AI Damage2002 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg: common problems
Owners of the 2002 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 25% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 25% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 25% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Suspension: 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 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.
Motorcycle failed when fuel gauge read 1/8th tank full. Rider lost power on freeway and was struck from behind while trying to reach shoulder for safety. Hd says that at approximately 1/8th tank reading, motorcycle needs to be switched to reserve to avoid running out of gas, but manual contains no such reference.
The swingarm of the rear suspension broke midway of the axle adjusting slot that is on the drive side leg, (left side)causing a severe wobble while in motion on an interstate highway at speed.
Tl contact owns a 2002 harley davidson fxdwg low rider. The contact stated while changing the battery he noticed that a factory weld was cracked. The motorcycle was taken to the dealer who inspected the vehicle but refused to do any work on it since he welded the frame himself.
I was traveling down hwy 83 outside of leakey tx, in the texas hill country, on 07/13/05 when all five of the belt drive sproket bolts backed out causing one bolt to sheer inside the wheel hub causing the sproket to dis-lodge from the wheel.
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 Fxdwg has 3 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- 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 2002 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, powertrain, structure. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (25%), loss of power / limp mode (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg?
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 Fxdwg 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.