AI Damage2014 Harley-Davidson XL Sportster: common problems
Owners of the 2014 Harley-Davidson XL Sportster filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 3 Tires 25% of all complaints
- Engine: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
Upon close inspection, I found that the front tire sidewall was splitting next to the bead. My dealer replaced the tire under warranty at no charge to me. Tire was a dunlop 408f, 130b/60/19.
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 harley davidson flhtk (na) motorcycle. The contact stated that the spark plug wire made contact with the bottom of the fuel tank, which damaged the insulation covering of the wire. The motorcycle was taken to the dealer who replaced the spark plug wire.
Mt clutch failed going down the highway just went out with only 600 miles on the vehicle.
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 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Harley-Davidson XL Sportster?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, tires. Total complaints: 4.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2014 Harley-Davidson XL Sportster?
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 2014 Harley-Davidson XL Sportster 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 2014 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.