RecallMyCar

2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster, and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
4
owner complaints to NHTSA

1 safety recall for the 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Carburetor system (fuel system)

    NHTSA 04V607000 Reported 9,501 vehicles potentially affected HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

    Certain motorcycles may have been produced with defective fuel shut-off valves. The functionality of the 'on' position and the 'reserve' position of the valve may have been reversed.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the fuel valve and replace it, if necessary. The recall began february 7, 2005. Owners should contact harley-davidson at 1-414-342-4080.

4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 5,912 miles. Complaints peaked in 2005 with 2 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 harley davidson sportster 1200 custom motorcycle. The transmission would not down shift to 3rd gear because it would lock. The contact would have to up shift to fourth and”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 5, 2010 · Power train

“Dt*: the contact stated there is a problem with the fuel system delivery concerning the carburetor. The vehicle intermittently failed to turn off or start and lost power while driving at various speed”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 13, 2006 · Fuel system, gasoline

Compare Harley-Davidson Sportster model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Harley-Davidson Sportster model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1971 Harley-Davidson Sportster10
1972 Harley-Davidson Sportster20
1985 Harley-Davidson Sportster01
1988 Harley-Davidson Sportster02
1992 Harley-Davidson Sportster01
1996 Harley-Davidson Sportster16
1997 Harley-Davidson Sportster01
1998 Harley-Davidson Sportster06
1999 Harley-Davidson Sportster16
2000 Harley-Davidson Sportster09
2001 Harley-Davidson Sportster06
2002 Harley-Davidson Sportster06
2003 Harley-Davidson Sportster08
2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster14
2007 Harley-Davidson Sportster01
2008 Harley-Davidson Sportster02

Checking a specific 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster

How do I know if my 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster; your car may already have been repaired under it.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Harley-Davidson dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V607000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Harley-Davidson models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.