AI Damage2006 Harley-Davidson Vrsca: common problems
Owners of the 2006 Harley-Davidson Vrsca filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 43% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 43% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 29% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 14% of all complaints
- 5 Tires 14% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (43% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (43% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
On 8/22/06 at approximately 2:20 pm I was traveling north on rt. 127 when my rear tire split into two halves popping off the rim on both sides causing the rear of the motorcycle to swing to the left and would not recover.
Fuel gauge is useless. Goes from half to empty in about 10 miles. It has left me stranded in a couple of spots.
I was attempting to reduce speed to turn into a gas station and rear brakes failed to function. Rear brake pedal is mushy & my motorcycle does not have functioning rear brakes. This is the second occurrence of this incident I've had with this bike (first time was in 2010).
After approximately 30 miles on a full tank, the fuel gauge dropped to below empty. After about 60 miles on a full tank, the fuel gauge will slowly rise back to above 1/4 tank (showing approximate fuel level). This happens every tank of gas.
The fuel gauge is not accurate at all. It fluctuates. It may read full and then 1/4 tank all in the same hour.
The brakes failed once before I stopped riding the motorcycle. I am ase certified automotive tech and the service director for a buick gmc store with 18 years experience. I would say this is very dangerous and safety related for any person on a public road.
The rear brake switch is failing. It appears the dot 4 brake fluid is eating through the plastic causing you to loose pressure and your rear brakes will fail. The dot4 fluid is eating through the reservoir caps on the bars as well. This happened as I was coasting up to a red light.
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 Vrsca has 7 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 7, about average.
What to check before buying
- 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.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- 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 2006 Harley-Davidson Vrsca?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, service brakes, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (43%), brake failure (29%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 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 2006 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 2006 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.