2002 Harley-Davidson Vrsca problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Fuel/Propulsion System (4) · Fuel System, Other (3) · Fuel System, Gasoline (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Harley-Davidson Vrsca model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (3)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2024-08-08 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 24.8.8): digital technician ii - updates and release notes. purpose: this bulletin informs dealers that harley-davidson has made a software update to digital technician ii (dt ii). digital technician ii (part number: hd-48650). version 24.8.8. release date: week of august 5
Unknown Or Other 2024-05-01 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 24.6.4): digital technician ii - updates and release notes. purpose: revision. this bulletin informs dealers that harley-davidson has made a software update to digital technician ii (dt ii). digital technician ii (part number: hd-48650). version 24.6.4. release date: week
Fuel System, Gasoline 2020-07-20 · M1313 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1313: vrsc fuel pump service procedure revision. purpose: this bulletin is to inform dealers of a change to replace fuel system parts on 2002-2006 vrsc models. fuel pumps (part no. 62109-01, 62111-04 & 62109-01a) and suction side fuel filters (part no. 75170-04, 75170-04a) are no l
What owners report
2016-04-08 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 1,000 mi“fuel gauge not working correctly goes from full to empty in 15 minutes.…”
2016-01-13 · Fuel/Propulsion System“the fuel gauge does not properly work due to float issues. this can leave people stranded. this is a well known issue and i do not see why harley has not been held accountable as of yet... …”
2013-05-03 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 5,514 mi“the fuel gage indicated 1/2 tank, i stopped and filled the fuel tank. when the fuel tank was filled and i was riding away i saw the needle now indicated the tank was empty. after riding foe some 20 miles the gage needle gradually began to rise to 3/4 full then drop then rise to 7/8 full. this has happened now every time i have filled the tank. the …”
2012-10-21 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 8,000 mi“1. fuel gauge goes to 100% empty just after showing 1/2 tank. the indicator needle drops within 3 tenths to 1 mile of use after the 1/2 tank mark shows. this issue has stranded me more than a half dozen times as i try to estimate fuel left in tank while using the motorcycle. 2. electric fans mounted directly to radiator worked loose. housi…”
2011-06-01 · Fuel System, Gasoline“fuel gauge does not read correctly. this is an ongoing problem with every model of the v-rod from the first model in 2002 until present. harley knows about the problem and refuses to make a recall and fix the problem. …”
2010-10-14 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 5,800 mi“the fuel gauge on my 2002 harley davidson v-rod does not nor has it ever worked since 2004. complaining to harley davidson does not seem to matter since the problem has not changed since 2002. running out of gas in the desert of arizona is dangerous in itself, much less because of an inaccurate or non-functioning gas gauge........ *tr…”
2010-08-21 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 15,000 mi“2002 harley vrod rear brake switch failure. switch does not light the rear brake light. failure is permanent. does not work. have not taken to dealer. read blogs indicating it is widespread and costs approx $150 and recurs. *tr…”
2010-08-09 · Fuel System, Other · 100 mi“fuel gauge on 2002 harley davidson vrsca motorcycle does not work as designed. *tr…”
2010-08-06 · Fuel System, Gasoline · -2,000 mi“gas gauge on harley davidson vrod, model 2002 vrsca and on my harley davidson vrod model 2003 vrsca have quit working. both motorcycles had less than 2000 miles and less than 1 year old when they quit working. *tr…”
2010-07-23 · Fuel System, Other · 40,168 mi“2002 vrsca fuel gauge does not work. it has never performed as it should. *tr…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.