Model year record
2014 Harley-Davidson XL883 recalls & problems
The 2014 Harley-Davidson XL883 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 3 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is structure (2 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2014 Harley-Davidson XL883.
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* |
|---|---|---|
| StructureBody | 2 | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Structure › Body
DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY AT 60MPH AND BATTERY COVER GOES FLYING OFF NARROWLY MISS HITTING A VEHICLE BEHIND ME. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAS YET TO BE FIXED PROPERLY AND NO FOREWARNING OR DISCLAIMER IS GIVEN. THROUGH FORUMS I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN TO HARLEY AND YET THEY CONTINUE TO NOT INFORM THERE BUYERS SENSE 2004. THIS IS A FLAW IN THERE DESIGN. ONLY KNOWN FIX IS TO ZIPTIE IN PLACE. DUE TO THERE CLIPS NOT PROPERLY PERFORMING. THEY NEED TO INSTALL ZIP TIES BEFORE WE PURCHASE THEM OR INSTALL A STRAP TO ENSURE THIS DOES NOT CONTINUE. THERE REDESIGNING OF CLIPS IS NOT WORKING. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FATALITY. *TR
- Structure › Body
THE LEFT SIDE BATTERY COVER COMES DOWN AND IMPAIRS THE OPERATORS ABILITY TO SHIFT AND MANAGE THE MOTORCYCLE. THE LEFT SIDE COVER BREAKS FREE AT THE TOP AND HANGS DOWN ON THE LOWER HOOK BRACKET. THE BARREL CLIPS "ON THE COVER" AND SOCKET CLIPS "ON THE FRAME" DO NOT SECURE THE COVER CORRECTLY. ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS, THE ISSUE HAPPENS FROM ENGINE HEAT, VIBRATION, AND INTERNAL MOTORCYCLE COMPONENTS PUSHING AGAINST THE COVER. HARLEY DAVIDSON UPGRADED THE CLIPS IN 2013; HOWEVER, THE ISSUE MADE NEWER 2014 MODELS WORSE. THE COVER COMES FREE AT VARIABLE SPEEDS OVER 25 MILES PER HOUR. THE CLIPS WERE REPLACES AT THE DEALSHIP AND THE ISSUE WAS NOT RESULVED. *TR
- Visibility/wiper
MIRRORS WILL NOT ALLOW VISION TO THE REAR WITHOUT LEANING YOUR BODY OUT OF THE WAY FIRST ON EITHER SIDE YOU SEE ONLY A SMALL PART OF ROAD IF YOU DO NOT LEAN FIRST BEING AVERAGE 5 FOOT 8 INCH TALL AND NO MATTER HOW MIRRORS ARE ADJUSTED I MOSTLY SEE MYSELF, HAVE BEEN RIDING HD AND OTHER MOTORCYCLES FOR OVER 50 YEARS I DO THINK HD HAS MADE A DESIGN AND SAFETY ERROR ON THESE XL883L MOTORCYCLES. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.