NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Harley-Davidson Softail Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 4 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 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2004 Harley-Davidson Softail owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail, describing incidents dated December 26, 2003 to November 10, 2008.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint
Wheels 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10322215 · Filed March 25, 2010
THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC SECURITY SYSTEM ON A 2004 HD HERITAGE MOTORCYCLE. WE NOTICED AN ELECTRONIC FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AND OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR FOUND THAT IT OCCURRED ONLY AND CONSISTENTLY EVERY TIME WE PARKED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF OVERHEAD HIGH TENSION LINES. WHILE ONLY…
ODI #10128165 · Filed July 9, 2005
AFTER 500 MILES, WOBBLE WAS DISCOVERED IN HANDLEBARS BETWEEN 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOUR. TAKEN TO DEALER WAS TOLD IT WAS TRAIT ON MODEL. CALLED HARLEY, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER OF MY CHOICE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASE WAS MADE. THEY ADJUSTED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS. PROBLEM…
ODI #10095116 · Filed October 5, 2004
VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW PIPES, AIR BREATHER AND CARBURETOR.*AK

Read all 4 complaints

HARLEY-DAVIDSON/FUEL CANISTERS

NHTSA #04V465000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage — Tank Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported September 30, 2004 · HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 2,828 vehicles

Owners notified April 14, 2005 · Vehicles built June 22, 2004 – July 29, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A CONDITION OCCURS THAT COULD ALLOW PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL TANK. ON FUEL INJECTED VEHICLES, THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FUEL TO SPRAY OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE FUEL CAP IS REMOVED. ON CARBURETED VEHICLES, EXCESSIVE FUEL COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CARBURETOR, WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY ALLOW FUEL TO DRIP FROM THE AIR CLEANER.

Safety consequence

THESE SITUATIONS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR CREATE A FIRE HAZARD FOR PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON OR NEAR THE MOTORCYCLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL TEST EACH CANISTER FOR BLOCKAGE, THEN REPLACE AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

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 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10322215

Incident: November 10, 2008 · Filed: March 25, 2010

THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC SECURITY SYSTEM ON A 2004 HD HERITAGE MOTORCYCLE. WE NOTICED AN ELECTRONIC FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AND OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR FOUND THAT IT OCCURRED ONLY AND CONSISTENTLY EVERY TIME WE PARKED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF OVERHEAD HIGH TENSION LINES. WHILE ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE TO US, PERHAPS THIS WILL HELP IN THE TOYOTA INVESTIGATION.

Suspension

ODI #10128165

Incident: July 6, 2005 · Filed: July 9, 2005

AFTER 500 MILES, WOBBLE WAS DISCOVERED IN HANDLEBARS BETWEEN 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOUR. TAKEN TO DEALER WAS TOLD IT WAS TRAIT ON MODEL. CALLED HARLEY, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER OF MY CHOICE. TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHERE PURCHASE WAS MADE. THEY ADJUSTED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS. PROBLEM SOLVE. AFTER ANOTHER 500 MILES, SAME SITUATION OCCURRED. WOBBLE IN FRONT END BETWEEN 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOURS. TOOK BIKE BACK TO DEALER, ADJUSTED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS AND GREASED FRONT END. PROBLEM SOLVED. AFTER 1,000 MILES, WOBBLE COME BACK IN HANDLER BARS BETWEEN, 38 TO 42 MILES PER HOUR. TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH BIKE. THAT WAS THE TRAIT OF HERITAGE SOFTAIL. THEY RODE A NEW BIKE AND IT DONE THE SAME THING. THE BIKE IS SAFE TO RIDE AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. CALLED HARLEY AND THEY SAID THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BIKE. I TOLD HARLEY THEY HAD FIXED THE BIKE ON TWO PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS. HARLEY SAID SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK WITHIN 30 MINUTES. I CALLED GENERAL MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO FIX THE BIKE. THIS IS THE FOURTH ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10095116

Incident: December 26, 2003 · Filed: October 5, 2004

VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW PIPES, AIR BREATHER AND CARBURETOR.*AK

Wheels

ODI #10075454

Incident: April 17, 2004 · Filed: September 28, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS VEHICLE SHOOK, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SLOW DOWN. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE BIKES WHEELS WERE UNSTABLE. THE SOLID WHEELS CAUGHT WIND VORTICIES WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSTABLE. THE DEALER REFUSE TO CHANGE THE WHEELS. *NM

Other Harley-Davidson Softail model years

Check your 2004 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