2016 Harley-Davidson FLSTFB: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
9,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Wheels 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 |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 1 |
Wheels: 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 |
2016: 1
Pattern summary
Wheels 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 10909957 · 2016-09-27 (September 27, 2016)
THIS BIKE HAS 9000 MILES ON IT AND JUST HAD A REAR TIRE INSTALLED BY HARLEY 2 MONTHS AGO. 7 HOURS FROM HOME I WAS TURNING A CORNER AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED WHEN THE REAR WHEEL BEARING DISINTEGRATED AND DAMAGED THE WHEEL, THE BRAKE ROTOR AND THE CALIPER. THE FIRST MECHANIC THAT SAW IT SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE THAT BAD. $450 TO TOW TO HARLEY AND ANOTHER $536 TO GET IT TO MY HOME SHOP. MY DEALER TOLD ME THEY CAN'T GET PARTS FOR OVER A MONTH BECAUSE THE WHEEL WAS RECALLED OFF THE SHELF BY CORPORATE, BUT HE WON'T TELL ME WHY IT WAS RECALLED OR I…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10909957 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
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: 2026-10-01.
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 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 360.0%ODI 10508979 · 200 miWHEN THIS MOTORCYCLE WAS NEW, AFTER SITTING IN MY GARAGE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE HANDLEBARS. I COULD PUMP IT UP AND IT WOULD BE OK UNTIL IT SET FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, NO BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT ALL THEY DID BUT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. TODAY I ROLLED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE, @ 3851 MILES, AND PUMPED THE LEVER. ON THE SECOND PULL, THE BOLT INTO THE MASTER CYLINDER, WITH A BANJO FITTING, BLEW OUT AND BRAKE FLUID SPRAYED ALL OVER AND, OBVIOUSLY, NO BRAK… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10520054 · 1,600 miWHILE DRIVING MY 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FATBOY LO, I NOTICED THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. I WENT HOME AND TESTED THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND FOUND THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR TO BE FAULTY. JUST ONE WEEK AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WITH ONLY 1,600 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10968538 · 2,800 miTHE LED INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE, THAT INDICATE EITHER YOU ARE TURNING LEFT AND ALSO THE INDICATOR FOR THE NEUTRAL POSITION HAVE BURNED OUT. HARLEY DAVIDSON WILL NOT REPLACE THIS STRIP OF LED LIGHTS, I HAVE QUESTIONED THE TECHNICIANS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE BIKES, THEY TOLD ME I HAVE TO PAY $150 TO REPLACE THEM WITH LABOR AND THAT IF I WOULD REPLACE THEM MYSELF THE WARRANTY WOULD BE NOT VALID. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON, HAVING SPOKEN TO OTHER HARLEY OWNERS. SINCE THE WA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting | 150.0%ODI 10434275 · 6,136 miAPPLICATION OF FRONT BRAKE FAILED TO ACTIVATE BRAKE LIGHT. DEALER REPLACE FRONT BRAKE LEVER SWITCH. VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT HAVE WORKING BRAKE LIGHT ON A MOTORCYCLE. AND TO HAVE THIS FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 11462154MY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH DOESN'T WORK ON THE FOOT BRAKE AND IT STAYS ON, ON THE HAND BRAKE. I HEARD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ON HARLEYS. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Steering | 150.0%ODI 10362650 · 10 mi2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON FATBOY LO FLSTFB. DANGEROUS FRONT END WOBBLE AT 45-50 MPH WHEN RELAXING GRIP ON HANDLEBARS OR HOLDING WITH ONE HAND. HAPPENS WHEN DECELERATING OR AT CONSTANT SPEED OF 45-50 MPH. WAS ADVISED BY CHESAPEAKE HARLEY DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT ISSUE WITH SOME FATBOY LO'S HAVING A WOBBLE. BROUGHT BACK 3 TIMES NEVER FIXED. HARLEY SERVICE MANAGER FROM MILWAUKEE RODE MY BIKE... TOLD THROUGH CHESAPEAKE HARLEY DEALERSHIP AND MILWAUKEE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT HARLEY WOULD DO NOTHING FURTHER THAN FIELD THE C… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train | 00.0%No 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. | 150.0%ODI 10840047 · 3 miWHILE RIDING ON ANY GEAR THE CLUTCH FAILS TO DISENGAGE AND BIKE MOVES ERRATICALLY. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS FROM THE START OF THE RIDE ALL THE WAY TO 55 60 MILES PER HOUR. HAD TO PULL OVER AND TOW THE BIKE TO THE HARLEY DEALER. SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN 15V216000 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 150.0%ODI 10434275 · 6,136 miAPPLICATION OF FRONT BRAKE FAILED TO ACTIVATE BRAKE LIGHT. DEALER REPLACE FRONT BRAKE LEVER SWITCH. VERY DANGEROUS TO NOT HAVE WORKING BRAKE LIGHT ON A MOTORCYCLE. AND TO HAVE THIS FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR | 00.0%No 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 10470799 · 1,200 miI'VE PURCHASED A 2012 H. D. FAT BOY. AFTER 1200 MILES, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLES CONSTANTLY CONTACT AGAINST THE NACELLE AND CAUSE CABLE CHAFE AND NACELLE DAMAGE. I DID MU OWN INVESTIGATION AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS AMONG ALL SOFT TAIL MODELS. I CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY HAVE REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IF NOT FIXED COULD RESULT IN SAFETY, CAUSING THROTTLE TO LOCK AT HIGH SPEED. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Wheels | 00.0%No 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 10909957 · 9,000 miTHIS BIKE HAS 9000 MILES ON IT AND JUST HAD A REAR TIRE INSTALLED BY HARLEY 2 MONTHS AGO. 7 HOURS FROM HOME I WAS TURNING A CORNER AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED WHEN THE REAR WHEEL BEARING DISINTEGRATED AND DAMAGED THE WHEEL, THE BRAKE ROTOR AND THE CALIPER. THE FIRST MECHANIC THAT SAW IT SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE THAT BAD. $450 TO TOW TO HARLEY AND ANOTHER $536 TO GET IT TO MY HOME SHOP. MY DEALER TOLD ME THEY CAN'T GET PARTS FOR OVER A MONTH BECAUSE THE WHEEL WAS RECALLED OFF THE SHELF BY CORPORATE, BUT HE WON'T TELL ME WHY IT WAS RECALLED OR I… |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | Too few reports for a range | 9,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10909957 · 9,000 miTHIS BIKE HAS 9000 MILES ON IT AND JUST HAD A REAR TIRE INSTALLED BY HARLEY 2 MONTHS AGO. 7 HOURS FROM HOME I WAS TURNING A CORNER AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED WHEN THE REAR WHEEL BEARING DISINTEGRATED AND DAMAGED THE WHEEL, THE BRAKE ROTOR AND THE CALIPER. THE FIRST MECHANIC THAT SAW IT SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ONE THAT BAD. $450 TO TOW TO HARLEY AND ANOTHER $536 TO GET IT TO MY HOME SHOP. MY DEALER TOLD ME THEY CAN'T GET PARTS FOR OVER A MONTH BECAUSE THE WHEEL WAS RECALLED OFF THE SHELF BY CORPORATE, BUT HE WON'T TELL ME WHY IT WAS RECALLED OR I… |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 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.
2014: 2 complaints · 2016: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 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 | Wheels |
|---|---|
| Wheels | — |
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.