IllustrationTRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE LOST ABILITY TO SLOW DOWN. THROTTLE WAS STUCK OPEN. HAD TO HIT KILL SWITCH AND MOVE INTO EMERGENCY LANE. AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY REPAIR SHOP THE 2003 MODEL YEAR HAS BEEN NOTORIOUS FOR THIS ISSUE. NEWS TO ME. THE THROTTLE CONTROL ROD CRACKS AND DISENGAGES FROM THROTTLE SENSOR. *TR
2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flstci
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 Flstci 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 2 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. 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
2 reportsDEFECTIVE OIL PUMP ON A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLSTCI. (100 YEAR SPECIAL) MOTORCYCLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM LOCAL DEALER AND ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES. NOTICED UNUSUAL VIBRATION AND CHECKED OIL INPUT INTO OIL BAG. VERY LOW PRESSURE AT FIRST AND NO PRESSURE ON SECOND DAY AFTER SLOW EASY WARM UP AND EVEN MORE ENGINE VIBRATION. D…
Read full complaint
DEFECTIVE OIL PUMP ON A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLSTCI. (100 YEAR SPECIAL) MOTORCYCLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM LOCAL DEALER AND ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES. NOTICED UNUSUAL VIBRATION AND CHECKED OIL INPUT INTO OIL BAG. VERY LOW PRESSURE AT FIRST AND NO PRESSURE ON SECOND DAY AFTER SLOW EASY WARM UP AND EVEN MORE ENGINE VIBRATION. DID NOT WANT TO CEASE ENGINE SO TURNED IT OFF AND REMOVED OIL PUMP. (PUMP IS AVAILABLE.) ASKED A DIFFERENT LOCAL DEALER IF THEY HAVE HAD ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT OIL PUMPS ON THIS MODEL AND THE RESPONSE WAS (THEY HAVE HAD A FEW BUT NOT VERY MANY). I HAVE CHANGED OIL ON A REGULAR BASIS AND I DON'T THINK THAT AN OIL PUMP SHOULD GO BAD AFTER ONLY 14,000 MILES. PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED AS I HAVE TAKEN THE OIL PUMP OUT AND HAVE NOT REPLACED IT YET. I ALSO HAVE TO CHECK FOR DAMAGE TO PISTONS,RINGS AND CYLINDERS. HARLEY DAVIDSON CLAIMS TO BE THE BEST AND I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL BUT NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. *TR
Official recalls
105V151000 · Equipment:other:labels
Apr 14, 2005
CERTAIN SOFTAIL MOTORCYCLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, 'CERTIFICATION.' THE VIN/CERTIFICATION LABEL CONTAINS INCORRECT TIRE SIZE AND INFLATION PRESSURES FOR THE FRONT WHEEL. THE LABEL STATES THE TIRE SIZE IS MT90B21 AND THE INFLATION PRESSURE AS 30 PSI, WHEREAS THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE IS MT90B16, AND THE CORRECT INFLATION PRESSURE IS 36 PSI.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS INCORRECT GIVING IMPROPER INFORMATION.
Remedy: HARLEY- DAVIDSON WILL MAIL INSTRUCTIONS ALONG WITH CORRECTED FEDERAL CERTIFICATION LABEL. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 6, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
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.