2005 Harley-Davidson Softail Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Softail years
- Not enough data 3rd of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail. That ranks 3rd out of 17 Softail model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 50%), typically at around 10,179 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 4owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | 50% | 10,179 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 25% | 4,180 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 25% | 15,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Harley-Davidson Softail recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system
Problem: Certain motorcycles may have been produced with defective fuel shut-off valves. The functionality of the 'on' position and the 'reserve' position of the valve may have been reversed.
Risk: If the bike were operating with the valve in the 'on' position, the bike could run out of fuel, the expected fuel reserve will not be available. This could lead to the driver running out of gas without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel valve and replace it, if necessary. The recall began february 7, 2005. Owners should contact harley-davidson at 1-414-342-4080.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 harley davidson soft tail motorcycle. The contact was driving 60 mph when the rear wheel along with the drive chain unbolted and detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the rear wheel, drive chain, and bolts connected to the drive chain were…
From what i'm learning the hard way, some 2005 harley davidson motorcycles burn oil at a rate of 1 quart per thousand miles - mine is one of them. According to dealer and harley-davidson motor company, this is acceptable. Owners manual states nothing about this, nor was this information made known…
Repeat discrepancy, failure occurred at night while in forward motion on state highway 17 (north carolina) ref: report # 10132164. *nm
2005 harley davidson softail heritage in a rainstorm a driver did not see me and almost hit me as he turned into my lane. After i got home i discovered my headlights were inoperative. This motorcycle has less than 11,000 miles on it and the deficiency within the electrical system/wiring harnesses…
Other Harley-Davidson Softail years
← 2004 Softail · 2007 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 | 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 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 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, power train problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Harley-Davidson Softail?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 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 2005 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.