AI Damage2003 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 67% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 33% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 33% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 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.
After a long day of riding when shutting off motor heard a noise in the primary chain area removed cover to find that the engine compensator nut was extremely loose about to fall off I have never touched this area and have performed the routine maintenance on the bike ie oil changes and inspection as I've read several…
I consider this loss of power at freeway speeds a safety issue which could lead to a crash or death.
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 Fxdwg has 3 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 3, about average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, engine, powertrain. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: loss of power / limp mode (67%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 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 2003 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 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.