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2004 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 →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
20014
20027
20034
20044
20052
2007
Compare all Softail years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1Wheels
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: 3 of 4 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 →
  • Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read 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

Unknown Or Other complaints

1 reports
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10,000 miles · Mar 25, 2010
Unknown Or Other

THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC SECURITY SYSTEM ON A 2004 HD HERITAGE MOTORCYCLE. WE NOTICED AN ELECTRONIC FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AND OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR FOUND THAT IT OCCURRED ONLY AND CONSISTENTLY EVERY TIME WE PARKED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF OVERHEAD HIGH TENSION LINES. WHILE ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE TO US, PERHAP…

Read full complaint

THIS IS A FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC SECURITY SYSTEM ON A 2004 HD HERITAGE MOTORCYCLE. WE NOTICED AN ELECTRONIC FAILURE SEVERAL TIMES AND OVER THE COURSE OF ONE YEAR FOUND THAT IT OCCURRED ONLY AND CONSISTENTLY EVERY TIME WE PARKED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF OVERHEAD HIGH TENSION LINES. WHILE ONLY AN INCONVENIENCE TO US, PERHAPS THIS WILL HELP IN THE TOYOTA INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ODI #10322215

Official recalls

1

04V465000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Sep 30, 2004

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A CONDITION OCCURS THAT COULD ALLOW PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL TANK. ON FUEL INJECTED VEHICLES, THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FUEL TO SPRAY OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE FUEL CAP IS REMOVED. ON CARBURETED VEHICLES, EXCESSIVE FUEL COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CARBURETOR, WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY ALLOW FUEL TO DRIP FROM THE AIR CLEANER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE SITUATIONS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR CREATE A FIRE HAZARD FOR PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON OR NEAR THE MOTORCYCLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST EACH CANISTER FOR BLOCKAGE, THEN REPLACE AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.