NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Harley-Davidson Softail Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns 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 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2005 Harley-Davidson Softail owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail, describing incidents dated August 7, 2005 to June 13, 2009.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10407109 · Filed June 16, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE REAR WHEEL ALONG WITH THE DRIVE CHAIN UNBOLTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE REAR WHEEL, DRIVE CHAIN, AND BOLTS CONNECTED TO THE DRIVE CHAIN WERE…
ODI #10132549 · Filed August 11, 2005
FROM WHAT I'M LEARNING THE HARD WAY, SOME 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES BURN OIL AT A RATE OF 1 QUART PER THOUSAND MILES - MINE IS ONE OF THEM. ACCORDING TO DEALER AND HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY, THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. OWNERS MANUAL STATES NOTHING ABOUT THIS, NOR WAS THIS INFORMATION MADE KNOWN…
ODI #10132546 · Filed August 11, 2005
REPEAT DISCREPANCY, FAILURE OCCURRED AT NIGHT WHILE IN FORWARD MOTION ON STATE HIGHWAY 17 (NORTH CAROLINA) REF: REPORT # 10132164. *NM

Read all 4 complaints

HARLEY-DAVIDSON/FUEL VALVE

NHTSA #04V607000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Carburetor System · NHTSA notice

Reported December 23, 2004 · HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 9,501 vehicles

Harley-Davidson campaign 0118 · Owners notified February 7, 2005

Defect description

CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL SHUT-OFF VALVES. THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE 'ON' POSITION AND THE 'RESERVE' POSITION OF THE VALVE MAY HAVE BEEN REVERSED.

Safety consequence

IF THE BIKE WERE OPERATING WITH THE VALVE IN THE 'ON' POSITION, THE BIKE COULD RUN OUT OF FUEL, THE EXPECTED FUEL RESERVE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. THIS COULD LEAD TO THE DRIVER RUNNING OUT OF GAS WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL VALVE AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN FEBRUARY 7, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4080.

Notes

HARLEY-DAVIDSON RECALL NO. 0118.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON/REPLACEMENT FUEL VALVES

NHTSA #04E094000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Carburetor System · NHTSA notice

Reported December 21, 2004 · HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 364 vehicles

Owners notified January 27, 2005

Defect description

CERTAIN FUEL SHUT-OFF VALVES USED AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT, P/NOS 61338-02, 62169-02A, 61338-94D, AND 62169-95C FOR USE ON CERTAIN 2005 CARBURETED SPORTSTERS, DYNA, SOFTAIL, AND TOURING MODEL MOTORCYCLES. THESE VALVES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE 'ON' POSITION AND THE 'RESERVE' POSITION OF THE VALVE MAY HAVE BEEN REVERSED.

Safety consequence

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL VALVE AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN JANUARY 27, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4080. IF YOU HAVE HAD OR INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT FUEL SHUT-OFF VALVE IN YOUR MOTORCYCLE, PLEASE TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO YOUR DEALER TO HAVE THE VALVE INSPECTED FOR PROPER OPERATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Notes

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

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 2005 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 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail.

Power Train

ODI #10407109

Incident: June 13, 2009 · Filed: June 16, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE REAR WHEEL ALONG WITH THE DRIVE CHAIN UNBOLTED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE THE REAR WHEEL, DRIVE CHAIN, AND BOLTS CONNECTED TO THE DRIVE CHAIN WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED TWICE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT CAUSING THE FAILURE BUT THAT THE DEALER HAD NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10132549

Incident: August 7, 2005 · Filed: August 11, 2005

FROM WHAT I'M LEARNING THE HARD WAY, SOME 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES BURN OIL AT A RATE OF 1 QUART PER THOUSAND MILES - MINE IS ONE OF THEM. ACCORDING TO DEALER AND HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY, THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. OWNERS MANUAL STATES NOTHING ABOUT THIS, NOR WAS THIS INFORMATION MADE KNOWN TO ME AT TIME OF SALE IN OCT. 2004. OBVIOUSLY THIS COULD LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZURE IF NOT CHECKED FREQUENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY OR ACCIDENT IF IN MOTION AT TIME OF FAILURE. MOMENTARILY, IF MOTORCYCLE IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY IT WILL LEAD TO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY UNWILLING TO PROVIDE THIS INFORMATION IN WRITING UNTIL MY MOTORCYCLE IS DIAGNOSED. CURRENTLY, MY 10 MONTH OLD MOTORCYCLE'S ENGINE IS BEING DISASSEMBLED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE OIL CONSUMPTION RATE IN EXCESS OF 2 QUARTS OVER A PERIOD OF 2900 MILES. WHILE I APPRECIATE HARLEY'S RESPONSIVENESS TO THIS ISSUE, I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT PLEASED ABOUT PAYING $20,000 FOR A MOTORCYCLE WHOSE ENGINE IS BEING TAKEN APART. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT KIND OF PROBLEMS THIS MIGHT LEAD TO SEVERAL YEARS DOWN THE LINE WHEN I AM NO LONGER COVERED BY WARRANTY. JAMES FISHER. *NM

Electrical System

ODI #10132546

Incident: August 11, 2005 · Filed: August 11, 2005

REPEAT DISCREPANCY, FAILURE OCCURRED AT NIGHT WHILE IN FORWARD MOTION ON STATE HIGHWAY 17 (NORTH CAROLINA) REF: REPORT # 10132164. *NM

Electrical System

ODI #10132164

Incident: August 9, 2005 · Filed: August 9, 2005

2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL HERITAGE IN A RAINSTORM A DRIVER DID NOT SEE ME AND ALMOST HIT ME AS HE TURNED INTO MY LANE. AFTER I GOT HOME I DISCOVERED MY HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 11,000 MILES ON IT AND THE DEFICIENCY WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/WIRING HARNESSES COULD'VE KILLED ME. THE BIKE IS AT NEW RIVER HARLEY DAVIDSON AT JACKSONVILLE NORTH CAROLINA SUPPOSEDLY UNDER REPAIR (WITHIN THEIR APPOINTMENT SCHEDULE OF COURSE). THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AT NIGHT OR DAY IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE AND ONE WOULD EXPECT MORE QUALITY CONTROLS FROM A MANUFACTURER WITH A REPUTATION THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS. *NM

Other Harley-Davidson Softail model years

Check your 2005 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.

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