IllustrationMotorcycle front brake lever got stiff while riding, making the front brakes inoperative, and not allowing brake lever to depress, fluids are in good condition and no signs of leak was detected, rear brake works fine but this could be a fatality involving a serious brake failure
2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Vrscf
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Vrscf years →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: 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.
- Service Brakes. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. 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
What owners actually said
4 reportsFRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT VALVE HAS BECOME IMPAIRED AND STOPPED WORKING $780 REPAIR
A BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS MODULE IS INSTALLED SUCH THAT IT RUBS ON A RADIATOR HOSE CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO ABRADE AND CAUSE THE LOSS OF FLUID. THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF REAR BRAKING. IN MY INSTANCE THE LOSS OF BRAKING WAS NOTICED WHEN COMING TO A STOP. NO ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BUT I KNOW OF OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN IN N…
Read full complaint
A BRAKE LINE FROM THE ABS MODULE IS INSTALLED SUCH THAT IT RUBS ON A RADIATOR HOSE CAUSING THE BRAKE LINE TO ABRADE AND CAUSE THE LOSS OF FLUID. THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN THE LOSS OF REAR BRAKING. IN MY INSTANCE THE LOSS OF BRAKING WAS NOTICED WHEN COMING TO A STOP. NO ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BUT I KNOW OF OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN IN NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE LOSS OF THE REAR BRAKE. THE FRONT BRAKE IS STILL ACTIVE AND WAS USED TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A HALT. THE FAILED PART NUMBER IS 44725-08A AND DUE TO DISCUSSION WITH OTHER MOTORCYCLIST THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG FELLOW RIDERS. IN THE ACCOMPANYING PHOTOS YOU CAN SEE THE ABRASION. THE FIRST PHOTO SHOWS THE GENERAL AREA WHILE THE SECOND ZOOMS IN TO SHOW THE ABRADED LINE (THIS LINE IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE RADIATOR HOSE AND THE FRAME - JUST BELOW THE ZIP TIE). FROM TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS OF V-RODS THIS FAILURE IS NOT LIMITED TO THE MODEL YEAR AND MODEL.
I HAVE THE SAME FUEL GAUGE ISSUE AS ALL OTHER OWNERS OF V-RODS. THE GAUGE WILL NOT READ PROPERLY AND HAS LEFT ME IN TRAFFIC AND STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND HARLEY HAS STILL TO FIX IT.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.