Harley-Davidson FLHTKL problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
3,175 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 to 2019 model years. Data updated: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Engine operation
2
20.0%
Steering behavior
1
10.0%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Electrical System
2
Engine
2
Power Train
2
Exterior Lighting
1
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
1
Unknown Or Other
1
Vehicle Speed Control
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Electrical System
2
Engine
2
Power Train
2
Exterior Lighting
1
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
1
Unknown Or Other
1
Vehicle Speed Control
1
Electrical System: 2; Engine: 2; Power Train: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 1; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
10
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
10
25,000 to 49,999
0
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: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 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 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 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.
2015
1
2016
4
2017
2
2018
1
2020
2
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2015
1
2016
4
2017
2
2018
1
2020
2
2015: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. 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.
CLUTCH SWITCH NOT WORKING THIS CAUSES NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE IN GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED, IF THE ENGINE IS STALLED THE MOTORCYCLE HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL TO BE RESTARTED THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM SINCE 2014.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTKL. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WOBBLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE HANDLE BARS SUDDENLY FELL OUT OF POSITION AND FRACTURED THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE HANDLE BARS LOOSENED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-TIGHTENED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
10 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
100.0%Usable mileage10 / 10 records
100.0%Valid incident date10 / 10 records
100.0%Valid filing date10 / 10 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates10 / 10 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
Component
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Electrical System
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
2100.0%ODI 11319802 · 4,500 mi
CLUTCH SAFETY SWITCH FAILED AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP. CANNOT START MOTORCYCLE IN GEAR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND COULD CAUSE DEATH AND OR INJURY NOT BEING ABLE TO RESTART MOTORCYCLE IN TRAFFIC
ON A FEW OCCASIONS MY ENGINE KILL SWITCH HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY ENGAGED WHILE RIDING. THE FIRST OCCASION I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE LEFT LANE APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN I WENT TO PRESS THE PUSH TO TALK BUTTON FOR THE CB (WHICH IS ON THE THROTTLE (RIGHT) SIDE OF THE HANDLEBARS) AND IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT THROTTLE AND ENGAGE THE PUSH TO TALK, MY HAND HIT THE ENGINE KILL SWITCH. THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT SO I HAD NO CLUE WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BIKE TURNED OFF. I HAD CARS BARRELING UP BEHIND ME AS I RAPIDLY DE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HARLEY-DAVIDSON EG ULTRA LIMITED LOW (NA) MOTORCYCLE. WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS FULLY ENGAGED, THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V216000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 450.
HEADLIGHT FOGS UP WHILE IN OPERATION CAUSING LIMITED LIGHTING. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE MOTORCYCLE IS STILL UNDER FULL MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT BECAUSE IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE TROUBLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. SO AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE I LIVE IN FLORIDA THAT MY HEADLIGHT SHOULD FOG UP? MY OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD AFFECTIN…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTKL. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WOBBLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE HANDLE BARS SUDDENLY FELL OUT OF POSITION AND FRACTURED THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE HANDLE BARS LOOSENED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-TIGHTENED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRO FLHTKL. WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT A SLOW SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS INNER HUB WAS DESTROYED DUE TO A LACK OF GREASE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AMERICAN EAGLE HARLEY-DAVIDSON (5920 S INTERSTATE 35 E, CORINTH, TX 76210, [phone removed]), BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO A LACK OF PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,400.
ON A FEW OCCASIONS MY ENGINE KILL SWITCH HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY ENGAGED WHILE RIDING. THE FIRST OCCASION I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE LEFT LANE APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN I WENT TO PRESS THE PUSH TO TALK BUTTON FOR THE CB (WHICH IS ON THE THROTTLE (RIGHT) SIDE OF THE HANDLEBARS) AND IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT THROTTLE AND ENGAGE THE PUSH TO TALK, MY HAND HIT THE ENGINE KILL SWITCH. THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT SO I HAD NO CLUE WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BIKE TURNED OFF. I HAD CARS BARRELING UP BEHIND ME AS I RAPIDLY DE…
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
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Electrical System
Too few reports for a range
8,750 mi
2 (sparse)
ODI 11319802 · 4,500 mi
CLUTCH SAFETY SWITCH FAILED AFTER WARRANTY WAS UP. CANNOT START MOTORCYCLE IN GEAR. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND COULD CAUSE DEATH AND OR INJURY NOT BEING ABLE TO RESTART MOTORCYCLE IN TRAFFIC
CLUTCH SWITCH NOT WORKING THIS CAUSES NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE IN GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED, IF THE ENGINE IS STALLED THE MOTORCYCLE HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL TO BE RESTARTED THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM SINCE 2014.
ON A FEW OCCASIONS MY ENGINE KILL SWITCH HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY ENGAGED WHILE RIDING. THE FIRST OCCASION I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE LEFT LANE APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN I WENT TO PRESS THE PUSH TO TALK BUTTON FOR THE CB (WHICH IS ON THE THROTTLE (RIGHT) SIDE OF THE HANDLEBARS) AND IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT THROTTLE AND ENGAGE THE PUSH TO TALK, MY HAND HIT THE ENGINE KILL SWITCH. THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT SO I HAD NO CLUE WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BIKE TURNED OFF. I HAD CARS BARRELING UP BEHIND ME AS I RAPIDLY DE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HARLEY-DAVIDSON EG ULTRA LIMITED LOW (NA) MOTORCYCLE. WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS FULLY ENGAGED, THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V216000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 450.
ON 01/05/2016, I TOOK DELIVERY OF A BRAND NEW 2015 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA LIMITED LOW MOTORCYCLE. WHEN I REGISTERED THE BIKE WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY, I DISCOVERED THERE WERE (2) RECALLS, ONE OPEN AND ONE CLOSED. THE OPEN RECALL IS NTHSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V-216 WHICH DEALS WITH THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH. AFTER A LITTLE INVESTIGATION, I LEARNED THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS SAT ON THEIR SHOWROOM FLOOR FOR NEARLY A YEAR WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED ON 04/14/2015. I ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY…
HEADLIGHT FOGS UP WHILE IN OPERATION CAUSING LIMITED LIGHTING. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THIS WAS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE MOTORCYCLE IS STILL UNDER FULL MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT BECAUSE IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE TROUBLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. SO AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE I LIVE IN FLORIDA THAT MY HEADLIGHT SHOULD FOG UP? MY OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD AFFECTIN…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTKL. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WOBBLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE HANDLE BARS SUDDENLY FELL OUT OF POSITION AND FRACTURED THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE HANDLE BARS LOOSENED AND NEEDED TO BE RE-TIGHTENED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRO FLHTKL. WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT A SLOW SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS INNER HUB WAS DESTROYED DUE TO A LACK OF GREASE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AMERICAN EAGLE HARLEY-DAVIDSON (5920 S INTERSTATE 35 E, CORINTH, TX 76210, [phone removed]), BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO A LACK OF PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,400.
ON A FEW OCCASIONS MY ENGINE KILL SWITCH HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY ENGAGED WHILE RIDING. THE FIRST OCCASION I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE LEFT LANE APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN I WENT TO PRESS THE PUSH TO TALK BUTTON FOR THE CB (WHICH IS ON THE THROTTLE (RIGHT) SIDE OF THE HANDLEBARS) AND IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT THROTTLE AND ENGAGE THE PUSH TO TALK, MY HAND HIT THE ENGINE KILL SWITCH. THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT SO I HAD NO CLUE WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BIKE TURNED OFF. I HAD CARS BARRELING UP BEHIND ME AS I RAPIDLY DE…
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
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
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.
2018: 2 complaints · 2019: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2018
0
0
2
2019
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2018
2
0
0
2019
0
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 co-occurrence matrix
Component
Electrical System
Engine
Power Train
Exterior Lighting
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing
Unknown Or Other
Vehicle Speed Control
Electrical System
—
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Engine
0
—
0
0
0
0
0
1ODI 10855064 · 8,400 mi
ON A FEW OCCASIONS MY ENGINE KILL SWITCH HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY ENGAGED WHILE RIDING. THE FIRST OCCASION I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE LEFT LANE APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN I WENT TO PRESS THE PUSH TO TALK BUTTON FOR THE CB (WHICH IS ON THE THROTTLE (RIGHT) SIDE OF THE HANDLEBARS) AND IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT THROTTLE AND ENGAGE THE PUSH TO TALK, MY HAND HIT THE ENGINE KILL SWITCH. THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT SO I HAD NO CLUE WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BIKE TURNED OFF. I HAD CARS BARRELING UP BEHIND ME AS I RAPIDLY DE…
ON A FEW OCCASIONS MY ENGINE KILL SWITCH HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY ENGAGED WHILE RIDING. THE FIRST OCCASION I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE LEFT LANE APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN I WENT TO PRESS THE PUSH TO TALK BUTTON FOR THE CB (WHICH IS ON THE THROTTLE (RIGHT) SIDE OF THE HANDLEBARS) AND IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT THROTTLE AND ENGAGE THE PUSH TO TALK, MY HAND HIT THE ENGINE KILL SWITCH. THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT SO I HAD NO CLUE WHY ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BIKE TURNED OFF. I HAD CARS BARRELING UP BEHIND ME AS I RAPIDLY DE…
CLUTCH SWITCH NOT WORKING THIS CAUSES NOT BEING ABLE TO START THE ENGINE IN GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED, IF THE ENGINE IS STALLED THE MOTORCYCLE HAS TO BE PUT IN NEUTRAL TO BE RESTARTED THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM SINCE 2014.