AI Damage1999 Harley-Davidson 1200: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Harley-Davidson 1200 filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and steering. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 8
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 38% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 25% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 13% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 13% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 13% of all complaints
- Visibility: 3 complaints (38% of all).
- Steering: 2 complaints (25% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (13% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (13% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (13% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The vehicle leaked gas into the engine. Parts were replaced however the problem still exists. Please provide additional information.
Motorcycle's rearview mirror flew off, and the bolt that held it fell out.
99v290/ steering wheel handle bars: received recall, and unable to get dealer to honor it due to lack of parts. Notified manfacturer, and informed consumer that no parts were sent to dealer because dealer did not make a request. Dealer made request, received parts shortly after and repaired vehicle. Problem resolved.
Received recall notice concerning steering yoke :motorcycle & contacted dealer. Informed no parts were available since november. Was only given 3 repair kits for repairs.
While riding, side mirriors broke off, swinging back into the driver before hitting the ground. After these mirriors brake off the turn signals are left hanging because they where attached to the mirriors. The dealer has been contacted.
While driving 25-30 mph or when pulling off from a stop, the motorcycle just dies.motorcycle has been brought to the dealer 4 times for this problem. The dealer is not able to find out what is causing this problem. Please provide any further information.
While at a gas station and getting ready to leave, clutch cable popped out and motorcycle took off. Consumer contacted dealer.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 11,896 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 32% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 1200 has 4 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 8, above average.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Harley-Davidson 1200?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, steering, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 8.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Harley-Davidson 1200?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Harley-Davidson 1200 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.