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2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flhtc

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Owner complaints by model year

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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: 1 of 1 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.

  • Equipment. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. 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 reports1 injury reports

Structure complaints

1 reports
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45,000 miles · Jun 19, 2008
EquipmentStructureInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A DETACHABLE BACKREST THAT KEEPS THE PASSENGER ON THE BIKE. THERE ARE TWO BARS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT THAT KEEP THE BACKREST IN PLACE. WHILE RIDING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TWO SIDE UPRIGHT BARS RANDOMLY FAILED AND CAUSED THE BACKREST TO COME OUT OF PLACE. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A DETACHABLE BACKREST THAT KEEPS THE PASSENGER ON THE BIKE. THERE ARE TWO BARS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT THAT KEEP THE BACKREST IN PLACE. WHILE RIDING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TWO SIDE UPRIGHT BARS RANDOMLY FAILED AND CAUSED THE BACKREST TO COME OUT OF PLACE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND HARLEY DAVIDSON SENT A REPLACEMENT. FOUR YEARS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT WAS RECEIVED, THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE UPRIGHT HANDLE BARS FAILED WHILE RIDING 50 MPH. THE REAR PASSENGER NEARLY FELL FROM THE VEHICLE. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CUT TO HER HAND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE SECOND FAILURE BECAUSE THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT HANDLED PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE CONSUMER SENT THE BACKREST TO THE MANUFACTURER AND FOUND THAT THE BACKREST HAD A STRESS ON THE LEFT SIDE. UPDATED 08/05/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10231612

Official recalls

1

04V218000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.