AI Damage2002 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide: common problems
Owners of the 2002 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and exterior lighting. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 67% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 33% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 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.
Several complaints have been made about the cam chain tensioner wearing out from normal operations. One such complaint that was made resulted in the cam chain tensioner breaking off and causing the oil pump to malfunction, and damgaging the oil pump as well.
The brake light switch has failed twice since I purchased the vehicle in april of 2002. The failure of the switch causes the brake lights to stay on. As a result, anyone following me has no way of knowing when I have applied the brakes.
Vehicle has stalled 4 times at different speed. Dealer cannot find a problem. Please provide additional information. Mr
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 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Electra Glide has 5 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 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 2002 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 2002 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.