← New search

2004 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Softail

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Softail years →

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

What owners reported most

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 4 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 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 →
  • Wheels. 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

Suspension complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
500 miles · Jul 9, 2005
Suspension

AFTER 500 MILES, WOBBLE WAS DISCOVERED IN HANDLEBARS BETWEEN 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOUR. TAKEN TO DEALER WAS TOLD IT WAS TRAIT ON MODEL. CALLED HARLEY, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER OF MY CHOICE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASE WAS MADE. THEY ADJUSTED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS. PROBLEM SOLVE. AFTER ANOTHER 500 MIL…

Read full complaint

AFTER 500 MILES, WOBBLE WAS DISCOVERED IN HANDLEBARS BETWEEN 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOUR. TAKEN TO DEALER WAS TOLD IT WAS TRAIT ON MODEL. CALLED HARLEY, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER OF MY CHOICE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASE WAS MADE. THEY ADJUSTED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS. PROBLEM SOLVE. AFTER ANOTHER 500 MILES, SAME SITUATION OCCURRED. WOBBLE IN FRONT END BETWEEN 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOURS. TOOK BIKE BACK TO DEALER, ADJUSTED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS AND GREASED FRONT END. PROBLEM SOLVED. AFTER 1,000 MILES, WOBBLE COME BACK IN HANDLER BARS BETWEEN, 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOUR. TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH BIKE. THAT WAS THE TRAIT OF HERITAGE SOFTAIL. THEY RODE A NEW BIKE AND IT DONE THE SAME THING. THE BIKE IS SAFE TO RIDE AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. CALLED HARLEY AND THEY SAID THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BIKE. I TOLD HARLEY THEY HAD FIXED THE BIKE ON TWO PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS. HARLEY SAID SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK WITHIN 30 MINUTES. I CALLED GENERAL MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO FIX THE BIKE. THIS IS THE FOURTH ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END.

NHTSA ODI #10128165

Official recalls

1

04V465000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 30, 2004

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A CONDITION OCCURS THAT COULD ALLOW PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL TANK. ON FUEL INJECTED VEHICLES, THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FUEL TO SPRAY OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE FUEL CAP IS REMOVED. ON CARBURETED VEHICLES, EXCESSIVE FUEL COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CARBURETOR, WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY ALLOW FUEL TO DRIP FROM THE AIR CLEANER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE SITUATIONS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR CREATE A FIRE HAZARD FOR PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON OR NEAR THE MOTORCYCLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST EACH CANISTER FOR BLOCKAGE, THEN REPLACE AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

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.