Tech
Historical Recalls
Recalls that list FXRs
These are the U.S. safety recalls Harley-Davidson filed with NHTSA that list FXR models. The newest is from 1999, so every one of them is decades old. This page is a history record, not a current safety notice. Most of these bikes have long since had the work done, been repaired another way, or been changed by later owners.
To check one bike, enter its VIN at NHTSA's lookup (NHTSA recall lookup). Our FXR VIN Decoder reads the model and year first.
82V044000: rear brake caliper
- Reported
- May 4, 1982
- FXR models listed
- 1982 FXR series
- Also in the campaign
- 1982 XL series
- Units, all models
- 11,714
Record: The rear hydraulic brake system could build enough pressure to exceed the burst strength of some rear calipers, which could crack a caliper and cost the rear brake.
Remedy: Dealers inspected and modified the brake system at no cost.
86V087000: swingarm pivot bolts
- Reported
- July 9, 1986
- FXR models listed
- 1986 FXR series
- Also in the campaign
- 1986 FLT series
- Units, all models
- 2,097
Record: The bolts in the pivot shaft that holds the swingarm to the frame might not have been torqued to specification and could work loose.
Remedy: Torque the swingarm pivot shaft bolts.
90V188000: front caliper bolt
- Reported
- November 1, 1990
- FXR models listed
- 1987 to 1990 FXR
- Also in the campaign
- 1987 to 1990 XLH
- Units, all models
- 42,321
Record: The upper mounting bolt for the front brake caliper could fracture. The brake keeps working, but its threaded bushing can move until it touches the front wheel spokes.
Remedy: Replace the upper caliper mounting bolts.
92V108000: fuel tank
- Reported
- July 22, 1992
- FXR models listed
- 1986 to 1992 FXR
- Also in the campaign
- NHTSA also lists "FXD" entries for 1986 to 1992
- Units, all models
- 29,986
Record: The fuel tank leaked in impact testing done by Harley-Davidson.
Remedy: Repair the motorcycles so the tank does not spill fuel.
92V173000: carburetor inlet needle
- Reported
- November 30, 1992
- FXR models listed
- 1990 to 1991 FXR
- Also in the campaign
- 1990 to 1991 FL, FX and FXD
- Units, all models
- 66,046
Record: The carburetor fuel inlet needle might not seal against its seat, so the overflow could leak fuel onto the ground.
Remedy: Replace the fuel inlet needle.
99V200000: fuel tank vent
- Reported
- July 23, 1999
- FXR models listed
- 1999 CVO FXR2 and FXR3
- Also in the campaign
- 1999 Dyna and Softail models
- Units, all models
- 10,241
Record: The fuel tank vent fitting could be plugged, which could let the carburetor overflow fuel.
Remedy: Dealers inspected the vent fitting and corrected it if plugged. Owner letters began August 12, 1999.
Model, year and unit figures are as NHTSA lists them for each campaign number (NHTSA recalls API). The unit count covers every model in a campaign, not FXRs alone.
Notes on the records
- 92V108000 lists "FXD" models back to 1986, years before the first Dyna of 1991 (Wikipedia, "Harley-Davidson Super Glide"). We show NHTSA's labels as they appear and have not found what NHTSA's "FXD" entries refer to unverified.
- Whether the 99V200000 fuel tank vent recall also covered the 2000 FXR4: NHTSA lists only 1999 models, FXR2 and FXR3 among them (NHTSA recall 99V200000).
- Often mixed up with FXR recalls: NHTSA 92V180000 (starter relay) covers 1989 to 1992 Softails only (NHTSA recall 92V180000), and UK recall RM/93/001 is the same Softail relay (UK recall RM/93/001). Neither lists an FXR. Our runaway starter entry covers the FXR side.
- We searched NHTSA's records for every FXR family model name (FXR, FXRS, FXRT, FXRD, FXRP, FXLR, FXR2, FXR3, FXR4 and the "FXR series" label) for 1982 to 2000. Older records are sparse and not always tagged by model, so a recall filed under another label could be missing here.
Related factory service bulletins
| Bulletin | Date | What it covers | Where we cover it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Letter ML-271 | July 31, 1985 | Late 1984 primary leaks and the clutch pushrod vent flat | Known Issues #1 |
| Technical Tips #17 | August 1989 | 1990 change from a tapered to a straight spline transmission mainshaft | Known Issues #2 |
| Technical Tips #30 | July 1992 | Base gasket material; main drive gear spacer and seal | Known Issues #6 |
| Service Bulletin M-1043 | May 24, 1994 | New cylinder base gaskets and cylinder studs | Known Issues #15 |
Service bulletins are dealer repair notes, not safety recalls. Copies are hosted by the sites linked.
FXR Archive | Tech | October 2026