2005 Harley-Davidson FLSTCI: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
17,168 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data updated: . 3 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
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Braking behavior
1
20.0%
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.
Tires
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
1
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Tires
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
1
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior
1
Tires: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 1; Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
3
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
3
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: 3; 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 (3). 2 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.
2005
1
2006
1
2009
1
2011
1
2012
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2005
1
2006
1
2009
1
2011
1
2012
1
2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Tires 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.
DT: THE CONTACT STATED FRONT CALIPER FELL OFF OF THE MOTORCYCLE THE FIRST DAY HE PURCHASED IT. THE DEALER DID NOT THINK IT WAS A PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TORQUED IT DOWN TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATIONS. THIS HAPPENED ON 3-25-05. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE DMV TELLING HIM THE PSI ON THE TIRES WAS WRONG. THE DEALER LEFT THE TIRE PRESSURE THE WAY IT WAS.*AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SUN LIGHT AFFECTED THE MIRRORS REFLECTION. INSTEAD OF VIEWING AN IMAGE REFLECTION, THE CONTACT SAW THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE MIRROR. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE MIRROR WITH A FLASH LIGHT AND THE MIRROR PRESENTED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, A COMPLAINT WAS TAKEN, AND ALERTED THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED A NEW MIRROR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE NEW MIRROR BUT THE RESULTS WERE EVEN WORST AND ALSO NOTICED THAT THE MANUFACTURED YEAR 2005 WAS THE SAME AS THE…
BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO LINING COMING OFF BACKING PLATE. I WAS DRIVING ALONG, WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT, APPLY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. I REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES WHERE THE LINING HAD CAME OFF. ONE WEEK LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE FRONT BRAKES BUT THAT HAPPENED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE. IN THE CASE OF THE FRONT BRAKES, I STILL HAVE BOTH LINING AND BACKING PLATE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 17K MILES AND HAD PLENTY OF LINING LIFE LEFT (HAD JUST PASS A STATE INSPECTION) JUST SEEMS ODD AND EVERYONE I TALK WITH SAYS MANUFACTURE DEFECT. …
METEZLER MARATHON 880 TIRE BLOW OUT.WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND THE SIDE OF MY REAR TIRE WENT OUT,CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASH,THANK GOD THERE WAS NO CORNER! 150/80B16 WWW METEZLER MARATHON. TIRE PRESSURE ALWAYS CHECKED AS I AM A MOTORCYCLE CRASH SURVIVOR! READ ON LINE OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME TROUBLE WITH TIRES STAMPED PRODUCT OF BRAZIL,WHICH MINE ARE.HAVENT SEEN DEALER TO SEE IF HE WILL REFUND ME YET? ALSO HAVE METEZLER TIRE ON FRONT FROM BRAZIL! I DON'T TRUST IT. 250.00 A PIECE.THESE TIRES HAVE ABOUT 350 MILES ON THEM!!!. PLEASE HEL…
METZELER ME880 MOTORCYCLE TIRE IS DELAMINATING. BIG CHUNK OF TREAD PULLING AWAY FROM TIRE BELT. TIRE MUST BE REPLACED AFTER 1SEASON ABOUT 8000 MILES.. *JS
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V151000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2005-04-14 (April 14, 2005)
CERTAIN SOFTAIL MOTORCYCLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, 'CERTIFICATION.' THE VIN/CERTIFICATION LABEL CONTAINS INCORRECT TIRE SIZE AND INFLATION PRESSURES FOR THE FRONT WHEEL. THE LABEL STATES THE TIRE SIZE IS MT90B21 AND THE INFLATION PRESSURE AS 30 PSI, WHEREAS THE CORRECT TIRE SIZE IS MT90B16, AND THE CORRECT INFLATION PRESSURE IS 36 PSI.
Consequence: THE CERTIFICATION LABEL IS INCORRECT GIVING IMPROPER INFORMATION.
Remedy: HARLEY- DAVIDSON WILL MAIL INSTRUCTIONS ALONG WITH CORRECTED FEDERAL CERTIFICATION LABEL. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL FOR THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 6, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
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.
60.0%Usable mileage3 / 5 records
100.0%Valid incident date5 / 5 records
100.0%Valid filing date5 / 5 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates5 / 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
Component
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Tires
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
240.0%ODI 10405987 · 18,400 mi
METEZLER MARATHON 880 TIRE BLOW OUT.WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND THE SIDE OF MY REAR TIRE WENT OUT,CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASH,THANK GOD THERE WAS NO CORNER! 150/80B16 WWW METEZLER MARATHON. TIRE PRESSURE ALWAYS CHECKED AS I AM A MOTORCYCLE CRASH SURVIVOR! READ ON LINE OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME TROUBLE WITH TIRES STAMPED PRODUCT OF BRAZIL,WHICH MINE ARE.HAVENT SEEN DEALER TO SEE IF HE WILL REFUND ME YET? ALSO HAVE METEZLER TIRE ON FRONT FROM BRAZIL! I DON'T TRUST IT. 250.00 A PIECE.THESE TIRES HAVE ABOUT 350 MILES ON THEM!!!. PLEASE HEL…
DEFECTIVE OIL PUMP ON A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLSTCI. (100 YEAR SPECIAL) MOTORCYCLE WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW FROM LOCAL DEALER AND ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES. NOTICED UNUSUAL VIBRATION AND CHECKED OIL INPUT INTO OIL BAG. VERY LOW PRESSURE AT FIRST AND NO PRESSURE ON SECOND DAY AFTER SLOW EASY WARM UP AND EVEN MORE ENGINE VIBRATION. DID NOT WANT TO CEASE ENGINE SO TURNED IT OFF AND REMOVED OIL PUMP. (PUMP IS AVAILABLE.) ASKED A DIFFERENT LOCAL DEALER IF THEY HAVE HAD ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT OIL PUMPS ON THIS MODEL AND THE RESPONSE WAS (THEY HAVE HAD A…
VEHICLE DOES NOT LIKE TO IDLE WHEN COLD. ALSO SPURATICLY STALLES GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS A SAFTY HAZARD BECAUSE YOU MAY BE JUST IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION OR GOING THREW CURVES. THERE MAY BE A SMALL HICKUP JUST BEFORE IT QUITES. THEN THE BIKE STARTS HARD AND SOMETIMES IT MAY BE SEVERAL MINUETS UNTILE IT WILL RESTART. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM BUT THE REPAIR CENTERS DON'T HELP WITH IT. I HAVE BEEN ALMOST HIT BECAUSE OF THIS.....THIS HAS GONE ON FOR ALMOST FOUR YEARS AND I HAVE HAD IT AT 3 DIFFERENT SHOP…
TRAVELING DOWN INTERSTATE LOST ABILITY TO SLOW DOWN. THROTTLE WAS STUCK OPEN. HAD TO HIT KILL SWITCH AND MOVE INTO EMERGENCY LANE. AS I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY REPAIR SHOP THE 2003 MODEL YEAR HAS BEEN NOTORIOUS FOR THIS ISSUE. NEWS TO ME. THE THROTTLE CONTROL ROD CRACKS AND DISENGAGES FROM THROTTLE SENSOR. *TR
I BROUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE TO MY DEALER, NORTH TEXAS HARLEY DAVIDSON, ON MARCH 13TH TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION OIL LEAK FIXED UNDER THE WARRANTY WHICH WAS SET TO EXPIRE ON MAY 14TH. THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED AND I WAS CHARGED THE $50 DEDUCTIBLE. I PICKED UP THE MOTORCYCLE AT ABOUT 6:00 PM. I DROVE IT THE 4 - 5 MILES FROM THE DEALER TO MY HOME AND PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE. THAT EVENING, I BEGAN CLEANING THE MOTORCYCLE AS THE DEALER DID NOT CLEAN IT TO MY SATISFACTION. I FOUND, TO MY COMPLETE ASTONISHMENT, THAT A PORTION OF THE REAR DRIVE PULLEY WAS…
BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO LINING COMING OFF BACKING PLATE. I WAS DRIVING ALONG, WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT, APPLY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. I REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES WHERE THE LINING HAD CAME OFF. ONE WEEK LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE FRONT BRAKES BUT THAT HAPPENED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE. IN THE CASE OF THE FRONT BRAKES, I STILL HAVE BOTH LINING AND BACKING PLATE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 17K MILES AND HAD PLENTY OF LINING LIFE LEFT (HAD JUST PASS A STATE INSPECTION) JUST SEEMS ODD AND EVERYONE I TALK WITH SAYS MANUFACTURE DEFECT. …
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
120.0%ODI 10138037
DT: THE CONTACT STATED FRONT CALIPER FELL OFF OF THE MOTORCYCLE THE FIRST DAY HE PURCHASED IT. THE DEALER DID NOT THINK IT WAS A PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC TORQUED IT DOWN TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATIONS. THIS HAPPENED ON 3-25-05. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE DMV TELLING HIM THE PSI ON THE TIRES WAS WRONG. THE DEALER LEFT THE TIRE PRESSURE THE WAY IT WAS.*AK
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
Tires
Too few reports for a range
18,400 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10405987 · 18,400 mi
METEZLER MARATHON 880 TIRE BLOW OUT.WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND THE SIDE OF MY REAR TIRE WENT OUT,CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASH,THANK GOD THERE WAS NO CORNER! 150/80B16 WWW METEZLER MARATHON. TIRE PRESSURE ALWAYS CHECKED AS I AM A MOTORCYCLE CRASH SURVIVOR! READ ON LINE OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME TROUBLE WITH TIRES STAMPED PRODUCT OF BRAZIL,WHICH MINE ARE.HAVENT SEEN DEALER TO SEE IF HE WILL REFUND ME YET? ALSO HAVE METEZLER TIRE ON FRONT FROM BRAZIL! I DON'T TRUST IT. 250.00 A PIECE.THESE TIRES HAVE ABOUT 350 MILES ON THEM!!!. PLEASE HEL…
BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO LINING COMING OFF BACKING PLATE. I WAS DRIVING ALONG, WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT, APPLY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. I REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES WHERE THE LINING HAD CAME OFF. ONE WEEK LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE FRONT BRAKES BUT THAT HAPPENED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE. IN THE CASE OF THE FRONT BRAKES, I STILL HAVE BOTH LINING AND BACKING PLATE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 17K MILES AND HAD PLENTY OF LINING LIFE LEFT (HAD JUST PASS A STATE INSPECTION) JUST SEEMS ODD AND EVERYONE I TALK WITH SAYS MANUFACTURE DEFECT. …
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SUN LIGHT AFFECTED THE MIRRORS REFLECTION. INSTEAD OF VIEWING AN IMAGE REFLECTION, THE CONTACT SAW THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE MIRROR. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE MIRROR WITH A FLASH LIGHT AND THE MIRROR PRESENTED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, A COMPLAINT WAS TAKEN, AND ALERTED THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED A NEW MIRROR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE NEW MIRROR BUT THE RESULTS WERE EVEN WORST AND ALSO NOTICED THAT THE MANUFACTURED YEAR 2005 WAS THE SAME AS THE…
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.
2005: 2 complaints · 2006: 1 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2005
1
2
2
2006
1
1
1
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2005
5
0
0
2006
1
0
1
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
Tires
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior
Tires
—
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
0
—
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
0
0
—
0
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior
0
0
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 · 20.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 17,168 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10278661 · 17,168 mi
BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO LINING COMING OFF BACKING PLATE. I WAS DRIVING ALONG, WENT TO STOP AT A LIGHT, APPLY BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. I REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES WHERE THE LINING HAD CAME OFF. ONE WEEK LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE FRONT BRAKES BUT THAT HAPPENED WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE. IN THE CASE OF THE FRONT BRAKES, I STILL HAVE BOTH LINING AND BACKING PLATE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 17K MILES AND HAD PLENTY OF LINING LIFE LEFT (HAD JUST PASS A STATE INSPECTION) JUST SEEMS ODD AND EVERYONE I TALK WITH SAYS MANUFACTURE DEFECT. …