AI Damage2003 Harley-Davidson Flhrci: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Harley-Davidson Flhrci filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 25% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 25% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 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.
Rear brake failure due to use of dot 5 break fluid at high altitude in hot weather. On trip over sierras on july 16, 2006, I and four others had rear brake or other hydralic failure.
The stock horn on my 2003 harley davidson road king classic motorcycle had been anemic at best from new and had progressively gotten weaker in volume and now only works intermittently.
Catastrophic engine failure occurred twice in a new 2003 harley-davidson motorcycle at 3284 miles and again at 7420 miles. The first was due to a cracked flywheel, which was replaced under warranty, and the second due to a broken oil pump.
The hoses may leak oil which can cause the rear tire to spin out if the oil came in contact with the tire. Please provide further details. The consumer received recall#03e051000 from a third party, however when the consumer contacted the manufacturer, he was informed that a fix had not been developed and to take the…
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 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Flhrci has 4 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 4, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Harley-Davidson Flhrci?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, equipment. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (25%), engine failure or replacement (25%), oil leak or consumption (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Flhrci?
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 2003 Harley-Davidson Flhrci 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 2003 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.