AI Damage1999 Harley-Davidson Road King: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Harley-Davidson Road King filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 50% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 50% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (50% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 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.
Name: gerard bu [phone] hd [ref] I have a hd road king 1999. It was a know defect on the cam bearings of this year and there was even a recall but I never received notification by mail or anything. After 6k miles the cam broke which could lead to extensive damage and expenses.
The dealer stated that there was an extended warranty of 5yr/50,000miles but only if the engine failed completely. I have 27,000 miles currently with a complete engine failure. This problem is a mileage occurrence not a time factor situation.
Speedometer failure causes automatic turn signals not to disengage after turns have been made. Dealer/manufacturer notified, dealer offered consumer a goodwill replacement at a reduced price.
I've read of instances in major motorcycle publications of motor feeze-up, total engine failure, and locked rear tires when the cam bearing fails. Harley-davidson should replace cam bearing prior to failure on those specific engines that were built with a ball bearing rather than the replacement roller bearing.
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 Road King has 5 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 4, about average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- 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 1999 Harley-Davidson Road King?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: engine failure or replacement (50%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 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 1999 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 1999 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.