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#BS-1987-HARXLS-3871

1987 Harley-Davidson XL SeriesProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 1 owners and 2 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 30, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Recalls
2
TSBs
0
✅

Preliminary Verdict

Green Light

Based on 1 complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 2 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasolineHIGH

1 owners reported engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline issues.

+ 3 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline (1 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline1 (100%)

1987 Harley-Davidson XL Series: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline Issues

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline complaints account for 100% of all reports filed for the 1987 Harley-Davidson XL Series, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (2 recalls)

86V153000Nov 1986

POWER TRAIN

A PIECE OF GEAR COULD BREAK AT THE MAINSHAFT FIRST GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF GEAR TOOTH BECOMES LODGED BETWEEN TRANSMISSION GEARS, DRIVE TRAIN AND REAR WHEEL COULD LOCK UP POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

87V129000Aug 1987

WHEELS

CRACKS IN FRONT AND REAR WHEELS COULD DEVELOP AND CONTINUE THROUGH WHEEL SPOKES.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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NHTSA Defect Investigations (1)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

PE95015ClosedOpened Feb 1995 · closed Jul 1995

HANDLEBAR LOWER CLAMP FRACTURING

STEERING

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 1 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 2 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 30, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026.

Other Harley-Davidson XL Series Model Years

19911989198719841982
View all Harley-Davidson XL Series years →

1987 Harley-Davidson XL Series: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 1987 Harley-Davidson XL Series?
The most commonly reported issue with the 1987 Harley-Davidson XL Series is related to the engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, with 1 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 1987 Harley-Davidson XL Series reliable?
The 1987 Harley-Davidson XL Series has 1 complaints, 0 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. The full report analyzes whether these numbers indicate real risk or are proportional to the vehicle’s popularity.
How much does it cost to fix 1987 Harley-Davidson XL Series problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 1987 Harley-Davidson XL Series have any recalls?
Yes, the 1987 Harley-Davidson XL Series has 2 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Harley-Davidson XL Series problems start?
Mileage data is limited for this vehicle. The full report analyzes available data to identify failure patterns by mileage range.
When was the 1987 Harley-Davidson XL Series data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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