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2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Fxdl

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

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

All reported categories

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 7 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

7 reports
58,000 miles · May 2, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA GLIDE FXDL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAD AN UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWIN CAM CHAIN TENSIONER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA GLIDE FXDL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAD AN UNUSUAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TWIN CAM CHAIN TENSIONER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000. UPDATED 6/8/11 *CN UPDATED 06/23/11

NHTSA ODI #10398537

22,850 miles · Aug 15, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE STALLED OUT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE LATER BEING THE DATE OF INDICANT. THE STALL WAS CAUSED BY THE SEPARATION OF THE LINING ON THE INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. SMALL PIECES OF THIS LINING GOT INTO THE CARBURETOR AND CUT OFF THE FUEL SUPPLY FROM GETTING THROUGH THE PRIMARY AND SCENERY JETS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10165580

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2004
Power Train

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE THE DRIVER FELT A VIBRATION IN THE REAR. THE REAR WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND THREW THE DRIVER TO THE GROUND. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10059338

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2004
Unknown Or OtherCrashInjury

I AM AN ATTORNEY IN 2 CASES WHERE 2003 MODELS OF HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES, BEING DRIVEN JUST A FEW MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERS AFTER PURCHASE, SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OF THE FRONT FORKS. ONE RIDER DIED, AND THE OTHER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURY. POROSITY OF THE FORK APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL FACTOR OF THE FAILURES.…

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I AM AN ATTORNEY IN 2 CASES WHERE 2003 MODELS OF HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES, BEING DRIVEN JUST A FEW MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERS AFTER PURCHASE, SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OF THE FRONT FORKS. ONE RIDER DIED, AND THE OTHER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURY. POROSITY OF THE FORK APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL FACTOR OF THE FAILURES. ONE OCCURRED IN JUNE 2003; AND THE OTHER, THE FATALITY OCCURRED IN OREGON IN OCTOBER 2003. I HAVE LISTED ONLY THE FATALITY INFORMATION BELOW. INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10058335

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherPower Train

PROBLEMS WITH DYNA LOW RIDER.*MR WHILE DRIVING BIKE AT 55 TO 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE VIBRATED SO BAD IT PUT THE CONSUMER HANDS TO SLEEP. THE SHOCKS BOTTOMED OUT WHEN GOING OVER LITTLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *TS. THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLE IN THE MOTOR WHEN FIRST STARTED FOR 5-10 MINUTES…

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PROBLEMS WITH DYNA LOW RIDER.*MR WHILE DRIVING BIKE AT 55 TO 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE VIBRATED SO BAD IT PUT THE CONSUMER HANDS TO SLEEP. THE SHOCKS BOTTOMED OUT WHEN GOING OVER LITTLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. *TS. THERE WAS ALSO A RATTLE IN THE MOTOR WHEN FIRST STARTED FOR 5-10 MINUTES, BUT CEASED WHEN THE MOTOR BECAME HOT, THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED EMPTY WHEN THERE WAS 2 GALLONS OF GAS LEFT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10029599

Mileage unknown · May 12, 2003
Equipment

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE KICK STAND, AND THE MOTORCYCLE COLLAPSED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10019672

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2002
Electrical System

TURNING SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT WIRING IS IN WAY OF REAR WHEEL,WIRE COULD BE CUT AND RESULT IN VEHICLE FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8017508

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.