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1998 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Softail

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
3Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
19953
19961
19973
19980
19997
20002
2001
Compare all Softail years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Steering
1Suspension
1

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: 0 of 3 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. 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

Steering complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 14, 2002
Steering

WHEN TURNING HANDLE BARS FROM SIDE TO SIDE HANDLES WILL HIT FUEL TANK ON EITHER SIDE OF CYCLE. FUEL TANK GETS DENTED. DEALER STATED IT WAS A KNOWN DEFECT, AND THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8009793

Official recalls

1

97V227000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages

Dec 15, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE AN INADEQUATE WELD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN ALLOW THE LEVER HUB TO SEPARATE FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER LEVER WHICH WOULD AFFECT REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERFORM THE RECALL SERVICE ON THESE VEHICLES.

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.