AI Damage2000 Harley-Davidson Softail: common problems
Owners of the 2000 Harley-Davidson Softail filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 29% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 29% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 14% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 5 Tires 14% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 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 having a harley davidson dealer install it I put 400 miles on the motorcycle when at about 20 mph the rear wheel locked up. Caused by the clutch hub retaining clip coming off letting the clutch hub jamming into the outer cover. I sent it back to performance machine while it was still under warranty for a refund.
Dt: cam chain tensioners wore out. If it goes through all the way the engine will lock up. It will disintegrate the metal pieces where the engine will lock up. It happens in the hot weather, consumer heard excessive engine noise, and was told to change the tensioners.
The brake pedal traps the foot under it due to its design. Harley has redisigned it for the 2001 models but won't replace it on the older models. I wrote to them and they refused in writing to do anything about the defect.
When consumer went to take motorcycle out of his garage, he noticed that there was fuel leaking from carburetor. Dealership was in possession of motorcycle, and informed consumer that defect was a result of bad gas.
The cam bearing problem was known at the time I purchased my motorcycle for close to $20,000, but I was not notified this was a problem. The failure could have cost me and my girlfriend our lives. This should be a recall item. Harley davidson sent a service repairman.
Would fill motorcycle with fuel & about 1/2 gallon would leak out & would trail motorcycle while driving.
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 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Softail has 3 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 7, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Harley-Davidson Softail?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, fuel system, equipment. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2000 Harley-Davidson Softail?
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 2000 Harley-Davidson Softail 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 2000 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.