Harley-Davidson XL Problems by Year
NHTSA has 7 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on file for the Harley-Davidson XL, across 6 model years (1995–2005). The 2005 model year has the most complaints (3). The most reported problem area overall is visibility.
Harley-Davidson XL years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No XL model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Harley-Davidson XL problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Harley-Davidson XL model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 XL | 3 | 1 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 1999 XL | 2 | 0 | — | Visibility | |
| 1998 XL | 2 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1997 XL | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1996 XL | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 1995 XL | 0 | 1 | — | — |
More from Harley-Davidson: all Harley-Davidson models · Harley-Davidson VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Harley-Davidson XL years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2005 (3), 1999 (2), 1998 (2). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Harley-Davidson XL?
Visibility, with 2 complaints across 1 model year.
How many recalls does the Harley-Davidson XL have?
2 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.