NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster Recalls & Complaints

The 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 6 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 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster, describing incidents dated August 4, 2000 to June 22, 2004.

Most-cited components

Visibility/Wiper 2 complaints
Child Seat 1 complaint
Electrical System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint

Of the 6 complaints on file, 2 report a crash; across all 6 complaints, owners report 1 injury and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10142470 · Filed November 11, 2005
MY 6 YEAR OLD SON AND MY EX-HUSBAND WERE KILLED BY ANOTHER DRIVER WHILE THEY WERE ON A MOTORCYCLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE IS NOT A LAW PROHIBITING CHILDREN FROM RIDING AS A PASSENGER ON A MOTORCYCLE. I WAS NOT ALLOWED BY LAW TO PUT AARON IN THE CAR WITHOUT BEING PLACED IN A CAR SEAT, YET HIS…
ODI #10089833 · Filed September 28, 2004
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE LEFT REAR VIEW MIRROR SNAPPED OFF. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2002 MODEL INSTEAD.*AK *NM
ODI #10066994 · Filed May 20, 2004
WHILE DRIVING, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE CIRCUIT BREAKER ON TO RESTART. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE…

Read all 6 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE02-083: REAR VIEW MIRROR STEM FAILURES
Closed February 26, 2003
- Recall 03V-058

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster 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 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster.

Child Seat; Unknown or Other

ODI #10142470

Crash 2 deaths

Incident: September 16, 2001 · Filed: November 11, 2005

MY 6 YEAR OLD SON AND MY EX-HUSBAND WERE KILLED BY ANOTHER DRIVER WHILE THEY WERE ON A MOTORCYCLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THERE IS NOT A LAW PROHIBITING CHILDREN FROM RIDING AS A PASSENGER ON A MOTORCYCLE. I WAS NOT ALLOWED BY LAW TO PUT AARON IN THE CAR WITHOUT BEING PLACED IN A CAR SEAT, YET HIS FATHER, EVEN AFTER MY REPEATED REQUEST FOR HIM NOT TO WAS ABLE TO PUT HIM ON THE BACK OF HIS HARLEY. WE ARE TRYING TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN WITH ALL OF THESE LAWS, EVEN AN ADULT CAN NOT RIDE IN A CAR WITHOUT A SEAT BELT, BUT A MOTORCYCLE RIDER CAN RIDE WITHOUT A HELMET AND HE CAN EVEN RIDE WITH HIS CHILD. ARE THEY ABOVE THE LAW? WHY IS THERE NOT A LAW PROHIBITING CHILDREN FROM RIDING AS PASSENGERS ON THE BACK OF MOTORCYCLES? I AM IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING WITH TWO SENATORS ON THIS NOW, I THOUGHT I WOULD JUST BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION AS WELL. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. *JB

Visibility

ODI #10089833

Incident: June 22, 2004 · Filed: September 28, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE LEFT REAR VIEW MIRROR SNAPPED OFF. A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2002 MODEL INSTEAD.*AK *NM

Electrical System

ODI #10066994

Incident: April 12, 2004 · Filed: May 20, 2004

WHILE DRIVING, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE CIRCUIT BREAKER ON TO RESTART. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IDLE PROPERLY AND THE MOTORCYCLE LOST POWER. *SC THE CONSUMER THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10013564

Crash 1 injury

Incident: February 25, 2003 · Filed: March 27, 2003

RIDING MY 2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1200S (SPORTSTER 1200 SPORT) HOME FROM WORK AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. WEATHER CONDITIONS: MIST/LIGHT RAIN. THE BIKE HAD JUST HAD ITS 10K SERVICE DONE A FEW WEEKS PRIOR AT LOCAL H-D DEALERSHIP AND THEY ALSO PUT ON NEW TIRES FRONT & REAR. THE BIKE SHOOK VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND I ENDED UP LAYING IT DOWN. MY R KNEE WAS SCRAPED UP AND MY L HAND SWOLLEN AND L ANKLE BRUISED. VERY LUCKY AS I WAS WEARING LEATHER JACKET AND BOOTS. NO BROKEN BONES. INS CO (PROGRESSIVE) SUGGESTED A DIFFERENT SHOP (NOT DEALER) THAT THEY USE. THE SHOP IS STILL WAITING ON HANDLEBARS FROM H-D. OTHER PARTS FINALLY CAME IN. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE LOCKED UP AND THE L FRONT ROTOR WAS WARPED. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, I'M NOT VERY HAPPY THAT THIS HAPPENED JUST AFTER SERVICING. I'VE BEEN WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR OVER A MONTH NOW. DON'T KNOW WHY H-D CAN'T SUPPLY HANDLEBARS ANY QUICKER FOR A 2 YEAR OLD BIKE. NOTE: A SNAP-ON TOOL DEALER FRIEND IN COLORADO HAS A CLIENT THAT ALSO HAS A 2001 SPORTSTER (NOT THE SPORT MODEL) THAT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP ON DRY PAVEMENT. HE DID NOT CRASH, BUT HAS HAD OTHER BRAKE PROBLEMS AS IN NOT STOPPING VERY QUICKLY, ETC. ANOTHER NOTE: (RE: PERSONS COMPLAINT ON OIL LEAKS, LEAK AROUND AIR CLEANER) I GOT THE BIKE WHEN IT HAD 5 K MILES ON IT. BOUGHT IT IN AZ AND RODE TO HOUSTON, TX. THE BIKE STARTED LEAKING AROUND THE ROCKER BOXES AND LOCAL TX DEALER SAID IT WAS A "COMMON PROBLEM" ON SPORTSTERS. DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS, BUT WHATEVER THEY DID TO IT FIXED IT. (NO COST TO ME AS I HAD A 1 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY). MY BIKE HAS THE SCREAMIN' EAGLE CARB KIT AND I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OIL LEAKING ON THE AIR CLEANER. OCCASIONAL OIL DRIPPING ONTO THE EXHAUST ALSO. I DON'T HAVE VIN # OR PURCHASE DATE WITH ME AT THE MOMENT, BUT CAN GET IT FOR YOU. *NLM

Steering

ODI #866864

Incident: August 4, 2000 · Filed: August 4, 2000

THE SCREWS CAME LOOSE FROM THE BRACKET ON THE HANDLE BAR WHICH HOLDS THE CLULTCH LEVER AND REAR VIEW MIRROR. *YH

Power Train; Visibility

ODI #752641

Filed: September 27, 2001

I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE NEW AND IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A MAJOR PROBLEM FROM THE MIRRORS FALLING OFF WILL MOVING, HEAD LIGHT AIMED AT THE SKY NOT TOO THE ROAD, PART OF THE FORWARD GEAR SHIFT CONTROL FALLING OFF OVER AND OVER, LEAKING OIL FROM THE HEAD AND THE LOWER END AND FROM THE AIR CLEANER. I KEEP TAKING THE BIKE BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD ITS NOT LEAKING BUT THERE IS OIL ALL OVER THE BIKE(THEY ACT LIKE I MAY BE DUMPING IT ON TIL THEY PUT A DYE IN IT THEN ITS WILL THIS PART IS BAD AND THIS PART IS BAD), ON THE MIRRIOR I HAD TO FIX IT AND THEN THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE BOLTS NEEDED TO REPLACED AND THEY WHERE NOT, THE SHIFTER I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO WAY IT COULD KEEP FALLING OFF EVEN AFTER I SHOWED THEM IT WAS BY JUST PULLING IT OFF BY HAND, ON THE WHOLE THE BIKE HASD NOT RIDEABLE FOR A TOTAL OF 10 WEEKS DUE TO NOT BEING SET UP RIGHT, BAD PARTS, AND JUST A GENERAL NON CARING OF THE DEALER TO FIX ANY OF THE PROBLEMS SHOWED TO THEM LIKE TAKING IT OVER FOR A LEAK THEM KEEPING THE BIKE FOR A WEEK OR LONGER THEN TELLING ME ITS NOT LEAKING I GO AND PICK THE BIKE UP AND RIDE 30-40 MILES AND THERE IS OIL ALL OVER IT AND I TAKE IT RIGHT BACK AND ITS LIKE WILL ITS NOT LEAKING WHEN WE HAVE IT AND THEN PARTS ARE ORDERED AND MONTHS LATER THEY GET AROUND TO CALLING TO HAVE THE BIKE BROUGHT IN.*AK

Other Harley-Davidson Sportster model years

Check your 2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster VIN

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

Check a Harley-Davidson VIN