2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
4
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
2
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S
The 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S has received a total of 4 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STEERING:LINKAGES. 2 technical service bulletins have been issued by Harley-Davidson Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Steering (2 complaints), Engine (1 complaint), and Fuelpropulsion System (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S, potentially affecting up to 26,249 vehicles.
Recall 25V590000 — STEERING:LINKAGES
| 8,424 vehicles affected
Defect: Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain RH1250S (Sportster S) motorcycles. The upper triple clamp may fracture.
Consequence: An upper triple clamp that fractures while the motorcycle is being operated could lead to a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper triple clamp, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 1, 2025. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0191.
View full details →Recall 25V590000 — STEERING:LINKAGES
| 8,424 vehicles affected
Defect: Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain RH1250S (Sportster S) motorcycles. The upper triple clamp may fracture.
Consequence: An upper triple clamp that fractures while the motorcycle is being operated could lead to a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper triple clamp, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 1, 2025. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0191.
View full details →Recall 26V075000 — STEERING:LINKAGES
| 9,401 vehicles affected
Defect: Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley) is recalling certain 2021-2026 RH1250S (Sportster S) motorcycles. The upper triple clamp may fracture.
Consequence: An upper triple clamp that fractures can lead to a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the upper triple clamp, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 19, 2026. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0191....
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S
4 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2023 Harley Davidson RH1250S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V590000 (STEERING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact notified the manufacturer of the issue, and the manufacturer responded by referring the contact back to the dealer for assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2023 Harley Davidson RH1250S. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V590000 (STEERING); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact notified the manufacturer of the issue, and the manufacturer responded by referring the contact back to the dealer for assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Fuel filters clog due to reaction of alcohol in fuel and bare fuel tank. 2024 models are having the fuel tanks coated to prevent the problem. Folders bikes stall creating a safety hazard. This issue should be a recall.
The contact owns a 2023 Harley-Davidson Sportster RH1250S. The contact stated that while while driving at 75 MPH, the vehicle lost power and he observed a loud popping noise emanating from the exhaust pipe. On another occasion while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle lost power and the contact observed flames emanating from the plastic edge of the right front of the seat. The vehicle was steered off the highway and the flames were distinguished by the contact. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and they could not replicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,350.
Safety Rating for the 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S
Harley-Davidson Motor Company has issued 2 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
M1615 — POWER TRAIN
SERVICE BULLETIN M1615: 2024 REVOLUTION MAX CHARGING SYSTEM CHANGES. PURPOSE: This bulletin informs dealers of updates made to the charging system on 2024 Revolution® Max powered vehicles. For 2024, the charging system has been updated to improve electrical output at idle and low Revolutions Per Minute (rpm). Maximum output has...
M1578 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1578: REVOLUTION MAX FOB TROUBLESHOOTING. PURPOSE: To provide dealers with a list of items to check for when troubleshooting an inoperative security FOB for Revolution® Max applications.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S
- 2021 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S — 3 complaints
- 2022 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S — 4 complaints
- 2023 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S (current)
- 2024 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S — 1 complaint
- 2025 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S — 0 complaints
- 2026 HARLEY-DAVIDSON RH1250S — 0 complaints
Other HARLEY-DAVIDSON Models
- HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU — 331 total complaints
- HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHX — 233 total complaints
- HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK — 209 total complaints
- HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTC — 130 total complaints
- HARLEY-DAVIDSON HARLEY DAVIDSON — 129 total complaints
- HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUI — 127 total complaints
- HARLEY-DAVIDSON XG750 — 123 total complaints
- HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG — 107 total complaints