IllustrationREAR BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO USE OF DOT 5 BREAK FLUID AT HIGH ALTITUDE IN HOT WEATHER. ON TRIP OVER SIERRAS ON JULY 16, 2006, I AND FOUR OTHERS HAD REAR BRAKE OR OTHER HYDRALIC FAILURE. *NM
2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flhrci
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Flhrci years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reportsTHE STOCK HORN ON MY 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN ANEMIC AT BEST FROM NEW AND HAD PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WEAKER IN VOLUME AND NOW ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERS HAS CLAIMED THAT THE LOW VOLUME IS TYPICAL OF HD HORNS AND THAT, SINCE THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE 12 MONTH ORIGINAL …
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THE STOCK HORN ON MY 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN ANEMIC AT BEST FROM NEW AND HAD PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WEAKER IN VOLUME AND NOW ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERS HAS CLAIMED THAT THE LOW VOLUME IS TYPICAL OF HD HORNS AND THAT, SINCE THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE 12 MONTH ORIGINAL WARRANTY, IT IS NOT A HD PROBLEM. THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN ACCIDENT YET. IF THERE IS, I MIGHT NOT BE AROUND TO COMPLAIN. *JB
CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE IN A NEW 2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE AT 3284 MILES AND AGAIN AT 7420 MILES. THE FIRST WAS DUE TO A CRACKED FLYWHEEL, WHICH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE SECOND DUE TO A BROKEN OIL PUMP. THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED BY AN ENGINEER'S MEASUREMENTS TO BE MIS-ALIGNED CRANKCASE, AND TH…
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CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE IN A NEW 2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE AT 3284 MILES AND AGAIN AT 7420 MILES. THE FIRST WAS DUE TO A CRACKED FLYWHEEL, WHICH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE SECOND DUE TO A BROKEN OIL PUMP. THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED BY AN ENGINEER'S MEASUREMENTS TO BE MIS-ALIGNED CRANKCASE, AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE ENGINE. *LA
HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHRCI 2003. THE HOSES TO THE OIL COOLER COULD POSSIBLY RUBBED AGAINST THE ENGINE CRANKCASE. THE HOSES MAY LEAK OIL WHICH CAN CAUSE THE REAR TIRE TO SPIN OUT IF THE OIL CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL#03E051000 FROM A THIRD PARTY, HOWEVER W…
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HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHRCI 2003. THE HOSES TO THE OIL COOLER COULD POSSIBLY RUBBED AGAINST THE ENGINE CRANKCASE. THE HOSES MAY LEAK OIL WHICH CAN CAUSE THE REAR TIRE TO SPIN OUT IF THE OIL CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL#03E051000 FROM A THIRD PARTY, HOWEVER WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT A FIX HAD NOT BEEN DEVELOPED AND TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER WHO MAY PROVIDE A SOLUTION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HOSE, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER DID NOT BELIEVE THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM.*JB
Official recalls
104V218000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights
May 7, 2004
ON CERTAIN DYNA, XL, AND TOURING MOTORCYCLES, THE TAIL LIGHT BULB CAN FALL OUT OF THE SOCKET.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE TAIL LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BECOME INOPERATIVE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BULBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.