NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 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 2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster, describing incidents dated June 1, 2002 to November 1, 2005.

Most-cited components

Visibility/Wiper 3 complaints
Engine 2 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint

Together, the 6 complaints on file report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10144509 · Filed December 5, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR UPPER VALVE COVER LEAKED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR UPPER VALVE COVERS. SINCE THE VALVES WERE REPLACED THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - THE REAR ROCKER BOX COVER LEAKED. THE FRONT AND REAR BOX COVER WERE REPLACED. THE GASKETS WERE…
ODI #10048968 · Filed December 1, 2003
AFTER MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN RIDDEN FOR 30-45 MINUTES SHIFT LEVER BECOMES ALMOST UNUSABLE IF MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN LEFT TO IDLE OF IS TURNED OFF, AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF MOVING UP AND DOWN IT CAN BE USED. VERY DANGEROUS IF I CAN NOT SHIFT INTO APPROPRIATE GEAR. *AK
ODI #8018091 · Filed September 6, 2002
LEFT HAND MIRROR WILL FLY OFF WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Read all 6 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 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 2002 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 2002 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 2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10144509

Incident: November 1, 2005 · Filed: December 5, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR UPPER VALVE COVER LEAKED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR UPPER VALVE COVERS. SINCE THE VALVES WERE REPLACED THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - THE REAR ROCKER BOX COVER LEAKED. THE FRONT AND REAR BOX COVER WERE REPLACED. THE GASKETS WERE REPLACED WITH UPDATED ONES. *NM

Power Train

ODI #10048968

Incident: November 18, 2003 · Filed: December 1, 2003

AFTER MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN RIDDEN FOR 30-45 MINUTES SHIFT LEVER BECOMES ALMOST UNUSABLE IF MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN LEFT TO IDLE OF IS TURNED OFF, AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF MOVING UP AND DOWN IT CAN BE USED. VERY DANGEROUS IF I CAN NOT SHIFT INTO APPROPRIATE GEAR. *AK

Visibility

ODI #8018091

Incident: June 1, 2002 · Filed: September 6, 2002

LEFT HAND MIRROR WILL FLY OFF WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Visibility

ODI #8016478

1 injury

Incident: August 2, 2002 · Filed: August 16, 2002

CUSTOM 1200, AT 65 MPH, LEFT MIRROR SNAPPED OFF AND HIT CONSUMER IN THE FACE. CONSUMER SUFFERED FACIAL INJURIES.*AK JLG

Visibility

ODI #8016476

Incident: July 25, 2002 · Filed: August 16, 2002

CUSTOM 1200, MIRRORS ON VEHICLE ARE VERY HIGH STEMMED, VIBRATION WILL NOT ALLOW RIDER TO SEE TRAFFIC BEHIND HIM WHEN CHANGING LANES. DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO.*AK *SLC

Engine and Engine Cooling; Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #8007255

Filed: April 10, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS AND MOTORCYCLE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN. *AK CONSUMER ADDS THAT BIKE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY AND IS ALSO MAKING A POPPING NOISE AND BACKFIRING. *TT

Other Harley-Davidson Sportster model years

Check your 2002 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