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 3 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.
Structure. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility/wiper. 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
3 reports
1,012 miles · Apr 12, 2015
Structure
DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AT 60MPH AND BATTERY COVER GOES FLYING OFF NARROWLY MISS HITTING A VEHICLE BEHIND ME. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAS YET TO BE FIXED PROPERLY AND NO FOREWARNING OR DISCLAIMER IS GIVEN. THROUGH FORUMS I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO HARLEY AND YET THEY CONTINUE TO NOT INFORM THERE BUYE…
Read full complaint
DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AT 60MPH AND BATTERY COVER GOES FLYING OFF NARROWLY MISS HITTING A VEHICLE BEHIND ME. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAS YET TO BE FIXED PROPERLY AND NO FOREWARNING OR DISCLAIMER IS GIVEN. THROUGH FORUMS I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO HARLEY AND YET THEY CONTINUE TO NOT INFORM THERE BUYERS SENSE 2004. THIS IS A FLAW IN THERE DESIGN. ONLY KNOWN FIX IS TO ZIPTIE IN PLACE. DUE TO THERE CLIPS NOT PROPERLY PERFORMING. THEY NEED TO INSTALL ZIP TIES BEFORE WE PURCHASE THEM OR INSTALL A STRAP TO ENSURE THIS DOES NOT CONTINUE. THERE REDESIGNING OF CLIPS IS NOT WORKING. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FATALITY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10705170
1,165 miles · Feb 11, 2015
Structure
THE LEFT SIDE BATTERY COVER COMES DOWN AND IMPAIRS THE OPERATORS ABILITY TO SHIFT AND MANAGE THE MOTORCYCLE. THE LEFT SIDE COVER BREAKS FREE AT THE TOP AND HANGS DOWN ON THE LOWER HOOK BRACKET. THE BARREL CLIPS "ON THE COVER" AND SOCKET CLIPS "ON THE FRAME" DO NOT SECURE THE COVER CORRECTLY. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN…
Read full complaint
THE LEFT SIDE BATTERY COVER COMES DOWN AND IMPAIRS THE OPERATORS ABILITY TO SHIFT AND MANAGE THE MOTORCYCLE. THE LEFT SIDE COVER BREAKS FREE AT THE TOP AND HANGS DOWN ON THE LOWER HOOK BRACKET. THE BARREL CLIPS "ON THE COVER" AND SOCKET CLIPS "ON THE FRAME" DO NOT SECURE THE COVER CORRECTLY. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS, THE ISSUE HAPPENS FROM ENGINE HEAT, VIBRATION, AND INTERNAL MOTORCYCLE COMPONENTS PUSHING AGAINST THE COVER. HARLEY DAVIDSON UPGRADED THE CLIPS IN 2013; HOWEVER, THE ISSUE MADE NEWER 2014 MODELS WORSE. THE COVER COMES FREE AT VARIABLE SPEEDS OVER 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE CLIPS WERE REPLACES AT THE DEALSHIP AND THE ISSUE WAS NOT RESULVED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10682754
3 miles · Nov 13, 2014
Visibility/wiper
MIRRORS WILL NOT ALLOW VISION TO THE REAR WITHOUT LEANING YOUR BODY OUT OF THE WAY FIRST ON EITHER SIDE YOU SEE ONLY A SMALL PART OF ROAD IF YOU DO NOT LEAN FIRST BEING AVERAGE 5 FOOT 8 INCH TALL AND NO MATTER HOW MIRRORS ARE ADJUSTED I MOSTLY SEE MYSELF, HAVE BEEN RIDING HD AND OTHER MOTORCYCLES FOR OVER 50 YEARS I DO THI…
Read full complaint
MIRRORS WILL NOT ALLOW VISION TO THE REAR WITHOUT LEANING YOUR BODY OUT OF THE WAY FIRST ON EITHER SIDE YOU SEE ONLY A SMALL PART OF ROAD IF YOU DO NOT LEAN FIRST BEING AVERAGE 5 FOOT 8 INCH TALL AND NO MATTER HOW MIRRORS ARE ADJUSTED I MOSTLY SEE MYSELF, HAVE BEEN RIDING HD AND OTHER MOTORCYCLES FOR OVER 50 YEARS I DO THINK HD HAS MADE A DESIGN AND SAFETY ERROR ON THESE XL883L MOTORCYCLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10654881
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.
2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL883 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration