AI Damage2004 Harley-Davidson Road King: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Harley-Davidson Road King filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 30% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 10% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 10% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 10% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- Suspension: 3 complaints (30% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (10% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 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.
Harley davidson roadking 2004 purchased new. Gear shifter went "flacid" and I was unable to shift into any gear. This happened once in 2004; twice in 2005; twice in 2006; and once last week in 2007.
Horn gets worse and becomes inaudible. The harley motor company should recall and replace all horns with better quality parts. Mine has been replaced at my cost.
Dt: the caller had warranty work done on gas tank line and the replacement part was of the same design only shorter. The caller said the line from the gas pump was rubbing on tank and causing a hole in the line inside the tank. Dealer said the replacement part will fail.
Dt: consumer states: motor cuts out upon acceleration from stop or if starting the motorcycle and making a turn. Also, it cuts out. It makes a noise pressure release of the air.
I have reported this before but have not heard back from you... Can you please help? Poor handling motorcycle, 2004 harley davidson, flhtci - motorcycle tended to want to "pull" to the left, especially when decelerating - several visits to the dealer for "alignments" of the engine/frame/drivetrain - problem minimized…
Passing a semi tractor trailer a about 70mph front end steering on new 04 electraglide classic began a wobbling of the front tire. It was extremely noticable and nearly caused the bike to go into the tractor trailer.
When braking there would be a loud grinding noise, which could cause extended stopping distance. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
Motorcycle stability issue. I purchased new with about 20 test miles, an flhtci, 2004, harley davidson motorcyle. Immediately upon riding I found it "pulled" to the left, especially when you roll off the throttle(decelerate).
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 10,921 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 30% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Road King has 5 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 10, above average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Harley-Davidson Road King?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, service brakes, electrical system. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (10%), loss of power / limp mode (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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.