2021 Harley-Davidson FLHC: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
2,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 100.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Service Brakes: 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 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 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 (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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 |
2021: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11427035 · 2021-07-29 (July 29, 2021)
The contact owns a 2021 Harley Davidson FLHC. The contact stated that while riding at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the motorcycle. The contact inspected the motorcycle and saw that the rear brake rotor disc was warped. The dealer was made aware of the failure and suggested to the contact to not ride the motorcycle until it was repaired. The motorcycle was not repaired and was awaiting the brake replacement parts to arrive at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11427035 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
23V591000 · Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber
Reported: 2023-08-22 (August 22, 2023)
Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2018-2019 FLDE, 2018-2021 FLHC, 2018-2023 FLHCS, 2018 and 2023 FLHCS ANV, 2020-2023 FXLRS, 2022-2023 FXLRST, and 2022 FXRST Softail motorcycles. A fastener securing the rear shock absorber may break and allow the rear shock absorber adjuster to damage the rear tire, causing a loss of tire pressure.
Consequence: A loss of tire pressure can lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the shock absorber fastener, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0181.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V375000 · Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber
Reported: 2025-06-06 (June 6, 2025)
Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Softail motorcycles. The mounting tab on the rear shock pre-load adjuster may break, allowing the rear shock absorber adjuster to damage the rear tire, causing a loss of tire pressure.
Consequence: A sudden loss of tire pressure increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 16, 2025. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0188. Some of the vehicles included in this recall were previously repaired under recall 23V591, and will need to have the new remedy completed.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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: 2026-09-30.
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 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11687925 · 10 miThe contact owns a 2025 Harley-Davidson FLHC. The contact stated that after activating the turn signal, the turn signal was prematurely cancelled before making a partial or full turn. The contact stated that the failure had occurred with the left and right turn signals. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the local dealer and manufacturer were made aware of the failure, but no fix was available. The failure mileage was 10. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11728900I rode the bike to the end of driveway, turned around rode it back to the garage and the engine backfired and smoke started pouring out the exhaust and oil started pouring out the air breather, this bike had one mile on the odometer, it was the first time I drove the bike. The bike is at the dealership. If it would have happened on the road while driving it I could’ve lost control and wrecked from loss of traction from the oil Not that I’m aware of concerning the reproducing the problem, The dealership has the bike now and inspecting it, There… |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication:Pump | 133.3%ODI 11477147 · 7,300 miThe contact owns a 2018 Harley-Davidson FLHC Heritage Classic. The contact stated while riding approximately 75 miles at 3500rpm at approximately 3,500 RPM, there was an oil pump defect in the sump. There also was unusual metal-on-metal sound. Additionally, there was oil leaking onto exhaust. The oil warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that there was a loss of power while riding at a lower speed. The motorcycle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that after removing the the pump, there w… | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo 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. |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11687925 · 10 miThe contact owns a 2025 Harley-Davidson FLHC. The contact stated that after activating the turn signal, the turn signal was prematurely cancelled before making a partial or full turn. The contact stated that the failure had occurred with the left and right turn signals. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the local dealer and manufacturer were made aware of the failure, but no fix was available. The failure mileage was 10. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 133.3%ODI 11752016While idle fuel pushes out of overflow tube. The tank is usually not even half full when this happens. This has been a known issue with the manufacturer but haven't sent a recall out for it. They said they know that the pressure regulator was installed incorrectly from the factory. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo 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. |
| Service Brakes | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11427035 · 2,800 miThe contact owns a 2021 Harley Davidson FLHC. The contact stated that while riding at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the motorcycle. The contact inspected the motorcycle and saw that the rear brake rotor disc was warped. The dealer was made aware of the failure and suggested to the contact to not ride the motorcycle until it was repaired. The motorcycle was not repaired and was awaiting the brake replacement parts to arrive at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11737530 · 450 miThe contact owns a 2025 Harley-Davidson HERITAGE CLASSIC . The contact stated that while the husband was driving approximately 60 MPH around a left turn the motorcycle made contact with the guardrail causing the driver to loose control of the motorcycle which then drove up an embankment before crashing into a tree. The rider was thrown from the motorcycle. The husband was pronounced deceased at the scene. The police was called to the scene and indicated no skid marks were present from the crash. A police report was taken at the scene and … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11759197 · 114 miThe contact owns a 2026 Harley-Davidson FLHC. The contact stated that while the motorcycle was parked with the kickstand extended, the kickstand failed, causing the motorcycle to fall over shortly after being purchased brand new. The motorcycle was taken to the dealer but could not be diagnosed. The motorcycle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 114. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | Too few reports for a range | 2,800 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11427035 · 2,800 miThe contact owns a 2021 Harley Davidson FLHC. The contact stated that while riding at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the motorcycle. The contact inspected the motorcycle and saw that the rear brake rotor disc was warped. The dealer was made aware of the failure and suggested to the contact to not ride the motorcycle until it was repaired. The motorcycle was not repaired and was awaiting the brake replacement parts to arrive at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure … |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 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 | 25V375000 | 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 (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.
2020: 0 complaints · 2021: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 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 | Service Brakes |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | — |
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.