2016 Harley-Davidson FLD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
26,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
2019: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 350.0%ODI 11079447 · 7,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLD. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED VIA AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE AUTO AUCTION IN CLEARWATER. FL. LAKELAND HARLEY-DAVIDSON (4202 LAKELAND HILLS BLVD, LAKELAND, FL 33805) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILUR… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 375.0%ODI 10784960 · 3,270 miWHILE RIDING THE BIKE I HEARD AN UNUSUAL METAL NOISE (EVER SO SLIGHT NEXT TO THE SOUND OF THE BIKE) LOOKED DOWN TO DISCOVER REAR BRAKE ROD DISCONNECTED FROM REAR BRAKE PEDDLE. CLEVIS PIN AND COTTER APPARENTLY DROPPED OFF THE BIKE. WHEN I WENT TO TAP THE BRAKE PEDDLE, TO STOP THE BIKE, IT WAS HORIZONTAL TO THE PAVEMENT AND COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. BLACK WIDOW H-D PUT A 1/4 X 1" BOLT - WASHER - WASHER - NUT [WITH LOCTITE] ON IT AND ORDERED A REPLACEMENT PIN. SECONDARY PROBLEM IS AN OVERWHELMING ODOR OF UN-BURNED GASOLINE THAT FILLS THE GARAGE WITHI… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10628596 · 2,176 miWHILE RIDING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT WITH A GROUP OF OTHER RIDERS, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER TO MOTOR. THROTTLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO ANY RIDER INPUT. HAD TO PULL BIKE OVER ONTO SHOULDER. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WERE INITIALLY UNSUCCESSFUL, AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS ENGINE STARTED FINE. SAME BEHAVIOR OCCURRED AGAIN IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN A FREEWAY IN THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. DEALER STATES I MUST HAVE HIT THE POWER BUTTON, WHICH I AM COMPLETELY SURE DID NOT HAPPEN. I KNOW OF AT LEAST TWO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 250.0%ODI 10784960 · 3,270 miWHILE RIDING THE BIKE I HEARD AN UNUSUAL METAL NOISE (EVER SO SLIGHT NEXT TO THE SOUND OF THE BIKE) LOOKED DOWN TO DISCOVER REAR BRAKE ROD DISCONNECTED FROM REAR BRAKE PEDDLE. CLEVIS PIN AND COTTER APPARENTLY DROPPED OFF THE BIKE. WHEN I WENT TO TAP THE BRAKE PEDDLE, TO STOP THE BIKE, IT WAS HORIZONTAL TO THE PAVEMENT AND COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. BLACK WIDOW H-D PUT A 1/4 X 1" BOLT - WASHER - WASHER - NUT [WITH LOCTITE] ON IT AND ORDERED A REPLACEMENT PIN. SECONDARY PROBLEM IS AN OVERWHELMING ODOR OF UN-BURNED GASOLINE THAT FILLS THE GARAGE WITHI… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Body | 116.7%ODI 11298346 · 42,000 miDETACHABLE HARDSHELL SADDLEBAG FLEW OFF WHILE RIDING ON INTERSTATE. 2018 RECALL 0172 COVERS LATCH ARM PART 90200481 NEEDED TO REPAIR FOR WORN PINS, BUT PER HARLEY HEADQUARTERS THIS RECALL DOES NOT EFFECT MY BIKE. | 150.0%ODI 10535773 · 1,000 miWHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DOING 60 MILES PER HOUR THE LEFT STORAGE CASE JUST FELL OFF. WE WERE LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS RIDING BEHIND US AND THIS DIDN'T CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS BUT IT EASILY COULD HAVE. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS AND THE SEVERAL PEOPLE AT HARLEY AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. WE TRIED TO TALK TO HD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THAT IT ISN'T THEIR PROBLEM. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10971290CPSC:WHILE RIDING MY 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON FAT BOY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE TREAD BECAME DIVINE TED WITH THE CORE OF THE TIRE ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IN TRAFFIC. * BF UPDATED 04/14/2017*JS | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11220596 · 26,600 miFRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS CAME APART WHILE I WAS REATTACHED APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10628596 · 2,176 miWHILE RIDING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT WITH A GROUP OF OTHER RIDERS, VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER TO MOTOR. THROTTLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE TO ANY RIDER INPUT. HAD TO PULL BIKE OVER ONTO SHOULDER. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WERE INITIALLY UNSUCCESSFUL, AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS ENGINE STARTED FINE. SAME BEHAVIOR OCCURRED AGAIN IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN A FREEWAY IN THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. DEALER STATES I MUST HAVE HIT THE POWER BUTTON, WHICH I AM COMPLETELY SURE DID NOT HAPPEN. I KNOW OF AT LEAST TWO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11112770 · 20,154 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HELD MOISTURE INSIDE THE LENS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (SEACOAST HARLEY- DAVIDSON, 17 LAFAYETTE RD, NORTH HAMPTON, NH 3862, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT UNITS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,154. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 116.7%ODI 10451228 · 20 miI PURCHASED A NEW HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA GLIDE SWITCHBACK MOTORCYCLE FROM A DEALERSHIP IN OMAHA, NE. ON NOVEMBER OF 2011. UPON DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE HOME AND PARKING IT INSIDE MY GARAGE I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE FOLLOWED BY GASOLINE DRIPPING ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. I OCCASIONALLY RODE THE MOTORCYCLE WEATHER PERMITTING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE GAS SMELL AND A DRIPPING OF GASOLINE FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. I MADE A TELEPHONE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REQUESTED I BRING THE BIKE IN FOR A CHECK. THE MOTORCYCLE LE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 116.7%ODI 10595966 · 12,940 miMY WIFE RODE HER BIKE TO WORK AND ON THE WAY HOME WAS HAVING PROBLEMS MAINTAINING CONTROL. SHE CALLED ME ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES FROM HOME AND I WENT AND GOT THE BIKE. WHEN I GOT IT HOME I PUT IT ON THE LIFT AND FOUND THE PULLEY SIDE BEARING IN THE REAR WHEEL HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IT ACTUALLY CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE AXLE SLEEVE AND WHEEL SPACER. WHEN I PULLED THE WHEEL, BALL BEARINGS FELL OUT AS DID THE INNER RACE. THE BEARING WAS TOTALLY SHOT. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGH SPEED OVER THE ROAD TRIP THAT WE OFTEN TAKE, SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN K… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | Too few reports for a range | 26,600 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11220596 · 26,600 miFRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS CAME APART WHILE I WAS REATTACHED APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2015: 3 complaints · 2016: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Unknown Or Other |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.