AI Damage2004 Harley-Davidson V-ROD: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Harley-Davidson V-ROD filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about wheels and electronic stability control. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Wheels 67% of all complaints
- 2 Electronic stability control 33% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 33% of all complaints
- Wheels: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 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 fuel gauge doesn't read properly anywhere below full. I learned from fellow owners that this problem is common to all vrsca models. Factory replacement of the fuel level items does not correct the problem. Poorly engineered part that needs a redesign.
Dt: the contact owned a 2004 harley davidson vrsca. He felt that this was a major safety problem with the motorcycle. This particular motorcycle came with a solid wheel. Whenever going at a high speed there was a major possibility of losing control of the motorcycle because of the wind.
Dt: contact states that the harley davidson v-rod is unstable because of the wind currents and normal driving speed. The contact has talked to harley davidson, and they suggested to him to go and buy spoked wheels.
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 V-ROD has 3 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 3, above average.
What to check before buying
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Harley-Davidson V-ROD?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: wheels, electronic stability control, fuel system. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Harley-Davidson V-ROD?
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 V-ROD 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.