2023 Harley-Davidson RA1250S
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 9 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 3 RA1250S model years with reports.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints: fuel/propulsion system
5 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, May 27, 2026
Bike has been at the dealer for almost 3 weeks now chasing electrical issues. HD corporate techs can’t even understand what’s wrong. The are running another diagnostic test on it today that will cost me another 3.5hr of labor on top of the other diagnostics they’ve already done. Luckily I wasn’t on a trip and stranded for weeks.
Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 19, 2025
Harley-Davidson knowingly did not coat the inside of the aluminum fuel tanks on 2023 and older model Pan Americas, leading to rust and particle breakdown from ethanol exposure. Those particles have led to fuel pump failure and replacement, but replacing the fuel pump is only a temporary fix as the tank will continue to rust and cause the same failure and replacement loop for the life-cycle of the bike. This issue has been reported by hundreds of Pan America owners in the lower 48, where ethanol is used as a fuel additive. Harley should recall all 2023 and older model gas tanks, and provide a solution (coating or replacing the tank) that does not lead to thousands of dollars in repair and replacement costs for the fuel pump, as the pump is not the issue.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 14, 2025
Fuel pump failure caused by improper factory fuel tank coating that leads to sudden and abrupt fuel pump failures. Harley fixed the issue in 2024 by coating the fuel tank, but 2021-2023 Pan America’s have repeated and frequent sudden fuel pump failures that can cause the bike to shut down, even when travelling at highway speeds.
Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 8, 2025
MY 2021 Harley Pan America died on the side of the ALCAN hiway 200 miles out of Fairbanks in June 2023, was able to restart, Fairbanks dealer diagnosed faulty fuel pump, no pump available before departure date so left for home in Washington state. 150 miles from home it went in to limp mode in heavy traffic narrowly avoided collision to get out of traffic. Limp mode to purchasing dealer at 40 mph. Diagnosed faulty fuel pump, couldn't fix for 2 weeks due to backordered parts. Traded the 2021 for a (current) 2023 Pan America because of pump, reliability issues. Now the 2023 making same screeching noises as 2021 did prior to failure. Reading online forums pump failure caused by ethanol fuel reacting with the aluminum fuel tank causing pump failure. I narrowly escaped collision on the 2021. Would seem this is a safety issue with unanticipated engine failure
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 27, 2025
Starting at 10,000 miles the fuel pump started making intermittent screeching noise that progressively got worse till it was constant on startup and running at 15,000 miles. Fuel pump screen appears to have been clogged with black material which may have been oxidized aluminum from the uncoated factory tank. Pump was replaced by dealer under warranty but chance of future failures remain. Failure of fuel pump could result in loss of vehicle control on the highway. Other than noise from the pump the only other indicator was a decrease in battery voltage noted over time. As the pump got worse battery voltage decreased.