NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 owner complaints 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 Fxdwg. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg, describing incidents dated January 22, 2005 to July 24, 2014.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10615996 · Filed July 24, 2014
AFTER A LONG DAY OF RIDING WHEN SHUTTING OFF MOTOR HEARD A NOISE IN THE PRIMARY CHAIN AREA REMOVED COVER TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE COMPENSATOR NUT WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE ABOUT TO FALL OFF I HAVE NEVER TOUCHED THIS AREA AND HAVE PERFORMED THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE BIKE IE OIL CHANGES AND INSPECTION…
ODI #10107893 · Filed January 25, 2005
THIS IS A MODIFICATION TO COMPLAINT 10107892 WHICH HAD THE WRONG PHONE NUMBER. MY 2003 HARLEY FXDWG WAS RIDDEN TO ORANGE COUNTY HARLEY DAVIDSON AND SAT IN THE SUN FOR 1 HOUR. THE TEMP WAS 64-70. I HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS, WHICH WAS CHEVRON 91 OCT. GETTING BACK ONTO THE 405 FREEWAY AT 70 MPH THE BIKE…
ODI #10107892 · Filed January 25, 2005
MY 2003 HARLEY FXDWG WAS RIDDEN TO ORANGE COUNTY HARLEY AND SAT IN THE SUN FOR 1 HOUR. THE TEMP WAS 64-70 AND I HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS, WHICH WAS CHEVRON 91 OCT. GETTING BACK ONTO THE 405 FREEWAY AT 70 MPH THE BIKE FELT AS IF IT LACKED POWER. AFTER 30 SEC THE BIKE STARTED SPUTTERING AS IF IT WASN'T…

Read all 3 complaints

HARLEY-DAVIDSON/TAIL LIGHT BULB

NHTSA #04V218000 · Exterior Lighting — Tail Lights · NHTSA notice

Reported May 7, 2004 · HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 31,070 vehicles

Harley-Davidson campaign 0114 · Owners notified June 3, 2004 · Vehicles built June 4, 2003 – August 22, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN DYNA, XL, AND TOURING MOTORCYCLES, THE TAIL LIGHT BULB CAN FALL OUT OF THE SOCKET.

Safety consequence

THE TAIL LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BECOME INOPERATIVE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BULBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

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

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg.

Power Train; Engine

ODI #10615996

Incident: July 24, 2014 · Filed: July 24, 2014

AFTER A LONG DAY OF RIDING WHEN SHUTTING OFF MOTOR HEARD A NOISE IN THE PRIMARY CHAIN AREA REMOVED COVER TO FIND THAT THE ENGINE COMPENSATOR NUT WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE ABOUT TO FALL OFF I HAVE NEVER TOUCHED THIS AREA AND HAVE PERFORMED THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE BIKE IE OIL CHANGES AND INSPECTION AS I'VE READ SEVERAL MODEL YEAR BIKES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IF THE NUT WOULD HAVE COME OUT COMPLETELY THIS SURELY WOULD HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT EVEN DEATH IF I WAS GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10107893

Incident: January 22, 2005 · Filed: January 25, 2005

THIS IS A MODIFICATION TO COMPLAINT 10107892 WHICH HAD THE WRONG PHONE NUMBER. MY 2003 HARLEY FXDWG WAS RIDDEN TO ORANGE COUNTY HARLEY DAVIDSON AND SAT IN THE SUN FOR 1 HOUR. THE TEMP WAS 64-70. I HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS, WHICH WAS CHEVRON 91 OCT. GETTING BACK ONTO THE 405 FREEWAY AT 70 MPH THE BIKE FELT AS IF IT LACKED POWER. AFTER 30 SEC THE BIKE STARTED SPUTTERING AS IF IT WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR WAS VAPOR LOCKING CAUSING ME TO LOSE SPEED AND POWER. THIS SPUTTERING CONTINUED FOR 3-4 MILES, AFTER WHICH I COMPLETELY BACKED OFF THE THROTTLE AND JUST BARELY OPENED IT, WHICH AFTER APPROXIMATELY. 30 SEC THE BIKE REGAINED FULL POWER (GOT THE GAS IT NEEDED) AND I HAD NO MORE TROUBLE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME, APRIL 04 THE BIKE COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING 5-6 TIMES ON THE FREEWAY BUT STARTED AGAIN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE SECOND TIME JULY 2004 THE BIKE SPUTTERED AND BACK FIRED. THE CAUSE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE THE SAME, THE BIKE SITS IN THE SUN 1-2 HOURS AND THEN ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY AT A HIGH SPEED THE BIKE DOES NOT GET ENOUGH GAS AND LOSES POWER. WESTMINISTER HARLEY DAVIDSON IN CA HAS TALKED WITH THE FACTORY AND TRIED TWICE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I CONSIDER THIS LOSS OF POWER AT FREEWAY SPEEDS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH OR DEATH. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10107892

Incident: January 22, 2005 · Filed: January 25, 2005

MY 2003 HARLEY FXDWG WAS RIDDEN TO ORANGE COUNTY HARLEY AND SAT IN THE SUN FOR 1 HOUR. THE TEMP WAS 64-70 AND I HAD HALF A TANK OF GAS, WHICH WAS CHEVRON 91 OCT. GETTING BACK ONTO THE 405 FREEWAY AT 70 MPH THE BIKE FELT AS IF IT LACKED POWER. AFTER 30 SEC THE BIKE STARTED SPUTTERING AS IF IT WASN'T GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR WAS VAPOR LOCKING CAUSING ME TO LOSE SPEED AND POWER. THIS SPUTTERING CONTINUED FOR 3-4 MILES. I FINALLY COMPLETELY BACKED OF THE THROTTLE AND JUST BARELY OPENED IT, WHERE AS AFTER ABOUT 30 SEC THE BIKE REGAINED FULL POWER (GOT GAS IT NEEDED) AND I HAD NO MORE TROUBLE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME, APRIL 04 THE BIKE COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING 5-6 TIMES ON THE FREEWAY BUT STARTED AGAIN ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. THE SECOND TIME JULY 2004 THE BIKE SPUTTERED AND BACK FIRED. THE CAUSE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE THE SAME, IT SITS IN THE SUN 1-2 HOURS AND THEN ACCELERATING ONTO THE FREEWAY AT A HIGH SPEED THE BIKE DOES NOT GET ENOUGH GAS AND LOSES POWER. WESTMINISTER HARLEY DAVIDSON IN CA HAS TALKED WITH THE FACTORY AND TRIED TWICE ALREADY TO FIX IT. I CONSIDER THIS LOSS OF POWER AT FREEWAY SPEEDS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH OR DEATH. *NM

Other Harley-Davidson Fxdwg model years

Check your 2003 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg VIN

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

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