NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Harley-Davidson XL883 Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Harley-Davidson XL883 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint 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 2003 Harley-Davidson XL883. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Harley-Davidson XL883 owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2003 Harley-Davidson XL883, describing incidents dated August 5, 2006.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10167262 · Filed September 2, 2006
WHILE RIDING (IN MOTION) THE MOTORCYCLES ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPS RUNNING, WITH NO SPARK TO THE ENGINE, CAUSING NO ACCELERATION SPEED CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE (YOUR BASICALLY COASTING WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING). THIS CAN BECOME A VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST, ESPECIALLY WHEN OTHER…

Read the full complaint

HARLEY-DAVIDSON/TAIL LIGHT BULB

NHTSA #04V218000 · Exterior Lighting — Tail Lights · NHTSA notice

Reported May 7, 2004 · HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 31,070 vehicles

Harley-Davidson campaign 0114 · Owners notified June 3, 2004 · Vehicles built June 4, 2003 – August 22, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN DYNA, XL, AND TOURING MOTORCYCLES, THE TAIL LIGHT BULB CAN FALL OUT OF THE SOCKET.

Safety consequence

THE TAIL LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BECOME INOPERATIVE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BULBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.

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 2003 Harley-Davidson XL883. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Harley-Davidson XL883.

Electrical System

ODI #10167262

Incident: August 5, 2006 · Filed: September 2, 2006

WHILE RIDING (IN MOTION) THE MOTORCYCLES ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPS RUNNING, WITH NO SPARK TO THE ENGINE, CAUSING NO ACCELERATION SPEED CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE (YOUR BASICALLY COASTING WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING). THIS CAN BECOME A VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST, ESPECIALLY WHEN OTHER VEHICLES ARE AROUND YOU. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I HAD THE DEALER INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BIKE. NOW THAT THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED MY LOCAL HARLEY DEALER STATED THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND THE CAUSE IS A BAD IGNITION MODULE, BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE IT AT NO CHARGE (PART & LABOR OVER $400) BECAUSE THERE MANUFACTURERS "EMISSIONS COMPONENTS" WARRANTY IS 18,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS. MY BIKE NOW HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT AND IS 3 YEARS OLD. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THE PART NECESSARY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY ON NATIONAL BACKORDER THROUGH HARLEY DUE TO AN OVERWHELMING DEMAND FOR REPLACEMENTS (HARLEY PART # 32466-98A). THEY BIKE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN CALIFORNIA IN AUGUST OF 2003. I WAS INFORMED BY THE EPA THAT, IN CALIFORNIA, ANY NEW VEHICLE PURCHASED IN CALIFORNIA SINCE 1995, THAT HAS AN EMISSIONS RELATED COMPONENT FAIL, MUST BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER FOR 8 YEARS OR 80,000 MILES WHEN THE REPAIR COST IS MORE THAN 2% OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM IS AT ABOUT THE 5% MARK. *NM

Other Harley-Davidson XL883 model years

Check your 2003 Harley-Davidson XL883 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Harley-Davidson XL883 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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