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2005 HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL883C

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. 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

Unknown Or Other complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2016
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

I CHANGED THE OIL, WHEN FINISHED I COULD NOT GET THE OIL CAP TO LOCK AND SEAL. I TOOK IT TO A HARLEY DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE SERVICE ADVISOR TRY TO GET IT TO LOCK DOWN AND HE COULD NOT. THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THE OIL THAT HAD DRIPPED ALL OVER MY BIKE. I ORDERED A NEW CAP. I THEN TOOK IT TO A BIKE GARAGE (INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND O…

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I CHANGED THE OIL, WHEN FINISHED I COULD NOT GET THE OIL CAP TO LOCK AND SEAL. I TOOK IT TO A HARLEY DEALERSHIP AND HAD THE SERVICE ADVISOR TRY TO GET IT TO LOCK DOWN AND HE COULD NOT. THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THE OIL THAT HAD DRIPPED ALL OVER MY BIKE. I ORDERED A NEW CAP. I THEN TOOK IT TO A BIKE GARAGE (INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED), THEY TOLD ME THAT SOME YEARS OF HARLEYS HAD SWITCHED TO A PLASTIC OIL CAP AND THOSE TEND TO EXPAND/CONTRACT AND THE SEALS STRETCH OUT AND DO NOT SEAL PROPERLY. THEY SINCE HAVE CHANGED FROM PLASTIC TO SOMETHING ELSE. THEY URGED ME TO CHECK IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY BIKE AND TO DEFINITELY GET A NEW CAP. I CAN NOT DRIVE MY BIKE UNTIL A NEW CAP IS PROPERLY INSTALLED. MY BIKE LEAKS OIL OUT OF THE TOP OF THE OIL TANK IF I DO DRIVE IT, THAT DRIPS ON THE DRIVE BELT (AKA "CHAIN"), THE WHEEL, THE BRAKE(?) , MY SADDLE BAG AND FOOT PEG. OIL ON ANY PART OF A BIKE (OTHER THAN WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE) IS DANGEROUS AND COULD POSE A HAZARD FOR DRIVERS/RIDERS. MY FOOT COULD SLIP OFF THE PEG, TIRES AND/OR BRAKES MAY NOT GRAB PROPERLY WHEN STOPPING. I AM WONDERING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCE THIS UNFORTUNATE SITUATION? COULD YOU PLEASE CHECK INTO IT?

NHTSA ODI #10876703

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.