1998 Harley-Davidson Sportster Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Sportster years
- Not enough data 3rd of 11 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Harley-Davidson Sportster. That ranks 3rd out of 11 Sportster model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (2 complaints, 33%). Complaints mention 1 crash. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 6owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 17% | 19,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 17% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Harley-Davidson Sportster recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 Harley-Davidson Sportster.
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.
The consumer noticed a dry rust colored dust coming from the motorcycle while riding. After coming to a stop, the consumer noticed gas leaking on the ground. The rust colored dust was dry gas. Consumer stated the motorcycle was rebuilt in 1999, including a new gas tank. *ak the leak was caused by…
Rear tail light came off motorcycle and lodged in rear wheel at 65mph, 3 other complaints from same type motorcycle owners in quick survey. Harley davidson isn't even interested.*ak
Front / rear head gasket failed. *yc
Engine nocks and pings continually.
Motorcycle would backfire and stall when giving it throttle going from a stop or idling. I quickly dis-engauged the clutch to start the motor backup, but the car in the second lane was already locking his brakes. I did manage to get the bike started in the knick of time, and the oncoming car missed…
Other Harley-Davidson Sportster years
← 1997 Sportster · 1999 Sportster →
| 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 | 6 | 0 |
| 1997 Sportster | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 Sportster | 6 | 1 |
See all Harley-Davidson Sportster 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 1998 Harley-Davidson Sportster?
Owners most often report electrical system, engine and engine cooling, exterior lighting problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Harley-Davidson Sportster?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1998 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 1998 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.