Harley-Davidson Sportster years to avoid
No model year of the Harley-Davidson Sportster stands out with more than twice its typical number of complaints.
Best Harley-Davidson Sportster years
Not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
Harley-Davidson Sportster complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Harley-Davidson Sportster problems
All model years combined.
- Visibility12
- Engine12
- Fuel system9
- Transmission8
- Electrical5
- Steering4
- Brakes4
- Lights3
- Body2
- Wheels1
- Suspension1
- Acceleration1
Harley-Davidson Sportster problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | - | 2 | Steering | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2007 | - | 1 | Engine | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2005 | - | 4 | Fuel system | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2003 | - | 8 | Engine | 2,142 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2002 | - | 6 | Visibility | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2001 | - | 6 | Visibility | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2000 | - | 9 | Engine | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1999 | - | 6 | Visibility | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1998 | - | 6 | Electrical | 0 | 1 | ||
| 1997 | - | 1 | Engine | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1996 | - | 6 | Fuel system | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1992 | - | 1 | Transmission | 0 | 0 |
Recalls 3
Questions about the Harley-Davidson Sportster
What years of the Harley-Davidson Sportster should you avoid?
No single model year of the Harley-Davidson Sportster has more than twice its typical number of owner complaints.
What is the best year for a used Harley-Davidson Sportster?
There are not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
What is the most common problem with the Harley-Davidson Sportster?
Visibility, with 12 complaints across all years, followed by engine (12) and fuel system (9).
How many recalls does the Harley-Davidson Sportster have?
3 recalls between 1992 and 2008. The 2005 model year has the most, with 1.
VIN decoder
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Buying a used Harley-Davidson Sportster?
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