The Harley-Davidson Road King spans 1981–2022 with 7 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2004, 2001, 2002 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 1981, 1982, 1983. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Harley-Davidson Road King is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1981 to 2022 across multiple generations.
How to read a Harley-Davidson Road King VIN — every digit explained
Every Harley-Davidson Road King carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Harley-Davidson and the country it was built in (real Harley-Davidson codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Road King.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- USA1HD
- Brazil932
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your Road King, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Harley-Davidson Road King have?
The Harley-Davidson Road King has 7 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1981–2022. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2004 Harley-Davidson Road King recalls 1
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
What's wrong. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A CONDITION OCCURS THAT COULD ALLOW PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE FUEL TANK. ON FUEL INJECTED VEHICLES, THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE FUEL TO SPRAY OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE FUEL CAP IS REMOVED. ON CARBURETED VEHICLES, EXCESSIVE FUEL COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CARBURETOR, WHICH WOULD EVENTUALLY ALLOW FUEL TO DRIP FROM THE AIR CLEANER.
Risk. THESE SITUATIONS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR CREATE A FIRE HAZARD FOR PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON OR NEAR THE MOTORCYCLE.
Fix. DEALERS WILL TEST EACH CANISTER FOR BLOCKAGE, THEN REPLACE AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
Best and worst years for the Harley-Davidson Road King
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 42 tracked years, the worst years are 2004, 2001, 2002 and the best (fewest complaints) are 1981, 1982, 1983.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 Road King | — | Best | |
| 1982 Road King | — | Best | |
| 1983 Road King | — | Best | |
| 1984 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1985 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1986 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1987 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1988 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1989 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1990 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1991 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1992 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1993 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1994 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1995 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1996 Road King | — | Average | |
| 1997 Road King | Engine And Engine Cooling | Average | |
| 1998 Road King | Suspension | Average | |
| 1999 Road King | Power Train | Average | |
| 2000 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2001 Road King | Equipment | Avoid | |
| 2002 Road King | Electrical System | Avoid | |
| 2003 Road King | Steering | Average | |
| 2004 Road King | Suspension | Avoid | |
| 2005 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2006 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2007 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2008 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2009 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2010 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2011 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2012 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2013 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2014 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2015 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2016 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2017 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2018 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2019 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2020 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2021 Road King | — | Average | |
| 2022 Road King | — | Average |
What are the most common Harley-Davidson Road King problems?
The most-reported Harley-Davidson Road King problems are Seats (1 reports), Tires (1 reports) and Wheels (2 reports) — out of 35 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Harley-Davidson Road King specifications & dimensions
The 2022 Harley-Davidson Road King. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Harley-Davidson Road King window sticker.
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Harley-Davidson Road King cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Road King holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Harley-Davidson Road King tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Harley-Davidson Road King get?
MPG cache warming… reload in a moment.
What engines does the Harley-Davidson Road King have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
How much does a Harley-Davidson Road King cost to own?
A Harley-Davidson Road King depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Check what a used Road King is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Road King loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — based on EPA economy at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Road King ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Harley-Davidson Road King safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Road King yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Harley-Davidson Road King last?
A well-maintained Harley-Davidson Road King typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Harley-Davidson Road King’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Road King’s VIN free →All Harley-Davidson Road King model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Harley-Davidson Road King — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2021 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2020 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2019 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2018 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2017 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2016 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2015 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2014 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2013 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2012 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2011 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2010 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2009 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2008 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2007 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2006 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2005 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 2004 Road King | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2003 Road King | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2002 Road King | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2001 Road King | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2000 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1999 Road King | 1 recall | — | — |
| 1998 Road King | 1 recall | — | — |
| 1997 Road King | 1 recall | — | — |
| 1996 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1995 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1994 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1993 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1992 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1991 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1990 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1989 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1988 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1987 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1986 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1985 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1984 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1983 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1982 Road King | 0 | — | — |
| 1981 Road King | 0 | — | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Road King?
By owner-complaint volume, 2004, 2001, 2002 drew the most reports. 1981, 1982, 1983 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Road King have?
7 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1981–2022. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Harley-Davidson recalls and reliability across every model.
How many miles does a Road King last?
A well-maintained Road King typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Road King reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Road King is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Harley-Davidson Road King warranty?
New Harley-Davidson models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Harley-Davidson dealer.
Where is the Harley-Davidson Road King made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Road King's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Harley-Davidson may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Road King have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.