Harley-Davidson Road King Reliability
39 NHTSA complaints (1997–2004). Complaint rate: 364.5 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: The 2001 Harley-Davidson Road King had a notable spike in NHTSA complaints. Other years had typical complaint volumes. Most common issue across all years: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
No years stand out as significantly better.
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Harley-Davidson Road King Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 | 0.0% |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 3 | 0.0% |
| EQUIPMENT | 3 | 0.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 3 | 0.0% |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 | 0.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 | 0.0% |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 | 0.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 2 | 0.0% |
| SUSPENSION | 2 | 0.0% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | — | 4 | 0 | — | View 1998View→ |
| 1999 | — | 4 | 0 | — | View 1999View→ |
| 2001AVOID | — | 12 | 0 | — | View 2001View→ |
| 2002 | — | 6 | 0 | — | View 2002View→ |
| 2004AVOID | — | 11 | 0 | — | View 2004View→ |
See also: Harley-Davidson Road Kingaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Harley-Davidson Road King?
Check the specific VIN for hidden accidents, title issues, and full vehicle history — just $4.99.
Check VIN Free