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2005 HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C

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: 2

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
20023
20032
20044
20056
20064
20071
2008
Compare all XL1200C years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
1Engine
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Tires
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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 1 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 →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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

Electrical System complaints

1 reports
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9,500 miles · Apr 22, 2009
Electrical System

TYPICAL MOTORCYCLE RIDING UNKNOWN FREQUENCY REPLACED CKP SENSOR I HAVE A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON XL1200C MOTORCYCLE. ABOUT A WEEK AGO ,AFTER THE BIKE WAS WARMED UP,IT WOULD STALL AT INTERSECTIONS AND BACKFIRE AND OFTEN DIE AS YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE TURNING. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE BIKE RUNNING IS …

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TYPICAL MOTORCYCLE RIDING UNKNOWN FREQUENCY REPLACED CKP SENSOR I HAVE A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON XL1200C MOTORCYCLE. ABOUT A WEEK AGO ,AFTER THE BIKE WAS WARMED UP,IT WOULD STALL AT INTERSECTIONS AND BACKFIRE AND OFTEN DIE AS YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE INTERSECTION WHILE TURNING. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE BIKE RUNNING IS TO REV IT TO A HIGH LEVEL,WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS ,PARTICULARLY WHILE TURNING. WASN'T INJURED BUT CAME VERY CLOSE TO GETTING RUN OFF SEVERAL TIMES ON THE WAY HOME. I HAD TO JOIN A MOTORCYCLE FORUM TO ACTUALLY DISCOVER WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. AS IT TURNS OUT,2004,2005 AND 2006 XL1200C SPORTSTERS HAVE ALL BEEN AFFLECTED WITH THE RANDOM PART FAILURE AND I KNOW ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED BY THE SUDDEN FAILURE OF THIS FAULTY PART. MANY MEMBERS ON THE FORUM HAVE CHANGED THIS PART ONLY TO HAVE THE NEW REPLACEMENT FAIL IN 2000 MILES OR SO. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO FAIL AND THERE ARE NO SIGNS THAT A FAILURE IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I FEEL LIKE HARLEY DAVIDSON NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266432

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.