Harley-Davidson Softail Problems by Year
NHTSA has 49 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file for the Harley-Davidson Softail, across 17 model years (1995–2013). The 2003 model year has the most complaints (7). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Harley-Davidson Softail years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No Softail model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 Softail: 7 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2000 Softail: 7 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2005 Softail: 4 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1997 Softail: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2008 Softail: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2010 Softail: 1 complaint, 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 Softail problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 10 | 8 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Power Train | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Equipment | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Harley-Davidson Softail model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Softail | 1 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2012 Softail | 3 | 1 | — | Power Train | |
| 2011 Softail | 3 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2010 Softail | 1 | 0 | — | Steering | |
| 2008 Softail | 1 | 0 | — | Exterior Lighting | |
| 2007 Softail | 2 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2005 Softail | 4 | 2 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2004 Softail | 4 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2003 Softail | 7 | 0 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2002 Softail | 4 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2001 Softail | 2 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2000 Softail | 7 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1999 Softail | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1998 Softail | 3 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 1997 Softail | 1 | 1 | — | Wheels | |
| 1996 Softail | 3 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1995 Softail | 3 | 1 | — | Electrical System |
More from Harley-Davidson: all Harley-Davidson models · Harley-Davidson VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Harley-Davidson Softail years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2003 (7), 2000 (7), 2005 (4). 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 Softail?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 10 complaints across 8 model years.
How many recalls does the Harley-Davidson Softail have?
8 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.