Harley-Davidson XL883 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 15 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file for the Harley-Davidson XL883, across 9 model years (2002–2014). The 2014 model year has the most complaints (3). The most reported problem area overall is electrical system.
Harley-Davidson XL883 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No XL883 model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2014 XL883: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2004 XL883: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2007 XL883: 2 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2003 XL883: 1 complaint, 1 recall
- 2005 XL883: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2006 XL883: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
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 XL883 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Harley-Davidson XL883 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 XL883 | 3 | 0 | — | Structure | |
| 2009 XL883 | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2008 XL883 | 1 | 0 | — | Wheels | |
| 2007 XL883 | 2 | 3 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2006 XL883 | 1 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2005 XL883 | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2004 XL883 | 3 | 0 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2003 XL883 | 1 | 1 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2002 XL883 | 2 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling |
More from Harley-Davidson: all Harley-Davidson models · Harley-Davidson VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Harley-Davidson XL883 years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2014 (3), 2004 (3), 2007 (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 XL883?
Electrical System, with 4 complaints across 4 model years.
How many recalls does the Harley-Davidson XL883 have?
4 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.