NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Harley-Davidson XL Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Harley-Davidson XL has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 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 XL. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2005 Harley-Davidson XL owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Harley-Davidson XL, describing incidents dated September 29, 2005 to May 1, 2010.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Latches/Locks/Linkages 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint
Unknown or Other 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10392866 · Filed March 25, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON XB (N/A). THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT LATER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITHIN…
ODI #10176495 · Filed December 18, 2006
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A MOTORCYCLE TRAILER FROM KENDON INDUSTRIES, 3711 E. LA PALMA AVE, ANAHEIM, CA 92806. THE TRAILER WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR A LONG BIKE (CHOPPER STYLE). THE FIRST TIME I USED THE TRAILER, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE TIE DOWNS FOR THE BIKE AND COME…
ODI #10138786 · Filed October 6, 2005
DT: 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON WIDE GLIDE. THE FRONT FORKS WERE SO WEAK THAT THEY SAGGED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS NOT BRAKING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPRINGS WERE TOO WEAK IN THE FORKS. THE CONSUMER FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. HE TRIED TO GET THE AFTER MARKET SPRINGS, BUT THEY WERE ON…

Read all 3 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 2005 Harley-Davidson XL. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Harley-Davidson XL.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10392866

Incident: May 1, 2010 · Filed: March 25, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON XB (N/A). THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT LATER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITHIN THE FUEL PUMP AND THE WIRES HAD BLOWN THE FUSES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

Latches/Locks/Linkages; Unknown or Other

ODI #10176495

Incident: February 5, 2006 · Filed: December 18, 2006

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A MOTORCYCLE TRAILER FROM KENDON INDUSTRIES, 3711 E. LA PALMA AVE, ANAHEIM, CA 92806. THE TRAILER WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR A LONG BIKE (CHOPPER STYLE). THE FIRST TIME I USED THE TRAILER, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE TIE DOWNS FOR THE BIKE AND COME LOOSE AND THE BIKE VERY NEARLY CAME LOOSE FROM THE TRAILER INTO HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. KENDON TRAILERS HAVE A FRONT WHEEL MOUNTING UNIT THAT OPERATES IN A WAY THAT AS YOU MOVE THE MOTORCYCLE FORWARD INTO THE MOUNTING UNIT THE MOUNTING UNIT ROCKS FORWARD SECUTING THE FRONT WHEEL AGAINST THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER. THE TRAILER ALSO HAS FOUR TIE DOWN POINTS (TWO AT THE FRONT AND TWO AT THE REAR). THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE TRAILER IS THE FACT THAT THE FRONT TIE DOWN POINTS ARE BEHIND THE STEARING HEAD OF THE MOTORCYCLE. AS A RESULT, WHEN THE TRAILER HITS A BUMP, THE ACTION OF THE TRAILER IS TO PULL THE BIKE BACKWARDS (AWAY FROM THE FRONT SECURING UNIT). THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY I MUST HAVE HIT A BUMB WHICH CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO PULL OUT OF THE FRONT UNIT. THIS ALSO INCREASED THE SLACK IN THE TIE DOWNS WHICH ALLOWED THE BIKE TO FLOP FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND ALMOST CAUSED THE BIKE TO EXIT THE TRAILER (WHICH HAS NO SIDES OR REAR SECURITY). *NM

Suspension

ODI #10138786

Incident: September 29, 2005 · Filed: October 6, 2005

DT: 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON WIDE GLIDE. THE FRONT FORKS WERE SO WEAK THAT THEY SAGGED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS NOT BRAKING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPRINGS WERE TOO WEAK IN THE FORKS. THE CONSUMER FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. HE TRIED TO GET THE AFTER MARKET SPRINGS, BUT THEY WERE ON BACK ORDER. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THIS A WEEK AGOON SEPTEMBER 29, 2005. *AK UPDATED 03/09/06

Other Harley-Davidson XL model years

Check your 2005 Harley-Davidson XL VIN

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

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