← New search

2003 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 1 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 →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
36,000 miles · Sep 2, 2006
Electrical System

WHILE RIDING (IN MOTION) THE MOTORCYCLES ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPS RUNNING, WITH NO SPARK TO THE ENGINE, CAUSING NO ACCELERATION SPEED CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE (YOUR BASICALLY COASTING WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING). THIS CAN BECOME A VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST, ESPECIALLY WHEN OTHER VEHICLES ARE AROUND YOU. I HAVE H…

Read full complaint

WHILE RIDING (IN MOTION) THE MOTORCYCLES ENGINE COMPLETELY STOPS RUNNING, WITH NO SPARK TO THE ENGINE, CAUSING NO ACCELERATION SPEED CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE (YOUR BASICALLY COASTING WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING). THIS CAN BECOME A VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE TO SAY THE LEAST, ESPECIALLY WHEN OTHER VEHICLES ARE AROUND YOU. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I HAD THE DEALER INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BIKE. NOW THAT THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED MY LOCAL HARLEY DEALER STATED THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND THE CAUSE IS A BAD IGNITION MODULE, BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE IT AT NO CHARGE (PART & LABOR OVER $400) BECAUSE THERE MANUFACTURERS "EMISSIONS COMPONENTS" WARRANTY IS 18,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS. MY BIKE NOW HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT AND IS 3 YEARS OLD. I HAVE ALSO FOUND THAT THE PART NECESSARY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY ON NATIONAL BACKORDER THROUGH HARLEY DUE TO AN OVERWHELMING DEMAND FOR REPLACEMENTS (HARLEY PART # 32466-98A). THEY BIKE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN CALIFORNIA IN AUGUST OF 2003. I WAS INFORMED BY THE EPA THAT, IN CALIFORNIA, ANY NEW VEHICLE PURCHASED IN CALIFORNIA SINCE 1995, THAT HAS AN EMISSIONS RELATED COMPONENT FAIL, MUST BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER FOR 8 YEARS OR 80,000 MILES WHEN THE REPAIR COST IS MORE THAN 2% OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM IS AT ABOUT THE 5% MARK. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10167262

Official recalls

1

04V218000 · Exterior Lighting:tail Lights

May 7, 2004

ON CERTAIN DYNA, XL, AND TOURING MOTORCYCLES, THE TAIL LIGHT BULB CAN FALL OUT OF THE SOCKET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE TAIL LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LIGHT BECOME INOPERATIVE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BULBS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.

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.