AI Damage1998 Harley-Davidson Road King: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Harley-Davidson Road King filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 33% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 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.
The rear cam bearing on my 1999 harley davidson roadking has failed. The manufacture is entirely aware of the design defect. I fail to see the logic on how my vehicle must damage other engine components before harley davidson backs up their obvious design flaw.
While driving motorcycle keeps blowing a 15 amp fuse, it causes loss of running lights/ tail light/ headlights, and passing lights. Dealer notified and was unable to locate the cause. Feel free to provide any further information.
Brake lights stick on or flicker when going down highway. Also, master cylinder was weak . Consumer ordered kit. Contacted dealer ,and dealer stated nothing they could do.
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 Road King has 5 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- 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 1998 Harley-Davidson Road King?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, service brakes, suspension. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Harley-Davidson Road King?
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 1998 Harley-Davidson Road King 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 1998 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.