2004 Harley-Davidson Softail Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Softail years
- Not enough data 3rd of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail. That ranks 3rd out of 17 Softail model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (1 complaints, 25%), typically at around 500 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 4owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 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 | 25% | 500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 25% | 500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 25% | 10,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 25% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 Harley-Davidson Softail recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Problem: On certain motorcycles, a condition occurs that could allow pressure to build up in the fuel tank. On fuel injected vehicles, this condition could cause fuel to spray out unexpectedly when the fuel cap is removed. On carbureted vehicles, excessive fuel could be transferred to the carburetor, which would eventually allow fuel to drip from the air cleaner.
Risk: These situations could cause serious personal injury or create a fire hazard for persons or property on or near the motorcycle.
Fix: Dealers will test each canister for blockage, then replace as necessary. The recall began november 4, 2004. Owners should contact harley-davidson at 1-414-343-4056.
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.
This is a failure of the electronic security system on a 2004 hd heritage motorcycle. We noticed an electronic failure several times and over the course of one year found that it occurred only and consistently every time we parked in the immediate vicinity of overhead high tension lines. While only…
After 500 miles, wobble was discovered in handlebars between 38 to 42 miles per hour. Taken to dealer was told it was trait on model. Called harley, they told me to take it to another dealer of my choice. Took back to dealer where purchase was made. They adjusted steering head bearings. Problem…
Vehicle stalled intermittently. Dealer stated the vehicle needed new pipes, air breather and carburetor.*ak
While driving at high speeds vehicle shook, causing consumer to slow down. Consumer contacted dealership about this issue, however, the problem recurred. *ak the bikes wheels were unstable. The solid wheels caught wind vorticies which caused the vehicle to be unstable. The dealer refuse to change…
Other Harley-Davidson Softail years
← 2003 Softail · 2005 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 | 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 Softail | 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 2004 Harley-Davidson Softail?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, suspension, unknown or other problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 2004 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 2004 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 2004 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.