Model year record
2001 Harley-Davidson Road King recalls & problems
The 2001 Harley-Davidson Road King has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 8 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is equipment (3 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2001 Harley-Davidson Road King.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 3 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2 | — |
| SuspensionRear | 1 | — |
| Electronic stability controlAutomatic (asc) | 1 | — |
| WheelsRim | 1 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | — |
| Electrical system | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system
BIKE CUTS OUT AND DIES WHILE DRIVING CAUSING POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY TO RIDER OR EVEN DEATH: THIS HAS BEEN AND IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HARLEYS FROM 199 TO 2001 CRUISER MODELS AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON AS A RECALL ON ALL BIKE WITH THAT SYSTEM. SEE DISCUSSION BELOW: MINE CUT OUT AND I WAS ALMOST THROWN FROM THE BIKE INTO TRAFFIC AS IT SHUT DOWN AND LOCKED UP THE TIRES CLASSIC, THANKS FOR THE VERY THOUGHTFUL ANALYSIS. I STARTED THIS THREAD TO TRY TO OUT IF THERE IS A LARGE POPULATION OF 1999-2001 MM EFI OWNERS THAT ARE NOT HAVING PROBLEMS, THAT MIGHT GIVE ME SOME CONFIDENCE THAT IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO TRY TO GET MINE REPAIRED AND REGAIN CONFIDENCE THAT IT WOULD STAY…
- Wheels › Rim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 (NA) HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC. WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES LONG IN THE RIM OF THE REAR TIRE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCE IN DRIVING THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO NOTICING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
- Equipment
THE SHIFTER CONTROL ARM AND SHAFT HAS COME OFF MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING TWICE WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES. APPARENTLY HARLEY HAS USED A BOLT THAT DOES NOT GO COMPLETELY THRU TO HOLD IT IN PLACE. I HAD TO ASK FOR A LONGER BOLT WHEN I HAD TO PURCHASE THE NEW SHAFT AND SHIFTER ARM. I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS STRANDED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *JB
- Electronic stability control › Automatic (asc)
WOBBEL, UNSTEADY, WONDERING, FRON END, BIKE IS UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK
- Service brakes, hydraulic
WHEN VEHICLE GOES ON ALONG SUSTAINED RUN, 200-300 MILES AND COME OFF FREEWAY IT WILL STALL EVERY TIME COMING TO A STOP. VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY TWO DEALES. FUEL FILTER WAS CHANGED, INJECTION PORTS CLEANED, BUT PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. *AK
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ON FLAT SURFACE AND WITH NO WARNING OIL IS LEAKING ONTO BRAKES, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO SLIP, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR CONSUMER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED
- Suspension › Rear
VIBRATION WOULD BE FELT WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REAR BRAKE CALIPERS WERE RUBBING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
THE TOP BOLT FROM THE PRIMARY CHAIN TENSION ADJUSTER FELL OUT, LODGING BETWEEN THE DOUBLE SPROCKET OF THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, THE LOWER BOLT WAS BENT, THE INNER PRIMARY CASE WAS LIGHTLY DAMAGED, THE CHAIN WAS DAMAGED BEYOND SAFE USE, AND THE TENSIONER MOUNT WAS BENT, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING DUE TO THE CHAIN RUNNING OVER THE BOLT IN THE SPROCKET, THIS FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL, USE OIL, RUN ROUGH, AND EXPERIENCE A SPARK KNOCK. *SLC
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.