AI Damage2021 Harley-Davidson RA1250S: common problems
The maker issued 78 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 78
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 53 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 26 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Vehicle speed control | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Electronic stability control | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 37 |
Comparison
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- 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.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.9.4)
DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER…
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.8.3)
DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER…
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.7.3)
DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER…
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.6.2)
DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER…
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1720 (REV A)
PAN AMERICA ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) UPDATE. PURPOSE: Initial release 3/3/2026. Revision A. 3/30/2026. Updated: Purpose for Service Bulletin and Required Dealer Action. Adjust information for 2024 models…
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1695 (REV A)
PAN AMERICA BCM AND ECM UPDATE. PURPOSE: Revision A. Updated: Purpose for Service Bulletin, Updated engine operation details after a cold start. This bulletin informs dealers that there is a Body Control Module (BCM)…
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1679
AFTERMARKET EXHAUST HEADER DEBRIS. PURPOSE: Initial release. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has identified instances of premature engine failure due to abrasive particle wear, specifically from…
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.5.2)
DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER…
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1713 (REV C)
DTII UPDATE PROCEDURE FOR SOFTWARE VERSION (26.4.3). PURPOSE: Revision C. This bulletin informs dealers that an issue was discovered in the Digital Technician II (DT II) software version (26.0.2), released on November…
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.4.3)
DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER…
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1713 (REV B)
DTII UPDATE PROCEDURE FOR SOFTWARE VERSION (26.3.2). PURPOSE: Revision B. This bulletin informs dealers that an issue was discovered in the Digital Technician II (DT II) software version (26.0.2), released on November…
- SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.3.2)
DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER…
NHTSA lists 78 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Harley-Davidson RA1250S?
There are no owner complaints in the NHTSA data for this year; the data comes from 78 manufacturer service bulletins.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Harley-Davidson RA1250S?
NHTSA lists 78 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 2021 Harley-Davidson RA1250S 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 2021 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 2026-11-04.