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2000 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Softail

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

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 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 →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. 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

7 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2006
Equipment

I PURCHASED FORM PERFORMANCE MACHINEINC A CONTOUR BELT DRIVE PRIMARY FOR MY 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL DUCE. AFTER HAVING A HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER INSTALL IT I PUT 400 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN AT ABOUT 20 MPH THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH HUB RETAINING CLIP COMING OFF LETTING THE CLUTCH HUB JAMMING INTO…

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I PURCHASED FORM PERFORMANCE MACHINEINC A CONTOUR BELT DRIVE PRIMARY FOR MY 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL DUCE. AFTER HAVING A HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER INSTALL IT I PUT 400 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN AT ABOUT 20 MPH THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH HUB RETAINING CLIP COMING OFF LETTING THE CLUTCH HUB JAMMING INTO THE OUTER COVER. I SENT IT BACK TO PERFORMANCE MACHINE WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY FOR A REFUND. THEY TELL ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND ARE RETURNING IT. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS SYSTEM THAT COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR IF IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED 1/2 MILE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD I WOULD BEEN ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 65 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10151740

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT: CAM CHAIN TENSIONERS WORE OUT. IF IT GOES THROUGH ALL THE WAY THE ENGINE WILL LOCK UP. IT WILL DISINTEGRATE THE METAL PIECES WHERE THE ENGINE WILL LOCK UP. IT HAPPENS IN THE HOT WEATHER, CONSUMER HEARD EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE, AND WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE TENSIONERS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED FOR BOTH HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYLCL…

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DT: CAM CHAIN TENSIONERS WORE OUT. IF IT GOES THROUGH ALL THE WAY THE ENGINE WILL LOCK UP. IT WILL DISINTEGRATE THE METAL PIECES WHERE THE ENGINE WILL LOCK UP. IT HAPPENS IN THE HOT WEATHER, CONSUMER HEARD EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE, AND WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE TENSIONERS. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED FOR BOTH HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYLCLES HE OWNS. *AK *SB

NHTSA ODI #10125883

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2003
Tires

THE TIRES LOST AIR PRESSURE, WHILE DRIVING.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10008982

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAPS THE FOOT UNDER IT DUE TO ITS DESIGN. HARLEY HAS REDISIGNED IT FOR THE 2001 MODELS BUT WON'T REPLACE IT ON THE OLDER MODELS. I WROTE TO THEM AND THEY REFUSED IN WRITING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #756187

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO TAKE MOTORCYCLE OUT OF HIS GARAGE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM CARBURETOR. DEALERSHIP WAS IN POSSESSION OF MOTORCYCLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT DEFECT WAS A RESULT OF BAD GAS. THE CONSUMER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE SERVICED LAST SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER - THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MOTORC…

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WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO TAKE MOTORCYCLE OUT OF HIS GARAGE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM CARBURETOR. DEALERSHIP WAS IN POSSESSION OF MOTORCYCLE, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT DEFECT WAS A RESULT OF BAD GAS. THE CONSUMER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE SERVICED LAST SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER - THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MOTORCYCLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #886292

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CAM BEARING PROBLEM WAS KNOWN AT THE TIME I PURCHASED MY MOTORCYCLE FOR CLOSE TO $20,000, BUT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED THIS WAS A PROBLEM. THE FAILURE COULD HAVE COST ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND OUR LIVES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. HARLEY DAVIDSON SENT A SERVICE REPAIRMAN.

NHTSA ODI #731169

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

WOULD FILL MOTORCYCLE WITH FUEL & ABOUT 1/2 GALLON WOULD LEAK OUT & WOULD TRAIL MOTORCYCLE WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #864383

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.