Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

Harley-Davidson FLH recalls by model year

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

5 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

70,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1979 to 2021 model years. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2021
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20211

2021: 1

Year-by-year records

Harley-Davidson FLH model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
197902Not available
199540Not available
200010Not available
202101Not available

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

79V136000 · Equipment

Reported: 1979-05-31 (May 31, 1979) · Model years: 1979

THE SEAT HANDRAIL MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED TO THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE TWO CENTER ATTACHING BOLTS MISSING. IF THESE TWO BOLTS ARE MISSING THE SEAT WILL BE ATTACHED BY THE FRONT BRACKET AND REAR BOLT ONLY.

Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL THE PROPER SEAT HANDRAIL HOLD DOWN HARDWARE.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
79V169000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder

Reported: 1979-07-09 (July 9, 1979) · Model years: 1979

THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER PLASTIC PISTON EMPLOYS A NON-SPECIFIED MATERIAL WHICH MAY ALLOW EXCESSIVE WATER ABSORPTION. AS A RESULT, THE PLASTIC PISTON MIGHT STICK IN THE MASTER CYLINDER PISTON BORE AND CAUSE BRAKE DRAG.

Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER PISTONS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
22V781000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights

Reported: 2022-10-18 (October 18, 2022) · Model years: 2021

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Trike and CVO Trike and 2020-2022 Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles. Please refer to Addendum A for specific vehicle model details. Due to a software error, the brake lights may illuminate without the rider applying the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: Unintended illumination of the brake lights may confuse other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the software on Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles. On Trike and CVO Trike motorcycles, a new pressure switch will also be installed. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2022. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0635.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

20.0%Usable mileage1 / 5 records
60.0%Valid incident date3 / 5 records
100.0%Valid filing date5 / 5 records
60.0%Ordered incident and filing dates3 / 5 records

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 complaint heatmap
Component2021
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Fuel System, Gasoline
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Structure:Frame And Members
0Unavailable

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 failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
Structure:Frame And MembersToo few reports for a range70,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10184936 · 70,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLH WITH 70000 FAILURE MILEAGE AT 65 MPH THE FRAME FRACTURED WHERE IT HELD THE BACK WHEEL ON. THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER, AND IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK UPDATED

Look up ODI 10184936 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

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
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

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.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

2000: 0 complaints · 2021: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2000000
2021000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2000100
2021000

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 co-occurrence matrix
ComponentElectrical System:Ignition:SwitchFuel System, GasolineStructure:Frame And Members
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch—00
Fuel System, Gasoline0—0
Structure:Frame And Members00—

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.

1 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 20.0% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 825233

HARLEY DAVIDSON MODEL FLHTCUI; IN JANUARY, 1996 AT 8,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING, IGNITION SWITCH FAILED, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO STALL. OWNER HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE, AND IT WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRENTY. CONSUMER HEARD OF INVESTIGATION EA98-009 FROM MCN. *AK

Look up ODI 825233 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b