NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Harley-Davidson Softail Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 7 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 Softail. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Harley-Davidson Softail owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail, describing incidents dated March 28, 2003 to April 13, 2011.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
Structure 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Of the 7 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire; across all 7 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10455520 · Filed April 17, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TALE DEUCE MOTORCYCLE. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS CAUSING FRICTION TO THE INNER FUEL TANK AND BORE SEVERAL HOLES IN THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL LINES WERE REPLACED. THE…
ODI #10080371 · Filed July 5, 2004
MOST OF THE HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES HAVE THE PASSENGER FOOTREST RIGHT BESIDE OR OVERTOP OF THE EXHAUST. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ACTUALLY BURN THROUGH MY PROTECTIVE BOOTS I WEAR. I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED YET, BUT SHOULD A CHILD OR PERSON WHO DOES NOT WEAR PROTECTIVE SHOES COULD SERIOUSLY HAVE MAJOR…
ODI #10057810 · Filed February 10, 2004
4 TIRES WERE REPLACED WITHIN 1,000 MILES DUE TO TIRES BEING OUT OF ROUND. *AK

Read all 7 complaints

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

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

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail.

Fuel System, Gasoline; Engine

ODI #10455520

Incident: April 13, 2011 · Filed: April 17, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TALE DEUCE MOTORCYCLE. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS CAUSING FRICTION TO THE INNER FUEL TANK AND BORE SEVERAL HOLES IN THE FUEL LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL LINES WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000. UPDATED 06/05/12 *BF THE CAM TENSIONER WEAR BLOCK FAILED.

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility

ODI #10080371

Incident: May 21, 2004 · Filed: July 5, 2004

MOST OF THE HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES HAVE THE PASSENGER FOOTREST RIGHT BESIDE OR OVERTOP OF THE EXHAUST. THIS HAS CAUSED ME TO ACTUALLY BURN THROUGH MY PROTECTIVE BOOTS I WEAR. I HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED YET, BUT SHOULD A CHILD OR PERSON WHO DOES NOT WEAR PROTECTIVE SHOES COULD SERIOUSLY HAVE MAJOR BURNS TO THEIR FEET AND ANKLES.*AK

Tires

ODI #10057810

Filed: February 10, 2004

4 TIRES WERE REPLACED WITHIN 1,000 MILES DUE TO TIRES BEING OUT OF ROUND. *AK

Structure

ODI #10048358

Filed: November 19, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH FRAME ON 2003 SUNDANCE SOFTAIL. *MR THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY AND WOULD NOT TRACK ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FRAME WAS TAKEN TO AN UNINTERESTED THIRD PARTY AND PLACED ON A LASER FRAME MACHINE. THE RESULTS SUPPORTED THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER EVALUATION. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE CONSUMER. *SCC *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10045300

Crash Fire 1 injury

Incident: November 2, 2003 · Filed: November 2, 2003

MY BROTHER HAD A LOW SPEED (UNDER 20 MPH) CRASH ON A 2003 HARLEY HERITAGE SOFTAIL. UPON HITTING THE GROUND, THE BIKE BURST INTO FLAMES. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL AS THE SPEED WAS LOW, THE IMPACT WAS NOT SEVERE (MY BROTHER ENDED UP WITH A SEVERELY SPRAINED ANKLE), BUT THE BIKE WAS TOTALED. I BELIEVE THERE IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN. THE BIKE IS A FUEL INJECTED TWIN CAM 88 ENGINE. *LA

Structure

ODI #10025972

1 injury

Incident: July 6, 2003 · Filed: July 12, 2003

WHEN GETTING OFF OF BACK OF HARLEY DAVIDSON MY LEG GOT CAUGHT ON THE LICENSE PLATE AND TORE MY LEG OPEN. WENT TO ER WHERE I HAD TO HAVE STITCHES ON THE INSIDE OF THE WOUND AND ON THE OUTSIDE. VERY PAINFUL! PLACEMENT OF LICENSE PLATE HOLDER IS NOT SAFE.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10013954

Incident: March 28, 2003 · Filed: April 4, 2003

GASOLINE LEAK FROM FUEL LINE ON HARLEY-DAVIDSON FWSTI 2003. *JB

Other Harley-Davidson Softail model years

Check your 2003 Harley-Davidson Softail VIN

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

Check a Harley-Davidson VIN