IllustrationTHE RIGHT HAND (STARBOARD) SIDE MIRROR BROKE OFF FROM THE HANDLEBARS AND BROKE ON THE PAVEMENT, THE BREAK HAPPENED WHERE THE MIRROR SHAFT MEETS THE SIGNAL LIGHT JUST ABOVE THE THREADS. NLM
1999 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Sportster
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
Compare all Sportster 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: 0 of 6 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.
- Visibility. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. 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
6 reportsWHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ENTIRE MIRROR BROKE RIGHT OFF AND FLEW OFF. THIS LEFT TURN SIGNALS HANGING BY THE CABLE. MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON. CONTACTED DEALER AND MADE APPT. TOOK IN MOTORCYCLE AND REFUSED TO FIX IT, DID NOT HAVE PARTS AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE IN. WAS TOLD AT THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THE HANDLEBARS WERE PROBABLY OKAY TO GO AHEAD AND RIDE IT. ON THE RECALL IT STATES THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO OPER…
Read full complaint
RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON. CONTACTED DEALER AND MADE APPT. TOOK IN MOTORCYCLE AND REFUSED TO FIX IT, DID NOT HAVE PARTS AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE IN. WAS TOLD AT THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT THE HANDLEBARS WERE PROBABLY OKAY TO GO AHEAD AND RIDE IT. ON THE RECALL IT STATES THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO OPERATE THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK
I RECEIVED A RECAL NOTICE ON 11/17/99, I HAVE BEEN CONTACTING THE DEALER SINCE AND THEY HAVE DENIED ME THE REPAIR WITH THE EXCUSE OF UN ABEILABILITY OF PARTS. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REPORT PARTS HAVE BEEN SENT AND SHOULD BE AVEILABLE. RECALL%96V167000. *AK
SPEEDOMETER GAUGE FAILED. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT EXTERIOR MIRROR FELL OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. MANUFACTOR HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
Official recalls
198V267000 · Equipment:other:labels
Oct 23, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE CERTIFICATION LABEL INCORRECTLY INDICATES THE FRONT TIRE SIZE AS 100/90-19 57H INSTEAD OF THE CORRET DESIGNATION MH90-21 56H. ALSO THE CERTIFICATION LABELS DO NOT CONTAIN THE CORRECT MODEL DESIGNATION. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF INCORRECT TIRE INFORMATION IS GIVEN, UNDERRATED TIRES COULD BE PLACED ON THE MOTORCYCLE CAUSING EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR OR, IN EXTREME CASES, POSSIBLE TIRE BLOWOUTS.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH NEW CERTIFICATION LABELS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER DESIRES, THEIR DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.