AI Damage2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca: common problems
Owners of the 2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 13
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 46% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 31% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 5 Wheels 8% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 6 complaints (46% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 4 complaints (31% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (15% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Wheels: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 13 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 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.
Fuel gauge not working correctly goes from full to empty in 15 minutes.
The fuel gauge does not properly work due to float issues. This can leave people stranded. This is a well known issue and I do not see why harley has not been held accountable as of yet...
Fuel gauge goes to 100% empty just after showing 1/2 tank. The indicator needle drops within 3 tenths to 1 mile of use after the 1/2 tank mark shows. This issue has stranded me more than a half dozen times as I try to estimate fuel left in tank while using the motorcycle. 2.
Fuel gauge does not read correctly. This is an ongoing problem with every model of the v-rod from the first model in 2002 until present. Harley knows about the problem and refuses to make a recall and fix the problem.
The fuel gauge on my 2002 harley davidson v-rod does not nor has it ever worked since 2004. Complaining to harley davidson does not seem to matter since the problem has not changed since 2002.
2002 harley vrod rear brake switch failure. Switch does not light the rear brake light. Failure is permanent. Does not work. Have not taken to dealer. Read blogs indicating it is widespread and costs approx $150 and recurs.
Fuel gauge on 2002 harley davidson vrsca motorcycle does not work as designed.
The motorcycle stalled. Consumer was able to restart the motorcycle (2002 harley davidson v-rod). The bike typically stall while starting out in first gear. The bike had to be revved up high to get it going.
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 9,843 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Vrsca has 7 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 13, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. Total complaints: 13. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (62%), stalls while driving (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca?
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 2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca 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 2002 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.