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.
Wheels. 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
1 reports
11,600 miles · Aug 5, 2013
Wheels
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SHOOK ABNORMALLY AS A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT DOWN SHIFTED AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO A SAFE LOCATION UNTIL IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED AND DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A WELD FAILURE IN THE CENTER WHE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SHOOK ABNORMALLY AS A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT DOWN SHIFTED AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO A SAFE LOCATION UNTIL IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED AND DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A WELD FAILURE IN THE CENTER WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,600. ...UPDATED 09/18/13 *BF THE MANUFATURER OFFERED A DISCOUNT ON NEW, HEAVIER WHEELS. THE CONSUMER DECLINED. UPDATED 9/25/2013 *JS
THE STARTER RELAY MAY SHORT CIRCUIT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE STARTER RELAY MAY DEVELOP ENOUGHHEAT TO CAUSE A FIRE IN THE RELAY, OTHER PARTS OF THE MOTORCYCLE, AND OTHERITEMS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA.
A FATIGUE CRACK IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE ASSEMBLY COULD DEVELOP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND LOSS OF REARBRAKE OPERATION WHICH WOULD REDUCE STOPPING ABILITY AND INCREASE POTENTIAL FORAN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL REPLACEMENT REAR BRAKE LINE COMPONENTS.
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.
1989 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Fxst Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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