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NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2007–2019

Harley-Davidson XL883L recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints for the Harley-Davidson XL883L, covering model years 2007 to 2019. The 2007 and 2013 model years drew the most complaints (1 each), and Fuel System, Gasoline is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Harley-Davidson XL883L VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 4 recall campaigns on file
  • 2 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 3 model years with data (2007–2019)
  • most complaints: 2007, 2013 (1 for that model year)
  • top component: Fuel System, Gasoline (1 complaint)
  • latest recall 21V225000 (reported Mar 31, 2021)
  • 0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Harley-Davidson XL883L complaints by model year

2 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2007 and 2013 model years share the highest count, 1 complaints each.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Harley-Davidson XL883L owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 2007–2013Column chart of 2 complaints across 7 model years. The highest are 2007, 2013 with 1 each. The full figures are in the table below the chart.2007: 1 complaint120072008: 0 complaints20082009: 0 complaints20092010: 0 complaints20102011: 0 complaints20112012: 0 complaints20122013: 1 complaint12013
Harley-Davidson XL883L complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Harley-Davidson XL883L complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
200710000
201310000
All model years20000

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Harley-Davidson XL883L components

top 2 · NHTSA categories

Fuel System, Gasoline is the component named most often, in 1 complaint (50.0% of all 2), followed by Tires (1).

Components named most often in Harley-Davidson XL883L complaints (top 2)
Components named most often in Harley-Davidson XL883L complaints (top 2)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline150.0%
Tires150.0%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Harley-Davidson XL883L recalls

4 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name XL883L, newest first. The 4 campaigns cover model years 2007 to 2019. The 2007 model year appears in the most campaigns (3).

  • 4 recall campaigns
Harley-Davidson XL883L recall campaigns covering each model year
DecadeYears ending in 0Years ending in 1Years ending in 2Years ending in 3Years ending in 4Years ending in 5Years ending in 6Years ending in 7Years ending in 8Years ending in 9
2007: 3 campaigns2008: no campaigns2009: no campaigns
2010: no campaigns2011: no campaigns2012: no campaigns2013: no campaigns2014: no campaigns2015: no campaigns2016: no campaigns2017: no campaigns2018: no campaigns2019: 1 campaign
Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

  1. NHTSA campaign 21V225000

    Reported

    Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Bulbs

    Model year 2019

    Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Sportster (XL) motorcycles and 796 headlight assemblies that may have been sold as replacement parts for 2005-2019 Sportster, 2005-2017 Softail, 2005-2017 Dyna, and 2005-2011 V-Rod motorcycles. The glass bulb within the headlight assembly may fail, causing a loss of both high and low beams.

    Consequence:
    A loss of both headlight beams can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will install a headlamp bulb shield, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2021. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0177.

    Filed by Harley-Davidson Motor Company

  2. NHTSA campaign 07V296000

    Reported

    Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe

    Model year 2007

    Certain motorcycles were built with a condition whereby the pant leg of some riders can have direct contact with the exhaust pipe.

    Consequence:
    This condition could cause the pant leg to char or burn, which could lead to the possibility of injury to the rider.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will add a new exhaust shield which provides additional coverage ofthe exhaust pipe. The recall began on July 12, 2007. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson at 1-414-343-4056.

    Filed by Harley-Davidson Motor Company

  3. NHTSA campaign 07V025000

    Reported

    Tires

    Model year 2007

    Certain sportster and dyna model motorcycles were built with an incorrect front tire.

    Consequence:
    This incorrect tire could cause performance issues, which could result in a crash.
    Remedy:
    Dealers will inspect the front tire and replace it if necessary. The recall began on March 5, 2007. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson at 1-414-343-4056.

    Filed by Harley-Davidson Motor Company

  4. NHTSA campaign 06V476000

    Reported

    Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator

    Model year 2007

    On certain motorcycles, as a result of a greater body thickness than used in previous model years, the voltage regulator may contact the front fender under certain conditions. In some cases this contact may allow the front fender to catch on the top side of the regulator body which could impede the operator's ability to steer the vehicle.

    Consequence:
    This could result in a crash which could cause injury or death to the rider.
    Remedy:
    On motorcycles which do not have accessory engine guards, dealers will install an intermediate mounting bracket that will relocate the voltage regulator to a position which provides more clearance from the front fender. On vehicles with an accessory engine guards, dealers will install the thinnner dimension voltage regulator to avoide the front fender clearance problem. The recall began on January 22, 2007. A second customer letter reflecting the above remedy will be sent to owners on March 16, 2007. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson at 1-414-343-4056.

    Filed by Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Harley-Davidson XL883L questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Harley-Davidson XL883L have?

NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recall campaigns for the Harley-Davidson XL883L, covering model years 2007 to 2019. The most recent, 21V225000, was reported on March 31, 2021 and is filed under “Exterior lighting”. The 2007 model year is covered by the most campaigns (3).

Which Harley-Davidson XL883L model year has the most complaints?

The 2007 and 2013 model years tie, with 1 complaints each out of 2. Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Harley-Davidson XL883L complaint?

Fuel System, Gasoline is the component named most often: 1 complaint, or 50.0% of all 2. Tires (1) follows. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Harley-Davidson XL883L?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Harley-Davidson dealer.

How many Harley-Davidson XL883L complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 2 complaints, 0 report a crash, 0 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Harley-Davidson models

8 models · most complaints first

The Harley-Davidson models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Harley-Davidson VIN decoder with every Harley-Davidson model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Harley-Davidson models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.