Harley-Davidson Road King Problems by Year
NHTSA has 33 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file for the Harley-Davidson Road King, across 7 model years (1997–2004). The 2004 model year has the most complaints (10). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Harley-Davidson Road King years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Road King year: 2004. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2004 Road King: 10 complaints, 1 recall
- 2001 Road King: 8 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2002 Road King: 6 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1997 Road King: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2003 Road King: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 1998 Road King: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Harley-Davidson Road King problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Power Train | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Harley-Davidson Road King model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Road King | 10 | 1 | — | Suspension | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2003 Road King | 1 | 0 | — | Steering | |
| 2002 Road King | 6 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2001 Road King | 8 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1999 Road King | 4 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1998 Road King | 3 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1997 Road King | 1 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling |
More from Harley-Davidson: all Harley-Davidson models · Harley-Davidson VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Harley-Davidson Road King years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2004 (10) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Road King year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Harley-Davidson Road King?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 6 complaints across 4 model years.
How many recalls does the Harley-Davidson Road King have?
1 safety recall across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.