2021 Harley-Davidson FLHXS: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY DAVISON FLHXS STREET GLIDE SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VIBRATION WOULD OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE'S RPM'S WERE BETWEEN 2000 AND 1500 DURING DECELERATION. THE VIBRATION WOULD STOP WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DISENGAGED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A LOOSE DRIVE BELT AND AN UNSECURED FLOORBOARD. THE DRIVE B…

Look up ODI 10564809 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHXS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V216000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Look up ODI 10764540 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHXS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, IT BECAME STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V471000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30.

Look up ODI 10903258 at NHTSA ↗

ON AUGUST 25TH, 2018, I LOST CONTROL OF MY HARLEY STREET GLIDE, WHILE STOPPED (CLUTCH ENGAGED). MOTORCYCLE FELL ON RIGHT SIDE CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH FAIRING AND SADDLE BAG. TWO MONTHS LATER, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM HARLEY (NOVEMBER 2018, MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 0173) REGARDING THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SYSTEM WHICH ACCORDING TO THE RECALL COULD LEAD TO FAILURE "IF THIS CONDITION REMAINS UNDETECTED, IT COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN STARTED IN GEAR, FIRST SHIFTED INTO GEAR, OR COMING TO A STOP." THIS DESCRIBE EXACTLY W…

Look up ODI 11161205 at NHTSA ↗

I RECEIVED A NOTICE ON NOV.05, 2018 HARLEY DAVIDSON RECALL NO. 0173 NHTSA RECALL NO. 18V734. I WENT APPROXIMATELY ON NOV. 17, 2018 TO DROP OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AT ONE OF THE LOCAL HARLEY DEALERSHIPS IN GARLAND TX. AND WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET ON THE LIST AND THAT I WOULD BE CALLED WHEN IT CAME MY TURN DUE TO THEM NOT HAVING THE PARTS NEEDED TO FIX THE RECALL. I WENT BACK ON 18TH OF DEC. 2018 AND ASKED ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS IF HE HAD ANY IDEA ON THE WAIT AND FOR THE FIX. HE SAID HE COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ANSWER…

Look up ODI 11165402 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSIONS OIL IS GOING IN TO THE PRIMARY AND LEAVING THE TRANSMISSION DRY OIL IT ONLY HAPPENS ON THE 2019 FLUX WITH THE 114 IN IT THAT WE HAVE SEEN SO FAR

Look up ODI 11222060 at NHTSA ↗

THE SPARK PLUG WIRE IN WEARING BY RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING. I'VE SEEN THIS ON EVERY 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON TOURING BIKE I'VE SEEN INCLUDING MINE. IT HASN'T WORN THROUGH YET BUT IT WILL SOONER OR LATER AND WHEN IT DOES IT WILL ARCH TO THE GAS TANK. I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL MY BIKE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HD IS REPLACING THOSE THAT ARE UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

Look up ODI 10967851 at NHTSA ↗

EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM A DEFECTIVE ENGINE DESIGN HAS CAUSED SEVERAL BURNS TO RIGHT LOWER LEG. REAR CYLINDER CREATES EXCESSIVE HEAT WHICH FORCES OPERATOR TO ASSUME UNSAFE SITTING POSITIONS TO AVOID ENGINE HEAT, WHICH RIGHT LEG IS ALWAYS EXPOSED TO WITH NO CHOICE DUE TO VEHICLE CONTROLS.

Look up ODI 10716123 at NHTSA ↗

2017 HD ROAD GLIDE ULTRA MOTORCYCLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO HARLEY "NO DRIVE" RECALL 0173. *AS *TR

Look up ODI 11175510 at NHTSA ↗

I RECEIVED A NOTICE ON NOV.05, 2018 HARLEY DAVIDSON RECALL NO. 0173 NHTSA RECALL NO. 18V734. I WENT APPROXIMATELY ON NOV. 17, 2018 TO DROP OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AT ONE OF THE LOCAL HARLEY DEALERSHIPS IN GARLAND TX. AND WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET ON THE LIST AND THAT I WOULD BE CALLED WHEN IT CAME MY TURN DUE TO THEM NOT HAVING THE PARTS NEEDED TO FIX THE RECALL. I WENT BACK ON 18TH OF DEC. 2018 AND ASKED ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS IF HE HAD ANY IDEA ON THE WAIT AND FOR THE FIX. HE SAID HE COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ANSWER…

Look up ODI 11165402 at NHTSA ↗

The contact owns a 2019 Harley Davidson Street Glide. The contact stated while riding 70 mph, the contact started smelling smoke coming from the motorcycle. The contact pulled over to the side of road and saw oil spilling from the motorcycle. The contact continued riding until he reached his residence. The contact took the motorcycle to the local dealer who inspected the motorcycle and diagnosed the failure as a base gasket leak and head gasket leak. The contact decided not to have the local dealer repair the motorcycle instead took the motorcy…

Look up ODI 11424952 at NHTSA ↗

I THOUGHT I WAS FLASHING MY BRAKE LIGHTS TO WARN DRIVERS BEHIND ME THAT I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN..I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN!! I DECIDED TO NOT MAKE THAT TURN AND KEPT GOING TO PREVENT ME FROM GETTING HIT. PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY BRAKE LIGHTS. I FOUND THAT THEY DO NOT ACTIVATE UNTIL THERE IS SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER. THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD BE ILLUMINATED AS SOON AS THE BRAKE LEVER IS PULLED BEFORE THE BRAKE PADS CONTACT THE ROTOR! WHEN COMING TO A NORMAL STOP, I STOP AND LOOK …

Look up ODI 10621286 at NHTSA ↗

I EXPERIENCED A FRONT BRAKE LOCK-UP THAT THREW ME OFF THE BIKE, AND ALMOST GOT RAN OVER BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. IT SEEMED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CALIPERS, BUT DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. I WAS GOING AT 20 MILES PER HOUR AS WAS STARTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AS THE BIKE IS BRAND NEW, AND THEY CAME AND PICKED IT UP UNDER THE WARRANTY.

Look up ODI 11118656 at NHTSA ↗

The bike randomly goes into limp mode. When codes are pulled they are always the same ECM and ABS codes. Took the bike to Harley Dealer they said they couldn't find anything wrong and couldn't duplicate it. It's happened four times now. Leaving a stoplight and entering a freeway are two examples. There is no warning before going into limp mode.

Look up ODI 11541898 at NHTSA ↗

FOLLOWING RECALL UPGRADE TO CLUTCH ACTUATION SYSTEM, CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS CLUTCH FLUID.

Look up ODI 10777025 at NHTSA ↗

STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN I PULLED IN THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AND PUT THE BIKE IN 1ST GEAR, THE BIKE TOOK OFF. THE CLUTCH WAS COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE AND I BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE BIKE BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES AND SHUTTING THE BIKE OFF. THE BIKE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AS IT IS NOT SAFE TO RIDE. WHEN THE DEALER RAN THE VIN TO SEE IF IT WAS PART OF THE 2014-2015 FLHXS THAT ARE RECALLED...IT CAME UP AS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.

Look up ODI 10747700 at NHTSA ↗

HARLEY DAVIDSON 2016 FLHXS, MOTORCYCLE SAT IDLE FOR 12 DAYS, CLUTCH FAILED TO PROPERLY ENGAGE BOTH AT IDLE, WHILE STOPPED AND SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE GEARS. I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND ALSO CHECKED NHTSA DATA BASE AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF CURRENT RECALL, BUT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. I THINK THIS ISSUE AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST THE VEHICLES IDENTIFIED IN THE RECALL.

Look up ODI 10894751 at NHTSA ↗

I FILLED THE GAS TANK AND RETURNED HOME. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE WIFE NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE GARAGE. I WENT OUTSIDE AND NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GASOLINE WAS ON THE FLOOR. I STARTED INVESTIGATING AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. I WASN'T ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, BUT NOTICED THAT WHEN I LIFTED THE FRONT OF THE TANK, THE LEAK WOULD STOP. I TOOK THE BIKE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND BETWEEN US WE DETERMINED A WELD ON THE FRONT OF THE TANK WAS THE LEAK. WE DRAINED APPROXIMATELY A GALLON AND A HALF OF FUEL OUT AND THE LEAK…

Look up ODI 11291357 at NHTSA ↗

GAS CAP SWELLS UP TO A POINT WHERE IT CANNOT BE SCREWED BACK IN. I HAD FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HARLEY DAVISON AND NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM BUT MY PROBLEM IS IF I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THERE COULD EITHER BE AN EXPLOSION OR A FIERY CRASH.

Look up ODI 10892449 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND NOTICED THAT THE GPS SPEED AND THE SPEED ON THE SPEEDOMETER WERE DIFFERENT. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED A READING 5 MPH HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED BEING TRAVELED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED IN RED SHOWING THAT THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING OVER THE SPEED LIMIT BY 5 MPH. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER COULD BE ADJUSTED IF WERE INACCURATELY REGISTERING 5 MPH UNDER, BUT NOT OVER THE ACTUAL SPEE…

Look up ODI 10574454 at NHTSA ↗

This is my second report on 2021 street glide special. Bike goes into limp mode whenever it wants to. This has happened at idle at a light, driving 25 MPH in town and running at 65 MPH on the freeway. Bike was at the dealer for a month in 2022 and they claimed nothing was wrong. The first time was at 13,000 miles, Bike is currently at 28,000 and problem still here. Check engine light comes on and codes all run you in circles. Resetting ECM seems to be a short term fix. This is a very dangerous problem that needs to be addressed.

Look up ODI 11655472 at NHTSA ↗

2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHXS FRONT SPARK WIRE RUBBING ON GAS TANK AND WEARING OFF THE INSULATION OF THE WIRE. PROBABLE CAUSE OF ERRATIC BEHAVIOR AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING.

Look up ODI 10908420 at NHTSA ↗

The bike randomly goes into limp mode. When codes are pulled they are always the same ECM and ABS codes. Took the bike to Harley Dealer they said they couldn't find anything wrong and couldn't duplicate it. It's happened four times now. Leaving a stoplight and entering a freeway are two examples. There is no warning before going into limp mode.

Look up ODI 11541898 at NHTSA ↗

REGARDING NHTSA RECALL NO. 15V-427: LOCAL HD DEALER REPLACED MY ORIGINAL ATTACHMENT SPRINGS TO MY 2024 HD STREET GLIDE SADDLEBAGS AS REQUIRED BY THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, ONE OF MY BAGS RECENTLY FELL OFF WHILE RIDING AFTER THE NEW REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WERE INSTALLED. A LOCAL DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND ORIGINALLY STATED HARLEY SENT THEM THE WRONG REPLACEMENT SPRINGS. THAT WAS THE REASON MY BAG FELL OFF. AFTER THEY SPOKE WITH HARLEY THEY CHANGED THEIR STORY AND STATED THAT INDEED THEY DID REPLACE MY FAULTY SPRINGS WITH THE CORRECT REPLACEMENT SPRINGS.…

Look up ODI 10787604 at NHTSA ↗