AI Damage2005 Harley-Davidson Touring: common problems
Owners of the 2005 Harley-Davidson Touring filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 43% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 14% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 14% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 7% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (43% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Suspension: 2 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (14% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (7% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 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.
Motorcycle developed a high speed wobble,was traveling in nevada ir15 at approximately 90 mph,handlebars went violently right and left. Could not stop them from moving back and forth. Motorcycle forced me to the road,first impact was the right side of motorcycle. The motorcycle forced me to the ground.
Horn continually fails to operate. Have taken it to the dealer multiple times only to be told that it is a chronic problem with 2005 harley davidson motorcycles and there is no fix.
The horn on my 05 harley davidson motorcyle does not work. The dealership and all the other dealerships that service harley davidson's in the area know of no fix for the problem. They say all the new bikes have disfunctional horns and the replacement parts are just as bad.
The horn on my brand new 2005 harley-davidson ultra classic has not worked properly since I have had the bike and the dealership where I purchased the bike told me that they cannot repair the horn.
Dt: the consumer stated while riding his bike, the connection pin came out of the mounting bracket and the saddle bag dragged on the ground. He was traveling at 60 mph. He says there was no warning. The dealers first response was this could not happen. The dealer was able to duplicate the problem.
While driving on the interstate at approximately 60 mph the cruise control started to accelerate t on its own. I could not get it to turn off until it hit 85 mph. After that the cruise control was inoperable until the power was turned off.
Bought vehicle brand new on 04/08/05. Vehicle engine pings at normal operating rpm, took vehicle to dealer, dealer was able to hear noise but did not know how to fix, dealer contacted manufacture, they sent a representative to drive the vehicle, the factory rep. Said the sound was normal due to emissions.
2005 harley davidson screaming eagle electraglide, motorcycle has a high speed wobble. ( 70+mph) exhibited problem since delivery. Motorcycle has at times taken two full traffic lanes to get under control. Investigation showed steering head bearings improperly adjusted from factory.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,551 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 26% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Touring has 3 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 14, above average.
What to check before buying
- 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.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Harley-Davidson Touring?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, suspension. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2005 Harley-Davidson Touring?
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 2005 Harley-Davidson Touring 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 2005 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.