1996 Harley-Davidson Sportster Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sportster years
- Not enough data 3rd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Harley-Davidson Sportster. That ranks 3rd out of 11 Sportster model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (2 complaints, 33%). There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 6owner 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 Sportster 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Harley-Davidson Sportster recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: The seal on the rear master cylinder piston can move out of position.
Risk: This condition can result in a loss of rear braking performance increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the rear brake master cylinder.
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.
Defective relief port on the master cylinder causing brakes to lock up and overheat.
Fuel valve (diaphram) failed.
Engine timing plug milling failed.
Owner received recall notice in november 1996, contacted dealer and was told that the parts were unavailable. Recall #96v204000. *ak
Consumer had difficulty in obtaining recall work on the fuel supply valve due to lack of parts.
Other Harley-Davidson Sportster years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Sportster | 2 | 0 |
| 2007 Sportster | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 Sportster | 4 | 1 |
| 2003 Sportster | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 Sportster | 6 | 0 |
| 2001 Sportster | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 Sportster | 9 | 0 |
| 1999 Sportster | 6 | 1 |
| 1998 Sportster | 6 | 0 |
| 1997 Sportster | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 6 | 1 |
See all Harley-Davidson Sportster problems by year, every Harley-Davidson model, or the Harley-Davidson VIN decoder.
Similar Harley-Davidson models
Embed this 1996 Harley-Davidson Sportster badge on your site
Copy this code into your blog or forum post. It shows live complaint and recall counts and links back here.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Harley-Davidson Sportster?
Owners most often report fuel system, gasoline, fuel system, other, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, fuel system, gasoline, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Harley-Davidson Sportster?
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 Sportster a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sportster model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.