← New search

2002 HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL883

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

Other model years Selected year
Compare all XL883 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: 1 of 2 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 →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. 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 And Engine Cooling complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
10 miles · May 29, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON 883 C BOUGHT THE BIKE BRAND NEW AUG 08, 2002 (1ST HARLEY) AND IMMEDIATLEY NOTICED AFTER RIDDING HOME UPON DELIVERY THAT THE BIKE WOULD STALL 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. CALLED THE SELLING AGENT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD ALL SPORSTER HAD THIS PROBLEM DUE TO HAVING TO MEET EPA STANDARDS T…

Read full complaint

2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON 883 C BOUGHT THE BIKE BRAND NEW AUG 08, 2002 (1ST HARLEY) AND IMMEDIATLEY NOTICED AFTER RIDDING HOME UPON DELIVERY THAT THE BIKE WOULD STALL 3 OUT OF 4 TIMES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. CALLED THE SELLING AGENT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD ALL SPORSTER HAD THIS PROBLEM DUE TO HAVING TO MEET EPA STANDARDS THE BIKE CARB WAS SET AT A VERY LEAN CONDITION CAUSING THE BIKE TO STALL UNDER ACCELERATION. THE SELLING AGENT THEN AT THAT POINT SAID IT COULD BE FIXED FOR AN ADDITIONAL FEE OF ANYWHERE BETWEEN $250.00 - $300.00 ALSO COMMONLY KNOWS AS THE "HARLEY TAX" ON MANY HARLEY CHAT SITES ON THE WEB. THE "HARLEY TAX" IS PAYING THE DEALER AND ADDITIONAL FEE TO GET THE BIKE TO RUN RIGHT LIKE IT SHOULD FROM THE FACTORY IN THE 1ST PLACE. I CONTACTED THE MOTOR COMPANY IN MILWAULKEE AND SENT A LETTER IN HOW UN HAPPY I WAS SINCE I HAD SAVED FOR THIS BIKE MANY YEARS AND NOW HAD THIS PROBLEM. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT DUE TO EPA STANDARDS. I WAS THEN TOLD TO TAKE THE BIKE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. TOOK THE BIKE BACK THEY DID SOME WORK ON THE CARB BUT STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM, NOT AS BAD BUT IT IS STILL THERE, COUGHING, STALLING ETC. I TOLD THE MOTOR COMPANY IN MILWAULKEE THAT IF I GOT HIT BY A CAR BECAUSE OF THIS I WOULD TAKE LEGAL ACTION. AFTER READING THE WEB SITE "HARLEY TECH TALK" OR "SPORSTER HOME PAGE.ORG" I FOUND THAT THERE IS A WIDE PROBLEM WITH THE SPORSTER 883 / 1200 AND THE STALLING CONDITION. I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY THE MOTOR COMPANY WITHOUT COST TO ME OR FOR THE MOTOR COMPANY TO TAKE THE BIKE BACK AND SUPPLY ME WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL THAT DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10020701

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.