1996 Harley-Davidson Softail Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Softail years
- Not enough data 6th of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Harley-Davidson Softail. That ranks 6th out of 17 Softail model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (1 complaints, 33%). There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 3owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Harley-Davidson Softail problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Harley-Davidson Softail recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system
Problem: The effects of reformulated gasoline along with certain usage of the fuel supply valve affects the supply of gasoline to the carburetor. This condition requires two factors: (1) the use of reformulated fuels containing mbte and (2) starting the motorcycle with the fuel valve handle in the off position.
Risk: This condition can cause the fuel flow to be unpredictable thus causing the engine to shut down increasing the risk of a motorcycle accident.
Fix: Dealers the replace the diaphragm in the fuel valve.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Was driving motorcycle when cam bearings blew out and scattered metal pieces throughout engine, causing it to stall out. *ak
Speedometer sticks intermittently, doesn't indicate the correct speed. Eventually speedometer will unstick and work normally. *ak *ml
Recall repair not able to be done due to lack of parts (fuel supply valve).
Other Harley-Davidson Softail years
← 1995 Softail · 1997 Softail →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 Softail | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 Softail | 3 | 1 |
| 2011 Softail | 3 | 1 |
| 2010 Softail | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 Softail | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 Softail | 2 | 1 |
| 2005 Softail | 4 | 2 |
| 2004 Softail | 4 | 1 |
| 2003 Softail | 7 | 0 |
| 2002 Softail | 4 | 0 |
| 2001 Softail | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 Softail | 7 | 0 |
| 1999 Softail | 0 | 1 |
| 1998 Softail | 3 | 1 |
| 1997 Softail | 1 | 1 |
| 1996 | 3 | 1 |
| 1995 Softail | 3 | 1 |
See all Harley-Davidson Softail problems by year, every Harley-Davidson model, or the Harley-Davidson VIN decoder.
Similar Harley-Davidson models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Harley-Davidson Softail?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, fuel system, gasoline, power train problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Harley-Davidson Softail?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Harley-Davidson Softail a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Softail model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.