NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 13 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 Vrsca. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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

2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca owner complaints

Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca, describing incidents dated January 1, 2002 to January 10, 2016.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 10 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Wheels 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10854314 · Filed April 8, 2016
FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY GOES FROM FULL TO EMPTY IN 15 MINUTES.
ODI #10819907 · Filed January 13, 2016
THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT PROPERLY WORK DUE TO FLOAT ISSUES. THIS CAN LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND I DO NOT SEE WHY HARLEY HAS NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS OF YET...
ODI #10510468 · Filed May 3, 2013
THE FUEL GAGE INDICATED 1/2 TANK, I STOPPED AND FILLED THE FUEL TANK. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED AND I WAS RIDING AWAY I SAW THE NEEDLE NOW INDICATED THE TANK WAS EMPTY. AFTER RIDING FOE SOME 20 MILES THE GAGE NEEDLE GRADUALLY BEGAN TO RISE TO 3/4 FULL THEN DROP THEN RISE TO 7/8 FULL. THIS HAS…

Read all 13 complaints

AFTERMARKET LED TURN SIGNAL MOUNTING KITS

NHTSA #09E007000 · Exterior Lighting — Turn Signal · NHTSA notice

Reported February 19, 2009 · HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 97 vehicles

Harley-Davidson campaign 0138 · Owners notified March 26, 2009

Defect description

HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING 97 LED TURN SIGNAL MOUNTING KITS, P/NOS. 69951-08 (BLACK) AND 69593-08 (CHROME), FOR INSTALLATION ON MY 2002 THROUGH 2009 VRSC MODEL MOTORCYCLES (EXCLUDING VRSCF MODEL). DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE MOUNTING BRACKET, P/NO. 70497-08, WHICH SECURES THE LED TURN SIGNAL CONTROLLER TO THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME, THE CONTROLLER MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE OIL FILTER.

Safety consequence

OVER TIME, THIS CONTACT CAN LEAD TO A HOLE IN THE OIL FILTER AND ALLOW EXCESSIVE OIL TO GET ON THE REAR TIRE, CAUSING A LOSS OF TRACTION, POSSIBLY LEADING TO A CRASH AND POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

HARLEY-DAVIDSON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REMOVE AND REPLACE THE EXISTING BRACKET WITH A NEW BRACKET, P/NO. 70497-08A, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 26, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.

Notes

HARLEY-DAVIDSON'S RECALL NO. 0138.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

13 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10854314

Incident: June 1, 2004 · Filed: April 8, 2016

FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY GOES FROM FULL TO EMPTY IN 15 MINUTES.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10819907

Incident: January 10, 2016 · Filed: January 13, 2016

THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT PROPERLY WORK DUE TO FLOAT ISSUES. THIS CAN LEAVE PEOPLE STRANDED. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND I DO NOT SEE WHY HARLEY HAS NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE AS OF YET...

Electrical System; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10510468

Incident: April 28, 2013 · Filed: May 3, 2013

THE FUEL GAGE INDICATED 1/2 TANK, I STOPPED AND FILLED THE FUEL TANK. WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS FILLED AND I WAS RIDING AWAY I SAW THE NEEDLE NOW INDICATED THE TANK WAS EMPTY. AFTER RIDING FOE SOME 20 MILES THE GAGE NEEDLE GRADUALLY BEGAN TO RISE TO 3/4 FULL THEN DROP THEN RISE TO 7/8 FULL. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW EVERY TIME I HAVE FILLED THE TANK. THE FORUMS ARE FULL OF OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURE. THIS IS MY FIRST VEHICLE WITH THIS MANUFACTURE AND I HAVE TO SAY THIS COULD BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE TANK RUNS DRY IN THE DESERT OR ALIGAYTOR ALLEY OR DEEP IN THE FOREST. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10481319

Incident: January 6, 2003 · Filed: October 21, 2012

1. FUEL GAUGE GOES TO 100% EMPTY JUST AFTER SHOWING 1/2 TANK. THE INDICATOR NEEDLE DROPS WITHIN 3 TENTHS TO 1 MILE OF USE AFTER THE 1/2 TANK MARK SHOWS. THIS ISSUE HAS STRANDED ME MORE THAN A HALF DOZEN TIMES AS I TRY TO ESTIMATE FUEL LEFT IN TANK WHILE USING THE MOTORCYCLE. 2. ELECTRIC FANS MOUNTED DIRECTLY TO RADIATOR WORKED LOOSE. HOUSING RUB AGAINST RADIATOR CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO BURST WHILE HOT AND AGAIN STRANDING MYSELF AND PASSENGER ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD DUE TO OVER HEATING OF THE ENGINE. THE POTENTIAL OF BURNS TO LEGS EXISTS AS WHEN THE RADIATOR BURST HOT COOLING SOLUTION WAS SPRAYED TO LEGS. I WAS ABLE TO REACT FAST ENOUGH NOT GET SOAKED THUS AVERTED GETTING BURNED. I CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON ABOUT BOTH PROBLEMS AND WAS ADVISED THERE IS NO RECALL NOTICE FOR THESE ISSUES NOR WAS THERE WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS FOR EITHER DEFECT. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10404931

Incident: January 1, 2002 · Filed: June 1, 2011

FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH EVERY MODEL OF THE V-ROD FROM THE FIRST MODEL IN 2002 UNTIL PRESENT. HARLEY KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO MAKE A RECALL AND FIX THE PROBLEM.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10360554

Incident: August 16, 2004 · Filed: October 14, 2010

THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON V-ROD DOES NOT NOR HAS IT EVER WORKED SINCE 2004. COMPLAINING TO HARLEY DAVIDSON DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER SINCE THE PROBLEM HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE 2002. RUNNING OUT OF GAS IN THE DESERT OF ARIZONA IS DANGEROUS IN ITSELF, MUCH LESS BECAUSE OF AN INACCURATE OR NON-FUNCTIONING GAS GAUGE........ *TR

Fuel System, Other

ODI #10357751

Incident: July 1, 2002 · Filed: September 27, 2010

FUEL GAUGE NEVER WORKED. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10351101

Incident: August 20, 2010 · Filed: August 21, 2010

2002 HARLEY VROD REAR BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. SWITCH DOES NOT LIGHT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. FAILURE IS PERMANENT. DOES NOT WORK. HAVE NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. READ BLOGS INDICATING IT IS WIDESPREAD AND COSTS APPROX $150 AND RECURS. *TR

Fuel System, Other

ODI #10348278

Incident: August 9, 2002 · Filed: August 9, 2010

FUEL GAUGE ON 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCA MOTORCYCLE DOES NOT WORK AS DESIGNED. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10347860

Incident: August 1, 2002 · Filed: August 6, 2010

GAS GAUGE ON HARLEY DAVIDSON VROD, MODEL 2002 VRSCA AND ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON VROD MODEL 2003 VRSCA HAVE QUIT WORKING. BOTH MOTORCYCLES HAD LESS THAN 2000 MILES AND LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD WHEN THEY QUIT WORKING. *TR

Other Harley-Davidson Vrsca model years

Check your 2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca VIN

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

Check a Harley-Davidson VIN