN CONFIDENCE THAT IT WOULD STAY FIXED. THE MM EFI SYSTEM PROVED TO ME FOR 7 YEARS THAT IT CAN DO THE JOB JUST FINE BUT NOW SOMETHING IS BROKEN WITH IT. I DIDN'T/DON'T EXPECT ANY ELECTRO/MECHANICAL SYSTEM TO FUNCTION TROUBLE FREE FOREVER WITHOUT NEEDING MAINTENANCE. ALSO FRUSTRATING IS WHY THE MM EFI SYSTEM IS SO DIFFICULT TO TROUBLESHOOT AND FIX? THE 1999-2001 MM EFI PROBLEMS ARE LEGENDARY AND NOT THE FAULT OF BIKE OWNERS BUT THE MOCO. I REALLY THINK THE MOCO SHOULD RECALL THESE BIKES AND CONVERT THEM TO DELPHI EFI SYSTEMS. MINE STALLED IN CROWDED FAST TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE A BAD ACCIDENT. HARLEY ARE YOU LISTENING-THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS WAS HAPPENING WITH A BIG 3 AUTOMOBILE THERE WOULD BE A DOT RECALL. LAST EDITED BY EZRIDER; 06-08-2008 AT 03:37 PM. EZRIDER IS OFFLINE REPLY WITH QUOTE *TR
NHTSA ODI #10644788
70,000 miles · May 7, 2008
Wheels
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 (NA) HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC. WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES LONG IN THE RIM OF THE REAR TIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO NOTICING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 (NA) HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC. WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES LONG IN THE RIM OF THE REAR TIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO NOTICING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #10226921
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2006
Equipment
THE SHIFTER CONTROL ARM AND SHAFT HAS COME OFF MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING TWICE WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES. APPARENTLY HARLEY HAS USED A BOLT THAT DOES NOT GO COMPLETELY THRU TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. I HAD TO ASK FOR A LONGER BOLT WHEN I HAD TO PURCHASE THE NEW SHAFT AND SHIFTER ARM. I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM W…
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THE SHIFTER CONTROL ARM AND SHAFT HAS COME OFF MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING TWICE WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES. APPARENTLY HARLEY HAS USED A BOLT THAT DOES NOT GO COMPLETELY THRU TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. I HAD TO ASK FOR A LONGER BOLT WHEN I HAD TO PURCHASE THE NEW SHAFT AND SHIFTER ARM. I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS STRANDED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10161862
4,500 miles · Sep 19, 2004
Electronic Stability Control
WOBBEL, UNSTEADY, WONDERING, FRON END, BIKE IS UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10091270
Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN VEHICLE GOES ON ALONG SUSTAINED RUN, 200-300 MILES AND COME OFF FREEWAY IT WILL STALL EVERY TIME COMING TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY TWO DEALES. FUEL FILTER WAS CHANGED, INJECTION PORTS CLEANED, BUT PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10003646
Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING OIL IS LEAKING ONTO BRAKES, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO SLIP, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED
NHTSA ODI #8018818
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2002
Suspension
VIBRATION WOULD BE FELT WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE RUBBING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8003653
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment
THE TOP BOLT FROM THE PRIMARY CHAIN TENSION ADJUSTER FELL OUT, LODGING BETWEEN THE DOUBLE SPROCKET OF THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, THE LOWER BOLT WAS BENT, THE INNER PRIMARY CASE WAS LIGHTLY DAMAGED, THE CHAIN WAS DAMAGED BEYOND SAFE USE, AND THE TENSIONER MOUNT WAS BENT, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING DUE TO THE CHAIN RUNNING OVER THE BOLT …
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THE TOP BOLT FROM THE PRIMARY CHAIN TENSION ADJUSTER FELL OUT, LODGING BETWEEN THE DOUBLE SPROCKET OF THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, THE LOWER BOLT WAS BENT, THE INNER PRIMARY CASE WAS LIGHTLY DAMAGED, THE CHAIN WAS DAMAGED BEYOND SAFE USE, AND THE TENSIONER MOUNT WAS BENT, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING DUE TO THE CHAIN RUNNING OVER THE BOLT IN THE SPROCKET, THIS FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL, USE OIL, RUN ROUGH, AND EXPERIENCE A SPARK KNOCK. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #564146
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.
2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Road King Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year