Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

3 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
2

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

loss of steering 1
A recent report: ALL HARLEY DAVIDSON MODELS WITH 96 CUBIC INCH MOTORS HAVE THESE ISSUES: THE CRANKSHAFT ASSEMBLY ON TWIN CAM 96 CUBIC INCH MOTORS IS KNOWN TO SHIFT OR SCISSOR AROUND THE CRANK PIN AND CAUSE THE…
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ALL HARLEY DAVIDSON MODELS WITH 96 CUBIC INCH MOTORS HAVE THESE ISSUES: THE CRANKSHAFT ASSEMBLY ON TWIN CAM 96 CUBIC INCH MOTORS IS KNOWN TO SHIFT OR SCISSOR AROUND THE CRANK PIN AND CAUSE THE CRANKSHAFT ENDS TO HAVE EXCESSIVE RUNOUT. THIS IN TURN CAUSES EXCESSIVE VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE MOTORCYCLE. IT ALSO PUTS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE DRIVELINE, AS WELL AS THE OIL PUMP. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND MOST LIKELY DEATH. ALSO, HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA MODELS ARE AFFECTED BY A CONDITION CALLED "REAR STEER". THIS CONDITION IS CAUSED WHEN TURNING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORS ARE RUBBER MOUNTED, BUT ONLY HAVE ONE STABILIZING LINK TO PREVENT THE MOTOR FROM TWISTING IN THE FRAME. THIS IS INADEQUATE. THE MOTOR CAN TWIST RIGHT TO LEFT RELATIVE TO THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, AND SINCE THE REAR WHEEL IS DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE MOTOR BLOCK VIA THE SWING ARM, THE REAR WHEEL WILL ALSO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT RELATIVE TO THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THIS CAUSES THE REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE TO TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF INTENT, AND CAN HAVE DEADLY CONSEQUENCES. THIS CONDITION IS FIXED IN HARLEY'S OWN SPORTSTER LINE. ALL SPORTSTERS WITH RUBBER MOUNTED MOTORS (2004 AND UP) HAVE THREE STABILIZING LINKS TO PREVENT REAR STEER, YET NO DYNA MODEL HAS THESE LINKS! THIS MAKES DYNA MODELS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DUE TO THE "REAR STEER" PHENOMENON, AND THE CRANKSHAFT SCISSORING PHENOMENON, THE HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA MODELS WITH 96 CUBIC INCH MOTORS ARE A RECIPE FOR DISASTER. THE ONLY FIX IS TO HAVE HARLEY DAVIDSON REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFTS WITH FORGED CRANKSHAFTS AS FOUND IN SEVERAL AFTERMARKET PRODUCT LINES, AND TO INSTALL THE REMAINING TWO STABILIZING LINKS, ALSO FOUND IN THE AFTERMARKET ARENA. *TR

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10496502 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Minor
1

Most reports here involve premature wear.

premature wear 1
A recent report: THE TIRES MOUNTED ON THESE MOTORCYCLES DUNLOPS GT502 ARE OF LOW QUALITY LASTING LESS THAN 4000 MILES AND PEELING. PLEASE RESEARCH ON THIS AS MANY MOTORISTS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS, IN MANY FORUMS…
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THE TIRES MOUNTED ON THESE MOTORCYCLES DUNLOPS GT502 ARE OF LOW QUALITY LASTING LESS THAN 4000 MILES AND PEELING. PLEASE RESEARCH ON THIS AS MANY MOTORISTS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS, IN MANY FORUMS A FELLOW NEIGHBOR OWNED THE SAME MACHINE THAT I HAVE AND THEY REPLACED HIS BOTH TIRES. THAT WAS NOT MY CASE BUT THE CONDITIONS WERE THE SAME. *TR

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10459028 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 3 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2009 and 2013, roughly 1 a year, which is fewer than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.