AI Damage2003 Harley-Davidson Fltri reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Harley-Davidson Fltri filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 25% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 25% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 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 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 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.
Unexpected interruption of all electrical power causing engine suddenly to quit while riding harley-davidson motorcycles. Recall campaign: nhtsa campaign id number : 04v134000 the consumer sustained serious bodily injuries when he crashed into a tree on the side of the road.
The engine on this motorcycle has a defect in the cam tensioner that can cause the motor to fail at any time without warning due to oil pressure being lost. The motorcycle can lock-up, causing the rider to fall the engine case can become cracked causing oil on the rear tire causing the rider to fall.
On april 18,2007, at 23343 miles I again complained of soft front brakes, the brake light sticking, and also the fairing making a loud rattle. The dealer said there was no problem found with the brakes or the fairing. I later discovered the fairing had been installed incorrectly.
Dt: contact's son owned a 2005 harley davidson motorcycle that was overheating. The speed had no impact on the motorcycle overheating after driving approximately 5 miles. The service dealer tried to correct the problem at least 6 times. They replaced a new computer chip and the pipes.
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 14,162 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 44% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Fltri has 3 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- 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 2003 Harley-Davidson Fltri?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (25%), overheating, coolant loss (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Fltri?
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 Fltri 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 2026-11-06.