2017 Harley-Davidson FLSS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
625 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data updated: . 2 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
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Braking behavior
1
50.0%
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.
Power Train
1
Service Brakes
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Power Train
1
Service Brakes
1
Power Train: 1; Service Brakes: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
2
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
2
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: 2; 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 (2). 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.
2017
2
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2017
2
2017: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train 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 10990826 · 2017-05-21 (May 21, 2017)
I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT 65 MPH WHEN I NOTICED A SLIGHT POWER LOSS, I APPLIED SOME EXTRA THROTTLE AND THE POWER LOSS JUST GOT WORSE, THE MOTOR CYCLE WAS SLOWING RAPIDLY UNDER POWER SO I LET OFF OF THE THROTTLE, AT THIS TIME THE REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEEL SENDING ME INTO A SKID OFF OF THE PAVEMENT AND INTO THE GRAVEL. THERE WAS A SEMI TRUCK HAULING HAY THAT WAS BEHIND ME AND I MANAGED TO KEEP THE MOTORCYCLE UPRIGHT AS THE TRUCK WENT PASSED ME. I GOT OFF OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND COULD SMELL HOT BRAKE SMELL. I LOOKED …
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HYDROLIC CLUTCH BECOMES VERY STIFF. THIS IS RANDOM, IT MAY WORK CORRECTLY THEN SUDDENLY BECOME INCREASINGLY HARD TO PULL THE CLUTCH LEVER IN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS EVENTUALLY THE CLUTCH WILL NOT DISENGAGE. MAKING IT NECESSARY TO TURN THE BIKE OFF IN ORDER TO DISENGSGE THE CLUTCH. AT ONE POINT I WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE CLUTCH LEVER IN WHEN APPROCHING A STOP LIGHT ON A BUSY MAJOR INTERSECTION. I HAD TO TURN THE MOTORCYCLE OFF AND DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER AT THE LAST MOMENT. I HAVE SINCE HAD AN ACCIDENT ON A GRAVEL DRIV…
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
18V734000 · Power Train:Clutch Assembly
Reported: 2018-10-18 (October 18, 2018)
Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Police Road King (FLHP), Road King (FLHR), Road King Special (FLHRXS), Electra Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Ultra Limited (FLHTK), Ultra Limited Low (FLHTKL), Ultra Limited Shrine (FLHTK SHRINE), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), Road Glide Ultra (FLTRU), Road Glide (FLTRX), Road Glide Special (FLTRXS), Freewheeler (FLRT), Tri Glide Ultra (FLHTCUTG), CVO Limited (FLHTKSE) and CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE) motorcycles, 2017 Softail Slim S (FLSS), Fat Boy S (FLSTFBS) and CVO Pro Street Breakout (FXSE) motorcycles, 2018 115th Anniversary Ultra Limited (FLHTK ANV), 115th Anniversary Street Glide (FLHX ANV), 115th Anniversary Street Glide Special (FLHXS ANX), 115th Anniversary Tri Glide Ultra (FLHTCUTG ANV), 115th Anniversary CVO Limited (FLHTKSE ANV) and CVO Road Glide (FLTRXSE) motorcycles. The secondary clutch actuator cylinder may leak fluid internally and the clutch master cylinder may lose the ability to generate enough lift to disengage the clutch.
Consequence: If the clutch cannot be disengaged it can result in a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will install a new secondary clutch actuator piston assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 5, 2018. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0173.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
100.0%Usable mileage2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid incident date2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 2 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
2016
2017
Power Train
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
150.0%ODI 11001221 · 300 mi
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HYDROLIC CLUTCH BECOMES VERY STIFF. THIS IS RANDOM, IT MAY WORK CORRECTLY THEN SUDDENLY BECOME INCREASINGLY HARD TO PULL THE CLUTCH LEVER IN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS EVENTUALLY THE CLUTCH WILL NOT DISENGAGE. MAKING IT NECESSARY TO TURN THE BIKE OFF IN ORDER TO DISENGSGE THE CLUTCH. AT ONE POINT I WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE CLUTCH LEVER IN WHEN APPROCHING A STOP LIGHT ON A BUSY MAJOR INTERSECTION. I HAD TO TURN THE MOTORCYCLE OFF AND DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER AT THE LAST MOMENT. I HAVE SINCE HAD AN ACCIDENT ON A GRAVEL DRIV…
I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT 65 MPH WHEN I NOTICED A SLIGHT POWER LOSS, I APPLIED SOME EXTRA THROTTLE AND THE POWER LOSS JUST GOT WORSE, THE MOTOR CYCLE WAS SLOWING RAPIDLY UNDER POWER SO I LET OFF OF THE THROTTLE, AT THIS TIME THE REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEEL SENDING ME INTO A SKID OFF OF THE PAVEMENT AND INTO THE GRAVEL. THERE WAS A SEMI TRUCK HAULING HAY THAT WAS BEHIND ME AND I MANAGED TO KEEP THE MOTORCYCLE UPRIGHT AS THE TRUCK WENT PASSED ME. I GOT OFF OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND COULD SMELL HOT BRAKE SMELL. I LOOKED …
ON EMERGENCY BRAKING WITH MOTORCYCLE IN MOTION THE HANDLE BAR TILTED DOWN. DRIVING SPEED BEFORE BRAKING WAS APP.20 MLS/H ON CITY STREET . THIS HAPPENED ALREADY FOR THE SECOND TIME.
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
Power Train
Too few reports for a range
300 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 11001221 · 300 mi
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HYDROLIC CLUTCH BECOMES VERY STIFF. THIS IS RANDOM, IT MAY WORK CORRECTLY THEN SUDDENLY BECOME INCREASINGLY HARD TO PULL THE CLUTCH LEVER IN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS EVENTUALLY THE CLUTCH WILL NOT DISENGAGE. MAKING IT NECESSARY TO TURN THE BIKE OFF IN ORDER TO DISENGSGE THE CLUTCH. AT ONE POINT I WAS UNABLE TO PULL THE CLUTCH LEVER IN WHEN APPROCHING A STOP LIGHT ON A BUSY MAJOR INTERSECTION. I HAD TO TURN THE MOTORCYCLE OFF AND DRIFT TO THE SHOULDER AT THE LAST MOMENT. I HAVE SINCE HAD AN ACCIDENT ON A GRAVEL DRIV…
I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT 65 MPH WHEN I NOTICED A SLIGHT POWER LOSS, I APPLIED SOME EXTRA THROTTLE AND THE POWER LOSS JUST GOT WORSE, THE MOTOR CYCLE WAS SLOWING RAPIDLY UNDER POWER SO I LET OFF OF THE THROTTLE, AT THIS TIME THE REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEEL SENDING ME INTO A SKID OFF OF THE PAVEMENT AND INTO THE GRAVEL. THERE WAS A SEMI TRUCK HAULING HAY THAT WAS BEHIND ME AND I MANAGED TO KEEP THE MOTORCYCLE UPRIGHT AS THE TRUCK WENT PASSED ME. I GOT OFF OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND COULD SMELL HOT BRAKE SMELL. I LOOKED …
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.
2016: 1 complaints · 2017: 2 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2016
0
0
1
2017
2
2
2
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2016
1
0
0
2017
2
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
Power Train
Service Brakes
Power Train
—
0
Service Brakes
0
—
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.
Brake response concerns
1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 950 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10990826 · 950 mi
I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT 65 MPH WHEN I NOTICED A SLIGHT POWER LOSS, I APPLIED SOME EXTRA THROTTLE AND THE POWER LOSS JUST GOT WORSE, THE MOTOR CYCLE WAS SLOWING RAPIDLY UNDER POWER SO I LET OFF OF THE THROTTLE, AT THIS TIME THE REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEEL SENDING ME INTO A SKID OFF OF THE PAVEMENT AND INTO THE GRAVEL. THERE WAS A SEMI TRUCK HAULING HAY THAT WAS BEHIND ME AND I MANAGED TO KEEP THE MOTORCYCLE UPRIGHT AS THE TRUCK WENT PASSED ME. I GOT OFF OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND COULD SMELL HOT BRAKE SMELL. I LOOKED …