Avoid 2000–2006 Twin Cam 88 (cam chain tensioner failures) and 2018–2019 M8 (rear shock recall). Best Softail years: 2020+ Milwaukee-Eight or 2012–2017 Twin Cam 103. Full era-by-era breakdown with NHTSA recall data and service manual specs.
Category: Buying Guides
Harley buying guides: years to avoid, model comparisons, and which to buy used.
Harley Fat Boy Years to Avoid (and the Best Years to Buy Used)
The 2007 Fat Boy is the one year to avoid — NHTSA fire recall plus first-year EFI and cam tensioner issues. Best buy: 2020–2024 Milwaukee-Eight 114. Full year-by-year breakdown with NHTSA recall numbers and service manual citations.
Harley Road Glide Years to Avoid (and the Best Years to Buy Used)
The Road Glide years to avoid are 2015-2016 (Twin-Cooled overheating) and 2017-2018 (Milwaukee-Eight oil sumping, plus recalls 17V333000 and 18V734000). Best years: 2012-2013 Twin Cam 103 on a budget, 2020+ M8 for peace of mind.
Harley Street Glide Years to Avoid (and the Best Years to Buy)
Which Street Glide years to avoid and which are the best to buy used? Our research maps every model year from 2006 to 2026 – covering four NHTSA clutch recalls on 2014-2016 Twin-Cooled bikes, early M8 oil sumping (2017-2019), and why 2020+ is the reliability sweet spot.
Milwaukee-Eight Years to Avoid (and the Best Years to Buy)
Which Milwaukee-Eight years have known oil pump problems, NHTSA recalls, and clutch issues – and which years are safe to buy. Research-backed guide covering 2017-2023 M8 Touring and Softail with NHTSA data and HD Service Manual citations.
Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 Years to Avoid (And the Best Years to Buy)
Our research found two NHTSA recalls and a service bulletin make the 2021 Pan America 1250 the year to avoid. Here’s the complete year-by-year breakdown – and which models are the safest used buys in 2026.
Harley-Davidson Recalls by the Numbers (2017-2026): Every NHTSA Campaign Analyzed
We pulled every NHTSA Harley-Davidson recall from 2017 to 2026 and analyzed it. The surprising finding: brakes, not the engine, are the most-recalled system.