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2005 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Sportster 1200R

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: 3.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
20043
2005
Compare all Sportster 1200R years →

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

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Engine
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: 2 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. 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

Engine complaints

1 reports
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21,000 miles · Jan 15, 2013
Engine

MY HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE THE MOTOR LOCKED UP, CAUSING A SKID, THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS BUT HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, OR HURT FOR LIFE. THE REASON THE MOTOR LOCKED UP WAS BECAUSE SCREWS FROM THE AIR FILTER VIBRATED LOSE AND WERE SUCKED INTO THE MOTOR CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LOCK UP. HA…

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MY HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE THE MOTOR LOCKED UP, CAUSING A SKID, THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS BUT HAD IT HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, OR HURT FOR LIFE. THE REASON THE MOTOR LOCKED UP WAS BECAUSE SCREWS FROM THE AIR FILTER VIBRATED LOSE AND WERE SUCKED INTO THE MOTOR CAUSING THE MOTOR TO LOCK UP. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VIBRATIONS, SO PUTTING SCREWS IN A PLACE THAT CAN BE SUCKED INTO THE MOTOR IS A FLAW, AND THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED. THESE SCREWS CAN'T BEEN SEEN, AND THE DRIVER HAS NO IDEA THEY MAY BE LOSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10493098

Official recalls

1

06V201000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

Jun 8, 2006

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE FRONT MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN BUILT WITH INADEQUATE LUBRICATION ON THE SECONDARY CUP. THIS COULD CAUSE THE SLIDING RESISTANCE OF THE PISTON TO BE EXCESSIVE, WHICH IN TURN COULD CAUSE THE RETURN OF THE PISTON TO BE SLOW UPON RELEASE OF THE BRAKE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE PISTON MAY NOT RETURN COMPLETELY. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT COULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH OR INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REBUILD THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2006. OWNERS MAY 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.