NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Harley-Davidson Flstfi Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Harley-Davidson Flstfi has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Harley-Davidson dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Flstfi. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Harley-Davidson Flstfi owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2003 Harley-Davidson Flstfi, describing incidents dated September 29, 2016.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10910637 · Filed September 29, 2016
199-2005 TWIN CAM HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES HAVE A DEFECTIVE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER DESIGN. THESE PARTS CAN WEAR OUT IN SOME CASE IN LESS THAN 15,000 MILES AND REQUIRE AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT COST RANGING FROM $800 TO OVER $8000. THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER IS A SPRING DESIGN WITH A SMALL PLASTIC PAD…

Read the full complaint

INCORRECT CERTIFICATION LABEL

NHTSA #05V151000 · Equipment — Other — Labels · NHTSA notice

Reported April 14, 2005 · HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 167,628 vehicles

Owners notified June 6, 2005 · Vehicles built October 11, 2004 – May 2, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

CERTAIN SOFTAIL MOTORCYCLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, 'CERTIFICATION.' THE VIN/CERTIFICATION LABEL CONTAINS INCORRECT TIRE SIZE AND INFLATION PRESSURES FOR THE FRONT WHEEL. THE LABEL STATES THE TIRE SIZE IS MT90B21 AND THE INFLATION PRESSURE AS 30 PSI, WHEREAS THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE IS MT90B16, AND THE CORRECT INFLATION PRESSURE IS 36 PSI.

Safety consequence

THE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS INCORRECT GIVING IMPROPER INFORMATION.

Manufacturer remedy

HARLEY- DAVIDSON WILL MAIL INSTRUCTIONS ALONG WITH CORRECTED FEDERAL CERTIFICATION LABEL. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 6, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Flstfi. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Flstfi.

Engine

ODI #10910637

Incident: September 29, 2016 · Filed: September 29, 2016

199-2005 TWIN CAM HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES HAVE A DEFECTIVE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER DESIGN. THESE PARTS CAN WEAR OUT IN SOME CASE IN LESS THAN 15,000 MILES AND REQUIRE AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT COST RANGING FROM $800 TO OVER $8000. THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER IS A SPRING DESIGN WITH A SMALL PLASTIC PAD. THERE ARE 2 CAM FOLLOWERS USED IN THE DESIGN. THE PADS WEAR AND THE PLASTIC IS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE OIL SYSTEM OF THE BIKE AND CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THIS IS THE FIRST TYPE OF FAILURE DUE TO THE CAM FOLLOWER. THE SECOND POSSIBLE FAILURE IS WHEN THE PAD WEARS OUT COMPLETELY AND THE SPRING GOES INTO THE CAM CHAIN WHICH CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL. IF THE ENGINE FAILS AND LOCKS UP DUE TO EITHER FAILURE THE REAR TIRE CAN LOCKUP AND SKID POSSIBLY CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO CRASH BEFORE THE RIDER CAN DETERMINE WHAT IS HAPPENING AND REACT PROPERLY. HARLEY DAVIDSON RELEASED A SOMEWHAT BETTER DESIGN IN 2005 ON SELECT MODELS AND IN ALL MODELS IN 2006. THE NEW DESIGN IS SAID TO LAST FOR AT LEAST 50,000 MILE. THERE ARE OTHER 3RD PARTY DESIGNS ON THE MARKET THAT WILL LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THE NEED TO INSPECT/REPLACE THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONERS EVERY 15,000 MILES IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. I FOUND OUT FROM A FRIEND AND STARTED TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON NOW CONSIDERS IT A WEAR PART. I AM SURE THAT IF IT WAS DISCLOSED WHEN THE MOTOR WAS FIRST RELEASED THAT SALES WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS THAN STELLAR. IF THIS WAS A CAR EXHIBITING A SORT OF PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A FATAL CRASH AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT THERE WOULD BE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH NO COST TO THE OWNER. WITHOUT AN INSPECTION OF MOTOR COSTING AT LEAST $150 THERE IS NO RELIABLE WAY TO DETECT THE FACT THAT THE PARTS MAY SOON FAIL SO IT IS LIKE A TICKING TIME BOMB.

Other Harley-Davidson Flstfi model years

Check your 2003 Harley-Davidson Flstfi VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Harley-Davidson Flstfi at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Harley-Davidson VIN