AI Damage1999 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about equipment and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Equipment 40% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Seats 20% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 20% of all complaints
- Equipment: 2 complaints (40% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Seats: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 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.
I put a product called tireflys on the valve stem of my 1999 harley davidson electra glide classic. These cadgets give off light as the wheel spins. After 15 minutes of riding on I 75 I developed two flat tires at the same time. It seems that the tireflys remove the stem from the tire.
The rear swing arm on the primary side (left) is broken in two. This swing arm holds the rear wheel, and brakes to the motorcycle. This is a very dangerous situation. After much research many of these swing arms for years 1996 to 2000 break yet no factory recall has ever happened.
While driving at any speed the motorcycle shut down completely without warning. Dealer stated that circuit breaker has to reset itself, then the motorcycle will start back up. A recall was issued and part was replaced. However, the problem recurred.
While traveling 60-65mph on highway back seat broke off. Dealer was made aware of problem.
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 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Electra Glide has 5 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 5, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: equipment, electrical system, seats. Total complaints: 5.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide?
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 Electra Glide 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.