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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 →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
6
19961
19976
19986
19999
20006
20016
2002
Compare all Sportster years →

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

What owners reported most

Visibility
3Equipment
1Exterior Lighting
1Power Train
1Steering
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 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

Visibility complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001
Exterior LightingVisibility

THE 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

NHTSA ODI #562710

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2000
Visibility

WHILE 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

NHTSA ODI #862113

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 1999
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING THE LEFT EXTERIOR MIRROR FELL OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. MANUFACTOR HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846238

Official recalls

1

98V267000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.