NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Mid-West Choppers Motorcycle Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Mid-West Choppers Motorcycle has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 4 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mid-West Choppers dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Mid-West Choppers Motorcycle. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Mid-West Choppers Motorcycle owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Mid-West Choppers Motorcycle, describing incidents dated July 8, 2003 to September 19, 2003.

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting 2 complaints
Suspension 2 complaints
Equipment 1 complaint

Of the 4 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 1 a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10061951 · Filed March 11, 2004
WHILE RIDING MY MID-WEST CHOPPERS MOTORCYCLE IN THE EVENING, MY HEADLIGHT SHORTED OUT AND FAILED. UPON INSPECTION IT APPEARED THE WIRING WAS POORLY INSTALLED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
ODI #10061926 · Filed March 11, 2004
MY HEADLAMP BURNED OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT CAUSING A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATION.*AK
ODI #10047180 · Filed November 19, 2003
ON 09/19/03 I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE WHEN THE SWINGARM ASSEMBLY FAILED, NEARLY THROWING ME FROM IT. THE SWINGARM PIVOT BOLT WAS BENT OR BROKEN, THE SWINGARM WAS SHIFTED, THE TIRE WAS CONTACTING THE REAR FENDER, THE BELT FRAYED, AND PAINT WAS DAMAGED. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. I…

Read all 4 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 Mid-West Choppers Motorcycle 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 PE04-007: SUDDEN REAR SUSPENSION MISALIGNMENT
Closed March 18, 2004
- Recall 04V-108
- Recall 04E-030

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

MID-WEST/SWING ARM PIVOT BOLT SPACER

NHTSA #04V108000 · Suspension — Rear · NHTSA notice

Reported March 2, 2004 · MID-WEST CHOPPERS

Potentially affected: 30 vehicles

Owners notified April 13, 2004 · Vehicles built August 1, 2002 – August 1, 2003 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A "FLOATING" 1" DIAMETER SWING ARM PIVOT BOLT SPACER.

Safety consequence

THE PIVOT BOLT COULD BEND AND POSSIBLY FRACTURE, AFFECTING REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CONTROL THE MOTORCYCLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL WELD A LARGER PIVOT BOLT SPACER TO THE FRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 13, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MID-WEST AT 1-309-342-7433 OR WWW.MIDWESTCHOPPERS.COM.

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 Mid-West Choppers Motorcycle. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Mid-West Choppers Motorcycle.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10061951

Incident: July 8, 2003 · Filed: March 11, 2004

WHILE RIDING MY MID-WEST CHOPPERS MOTORCYCLE IN THE EVENING, MY HEADLIGHT SHORTED OUT AND FAILED. UPON INSPECTION IT APPEARED THE WIRING WAS POORLY INSTALLED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10061926

Fire

Incident: August 28, 2003 · Filed: March 11, 2004

MY HEADLAMP BURNED OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT CAUSING A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING SITUATION.*AK

Suspension

ODI #10047180

Incident: September 19, 2003 · Filed: November 19, 2003

ON 09/19/03 I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE WHEN THE SWINGARM ASSEMBLY FAILED, NEARLY THROWING ME FROM IT. THE SWINGARM PIVOT BOLT WAS BENT OR BROKEN, THE SWINGARM WAS SHIFTED, THE TIRE WAS CONTACTING THE REAR FENDER, THE BELT FRAYED, AND PAINT WAS DAMAGED. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER/SELLER, MID-WEST CHOPPERS IN GALESBURG, ILLINOIS, TO AUTHORIZE WARRANTEE WORK. THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST. THE REPAIR SHOP, DD CUSTOM CYCLE IN GURNEE, ILLINOIS, CONTACTED THEM AND SPOKE WITH CHIP MIYLER, OWNER. HE INSTRUCTED THE SHOP TO STOP ALL WORK. MIDWEST CHOPPERS CONTACTED ME AND CLAIMED THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY PROBLEMS AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE SWINGARM/FRAME MANUFACTURER, PRO STREET FRAMEWORKS IN HENRYETTA, OKLAHOMA. I CONTACTED PRO STREET FRAMEWORKS. AN EMPLOYEE, KEVIN ADMITTED THEY WERE AWARE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS OCCURRING WITH OTHER MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED WITH THEIR SWINGARM/FRAME. HE SENT ME A NEW PIVOT BOLT AND SPACER TO REPLACE THE ORIGINALS. I SENT THEM TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE SHOP ENGINEER BELIEVES THIS IS NOT ADEQUATE. THE SHOP NOW ALSO NOTICED THE REAR LEFT FRAME SUPPORT WAS ALSO BENT. I CONTACTED PRO STREET FRAMEWORKS TO INFORM THEM. I SPOKE WITH THE OWNER, DANNY. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO SEND HIM THE SWINGARM AND FRAME FOR REPAIR. IN ORDER TO SEND THE PARTS THE MOTORCYCLE HAD TO BE DISASSEMBLED. I INSTRUCTED THE SHOP AND SENT THE PARTS. I CONTACTED PRO STREET FRAMEWORKS OVER 20 TIMES TO CHECK ON STATUS AND REQUEST ASSISTANCE. NONE OF MY MESSAGES WERE RETURNED. I AM SUBMITTING THIS REQUEST TO PURSUE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT BY THE SELLER. THE FAILED PIVOT BOLT AND SPACER DESIGN WAS CLEARLY NOT ADEQUATE. THIS SITUATION IS ACKNOWLEDGED SINCE THEY SENT REPLACEMENT PARTS, AND ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR MY SWINGARM AND FRAME. FORTUNATELY, I AM STILL ALIVE. I HOPE THIS SITUATION DOES NOT RESULT IN SOMEONE ELSE'S INJURY OR FATALITY.*AK

Suspension; Equipment

ODI #10047156

Crash

Incident: August 29, 2003 · Filed: November 19, 2003

I WAS RIDING MY 2003 MID-WEST CHOPPERS MOTORCYCLE ON AUGUST 29TH, 2003. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN MY REAR SWINGARM ASSEMBLY ON MY MOTORCYCLE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. I ALMOST WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE DUE TO THE SHIFTING OF THE SWINGARM ASSEMBLY. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SHOP IN THE AREA - I DID. THE SHOP DISASSEMBLED THE SWINGARM ASSEMBLY AND FOUND THE SWINGARM PIVOT BOLT TO BE SNAPPED JUST WHERE IT FITS INTO THE BUSHING. MID-WEST CHOPPERS (GALESBURG, IL) WAS CONTACTED AND INSTRUCTED ME THAT PRO-STREET FRAMEWORKS (HENRYETTA, OK) WAS RESPONSIBLE. I HAD THE SHOP (DD CUSTOMS, GURNEE, IL) CONTACT PSFW AND PSFW ADMITTEDLY HAD ISSUES WITH THEIR "TRADITIONAL V-STYLE" SWINGARM ASSEMBLY AND SAID THEY WOULD SEND A NEW SPACER AND BOLT. AFTER SEEING THE NEW SPACER AND BOLT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS FIX PROBABLY WOULD NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND WOULD PUT ME IN JUST AS MUCH RISK AS BEFORE. I AM NOW STUCK WITH AND $30,000 MOTORCYCLE THAT IS QUESTIONABLY SAFE AT BEST. MID-WEST CHOPPERS (S. LHEUREUX) INSTRUCTED ME THAT THIS WAS A BAD BATCH FROM PSFW AND THEY WERE WORKING TO RECALL SOME OF THOSE ASSEMBLIES. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING A RECALL. SOMEONE WILL MOST LIKELY DIE BECAUSE OF THIS SWINGARM ASSEMBLY - ONE THAT HAS BEEN SOLD TO NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THIS SITUATION. PLEASE HELP ME PREVENT ANY FUTURE FATALITIES DUE TO THIS UNSAFE PRODUCT. THE VIN IS [XXX] - A VIN MID-WEST CHOPPERS HAS ASSURED ME IS VALID, HOWEVER NO ONE ELSE THINKS SO. SINCERELY, [XXX] *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Check your 2003 Mid-West Choppers Motorcycle VIN

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

Check a Mid-West Choppers VIN