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 9 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 1 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
9 reports
51,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR PRESENT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FUEL LINE WAS CONNECTED BECAME FRACTURED IN HALF ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR PRESENT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK WHERE THE FUEL LINE WAS CONNECTED BECAME FRACTURED IN HALF ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
NHTSA ODI #10609422
14,000 miles · Jul 31, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE. A RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2001 IN WHICH THE CAM BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. HE STATED THAT THE NOISE HAS RETURNED AND THE CAM BEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE FAILU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE AN UNFAMILIAR NOISE. A RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2001 IN WHICH THE CAM BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. HE STATED THAT THE NOISE HAS RETURNED AND THE CAM BEARINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE FAILURE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
NHTSA ODI #10197955
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED ABOUT A WEEK AGO, LAST SATURDAY 7/16/05. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A MISSING IN THE ENGINE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THEN CONSUMER SKIDDED AND PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE BACK WHEEL LOCKED UP BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOCK UP IN THE …
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DT: THE CONSUMER STATED ABOUT A WEEK AGO, LAST SATURDAY 7/16/05. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A MISSING IN THE ENGINE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THEN CONSUMER SKIDDED AND PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE BACK WHEEL LOCKED UP BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOCK UP IN THE CRANK SHAFT BEARING THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRANK SHAFT BEARING WENT OUT AND CAUSED A SEIZING OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THAT THERE IS A MOTORCYCLE SHOP NEARBY WHERE HE FOUND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. THE MOTORCYCLE IS NOW IN THE SHOP. THE CONSUMER HAS ALSO CONTACTED HARLEY DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. OWNER NOTICED THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10129918
34,500 miles · Jul 3, 2003
Equipment
THE TOUR PACK BRACKET SNAPPED IN HALF. THE LIGHT MEDAL TUBING WHICH SUPPORTED THE TOUR PACK BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND CRACKED ON THE LEFT SIDE AT BOLT SITES. NEARLY $50.00 TO REPLACE. CONSUMER KEPT OLD ONE AND IS GETTING IT WORKED ON. *TT *CB JB
NHTSA ODI #10021795
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE CAM CAUSING METAL SHAVING TO SPREAD ALL OVER THE ENGINE, WHICH IN THE LONG RUN WILL DESTROY THE MOTOR COMPLETELY.*JB
NHTSA ODI #8008972
Mileage unknown · Jun 7, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE WOULD MAKE A LOT OF NOISE WHILE DRIVING. HAD MOTORCYCLE CHECKED AT MOTORCYCLE SHOP. CAM BEARINGS WAS GOING OUT IN ENGINE, CAUSING THE NOISE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #889993
Mileage unknown · May 31, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE CAMSHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS, ONCE PER YEAR. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ,AND MADE REPAIRS AT NO COST. HOWEVER, ASKING NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #889480
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 1998
Electrical System
CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED RECALL #0091 FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH IN JULY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. LAST TIME THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WAS ON NOVEMBER 10,1998. DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE YET. CONSUMER STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT GO ON AFTER TURN…
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CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED RECALL #0091 FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH IN JULY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. LAST TIME THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WAS ON NOVEMBER 10,1998. DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE YET. CONSUMER STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT GO ON AFTER TURNING THE SWITCH. *AK *TT
NHTSA ODI #831461
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1998
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
HIGH SPEED THROTTLE, FRONT TRAIN TURNS WITH WHEELS. UNTIL WIND HITS IT, IT WOULD WOBBLE. CYCLE HIT CONCRETE WALL WHEN IT HAPPENED. OWNER WAS THROWN BACK INTO HWY TRAFFIC LANE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #829503
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.
1999 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Ultra Classic Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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