2016 Harley-Davidson FXDB: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
1,001 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 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.
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.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Power Train: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 |
2019: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting 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 11165928 · 2019-01-08 (January 8, 2019)
FACTORY INSTALLED WRONG BEARING ON SECOND GEAR IN TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED AT 6485 MILES. FAILURE SENT METAL DEBRIS THROUGH TRANSMISSION CAUSING SUBSTANSTIAL DAMAGE, AND POTENTIAL DANGER TO OPERATOR. VEHICLCLE WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. DAMAGED TRANSMISSION WAS DISASSEMBLED BY A PROFESSIONAL, DUE TO MANUFACTURER STATING THERE WAS NO WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION, PHOTOS, AND VIDEO PRIOR TO COMPLETE DISASSEMBLY IS AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 11165928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11229282 · 2019-07-03 (July 3, 2019)
ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, TURNING,
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11229282 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
2 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 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2012 | 2013 | 2015 | 2016 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tires | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 250.0%ODI 10421452 · 20,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA SERIES LOW RIDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR TIRE IS A DUNLOP K591 160/70V-17. THE CONTACT NOTICED IN EARLY JUNE 2011 A SPLIT IN THE CENTER RAIN GROVE. ON AUG. 19, 2011 FOUND ADDITIONAL CRACKS IN THE TIRE IN THESE CENTER RAIN GROVES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MOTORCYCLE SHOP WHO STATED THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE SPLITTING WAS ABNORMAL. THIS MOTORCYCLE SHOP SUGGESTED IT BE TAKEN TO KENTS HARLEY DAVIDSON WHERE EFFORT TO CONTACT ?DUNLOP MOTORCYCLE TIRE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMEN… | 317.6%ODI 10274692 · 3,000 miDUNLOP D407 TIRE (FRONT) FOR THE HARLEY DAVIDSON 2009 FL TOURING MODELS INSTALLED ON MY2009 SCREAMING EGALE FLTRSE3 THE BOLD ANGLED LATERAL GROOVES EXHIBIT ABNORMAL WEAR AND UNEVEN TIRE TREAD CUPPING. VIBRATION DURING CORNERING AND LANE CHANGES, THE UNEVENLY WORN AREAS ARE NEARLY WORN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LATERAL GROVES ON THE LEADING EDGE AND THE OTHER SIDE IS CUPPED. THE CENTER OF THE TREAD APPEARS TO BE NORMAL. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED AND REPORTED TO A HARLEY DAVIDSON CALIFORNIA DEALER TWICE ONCE AT 3000 MILES AND 4100 MILES OF WEAR. NOW A… | 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. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 317.6%ODI 10281390 · 1,200 miSEVERAL TIMES I CAME VERY VERY CLOSE TO REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE.THE REAR BRAKING POWER OF THE REAR BRAKES IS FAR BELOW ADEQUATE THE REAR BRAKES WON'T EVEN LOCK UP IF PEDDLE IS STOOD ON WITH ALL ONE'S WEIGHT. THE REAR ROTOR WAS REPLACED ON ONE SIDE OF THE HARLEY DAVIDSON TRIKE ONLY WITH THE SAME RESULTS, NO BRAKING POWER. APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM RELAYS IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM ITSELF. 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG TRI GLIDE TRIKE (NEW MODEL). *TR | 1100.0%ODI 10324738 · 500 miAT UNDER 500 MILES FOUND REAR BRAKE CALIPER MOUNTING BRACKET GRINDING ON INSIDE FACE OF ROTOR. REPLACED ROTOR, CALIPER,BRACKET AT APROX. 1,100 MILES PROBLEM REACURED.. *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. |
| Suspension | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10333997 · 300 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET BOB FXDB MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE LEFT. THE FRONT TIRE FORK APPEARED TO BE TITLED A QUARTER INCH TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD TO LEAN THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING AN ASSESSMENT OF A POSSIBLE REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND THE CONTACT DISAGREED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,300.… | 15.9%ODI 102773872009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX (STREETGLIDE) RIDES EXCESSIVELY HARD. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE REAR AIR SHOCKS ARE NOT WORKING. AIR PRESSURE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED FROM MINIMUM TO MAXIMUM PRESSURES WITH LITTLE TO NO CHANGE IN RIDE QUALITY. THE IMPLICATION IS...AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS EVEN HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD THE BIKE TENDS TO GO AIRBORN. THE SUSPENSION IS SO UNYIELDING IT'S CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. I TEST RODE A YAMAHA ALONG THE SAME ROUTE AS THE HARLEY . THE DIFFERENCE WAS REMARKABLE. THE YAHAMA ABSORBED THE BUMPS AND UN… | 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 11319555 · 10,605 miTHE BIKE WAS OPERATING NORMAL AFTER AWHILE IT STARTED TO SHAKE AT ABOUT 65 MPH. AFTER ABOUT 20 MIN IT SEEMED LIKE THE TIRE WAS LOOSE. NOW IT SHAKES SO BAD I CANT DRIVE IT. CORNERS ARE HARD TO KEEP CONTROL UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. IT WILL SHAKE WHEN YOU ACCELERATE AND IT WOBBLES WHEN YOU DECELERATE. I HAVE A FEELING IT COULD BE A MOTOR MOUNT. AT A LITTLE OVER 10 THOUSAND MILES YOU WOULD ASSUME THAT WOULDN'T HAPPEN. THE BIKE SEEMS TO HAVE LOST SOMETHING I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING MISSING AND NOTHING SEEMS LOOSE. I DROVE IT ABOUT 60 OR SO MORE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 211.8%ODI 10290397 · 2,800 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON SCREAMING EAGLE ROAD GLIDE FLTRSE3. HE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AFTER EXITING A PARKING SPACE, BUT THE ENGINE MISFIRED. HE LOST VEHICLE CONTROL, AND THEN CRASHED ONTO THE ROADWAY. THERE WERE PERSONAL INJURIES INCLUDING FRACTURES TO THE LEFT ANKLE AND RIBS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE HEAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000. | 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. |
| Power Train:Driveline | 133.3%ODI 10386382 · 5,876 miREAR WHEEL LOCKED UP WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. MOTORCYCLE STALLED AND I COULD NOT GET IT TO MOVE FORWARD. THOUGHT BRAKE WAS STUCK, BUT AFTER VISUAL INSPECTION NOTICED ALL THE BOLTS (5) IN THE REAR SPROCKET HAD SHEARED OFF. IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THE BOLTS BACKED OUT OF THE WHEEL HUB, BECAUSE PART OF THE BOLTS REMAINED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE THREADED PORTION OF THE HUB. AFTER REMOVING THE WHEEL AND INSPECTING THE DAMAGE IT APPEARS THAT THE STAINLESS BOLTS, ALUMINUM HUB AND LOOSE FITTING HOLES IN THE SPROCKET ALL PLAYED A ROLE … | 125.0%ODI 10245051 · 5,000 miI PURCHASED A HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET BOB IN JULY. THE DAY I BOUGHT THIS MOTORCYCLE I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT ON TO THE SERVICE ROAD AND THE FRONT WHEEL STARTED WOBBLING REAL BAD. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE FRONT END AND I WENT ON MY WAY WITH THE NEW BIKE. THIS WAS NEVER LOGGED INTO THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS OUT OF THE FRONT END. A MONTH LATER THE REAR TIRE WENT FLAT AS I WAS RIDING. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO AIR IT UP AND IT WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE VALVE STEM. THE DEALERS… | 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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes | 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 10883874DEAR SIRS, JULY 10, 2016 I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET A FIX FOR POOR BRAKING ON MY 2013 HARLEY DYNA WITH ABS SINCE ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER BUYING IT NEW FROM SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA HARLEY. IN THE BEGINNING I EVEN THOUGHT IT WAS ME, BUT AFTER LETTING A FRIEND TRY THE BIKE , HE CONFIRMED THE VERY POOR BRAKING. HOW COULD THIS HAVE PASSED GOVERNMENTS TEST FOR BRAKING DISTANCE. I LOVE THE ABS AND WOULD NOT OWN A BIKE WITHOUT IT,( LIKE A CAR) BUT HATE THAT IT SO POOR IN STOPPING DISTANCE. BECAUSE I HAD A PREVIOUS HARLEY WITH DUAL FRONT DISCS WHICH H… | 150.0%ODI 10966630 · 8,000 miI WAS DRIVING ON CITY STREETS COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT. I GENTLY GRABBED THE FRONT BRAKE TO START MY STOP WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP. THE BOLT THAT CONNECTS THE BRAKE LINE TO THE MASTER CYLINDER CAME LOOSE AND BRAKE FLUID SPRAYED ALL OVER. AS OF THAT MOMENT, I HAD NO MORE USE OF MY FRONT BREAK AND BECAUSE THE FLUID SPRAYED ALL OVER IT GOT ON THE RIGHT FOOTPEG AND REAR BRAKE PEDAL. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE PEG AND UTILIZE THE REAR BREAK. WHEN I GOT HOME AND WAS ABLE TO INSPECT THE ISSUE CLOSER I FOUND THAT THE THREADS IN THE MASTER… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Body | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 15.9%ODI 10554654 · 13,500 miI ACTUALLY HAVE A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SUPER GLIDE CUSTOM (FXDC) WITH A HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET BOB (FXDB) REAR FENDER ASSEMBLY. THE REAR FENDER WAS INSTALLED IN 2011 BY A HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP IN DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA. SINCE I HAD THE REAR FENDER INSTALLED, I HAVE PUT APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE. ON NOVEMBER 16, 2013, I WAS WASHING THE MOTORCYCLE AND NOTICES A SPLIT IN THE REAR FENDER AT THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY, STARTING AT THE REAR BOTTOM AND RUNNING UP THE BACK OF THE FENDER, TO THE RIGHT AND PARALLEL TO THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. IN… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11384055 · 13,000 miHARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA STREET BOB MODEL YEARS 2011 AND 2012 HAS A CHROME TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY THAT STICKS UP OFF OF REAR FENDER. THE BRACKET ON THE UNDERSIDE SUPPORTING THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY IS JUST ABOUT THE SAME WIDTH AS THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY ITSELF. WHEN IN MOTION AND WITH THE ASSOCIATED VIBRATION, THE REAR FENDER CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND RIGHT ALONG THE SUPPORTING BRACKET. FURTHER MOTION AND VIBRATION ACCENTUATES THE CRACKING. IF GONE UNNOTICED, COULD LEAD TO TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FALLING INTO REAR WHEEL CAUSING S… | 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. | 15.9%ODI 10342320 · 15,000 miTHE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVISON ROAD GLIDE MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 55-65 MPH THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A LIMP HOME MODE. HE STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE MORE THAN 200 RMPS. HE STATED THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. HE STATED THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. HE STATED THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE ON THE OTHER OCASSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AT THE TIME ON THE COMPLAINT AND HE STATED THEY WERE REPLACING THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,0… | 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 11229282 · 2,000 miACCELERATES ON ITS OWN REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, TURNING, |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | Too few reports for a range | 2 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11165928 · 2 miFACTORY INSTALLED WRONG BEARING ON SECOND GEAR IN TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FAILURE OCCURRED AT 6485 MILES. FAILURE SENT METAL DEBRIS THROUGH TRANSMISSION CAUSING SUBSTANSTIAL DAMAGE, AND POTENTIAL DANGER TO OPERATOR. VEHICLCLE WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. DAMAGED TRANSMISSION WAS DISASSEMBLED BY A PROFESSIONAL, DUE TO MANUFACTURER STATING THERE WAS NO WARRANTY. TRANSMISSION, PHOTOS, AND VIDEO PRIOR TO COMPLETE DISASSEMBLY IS AVAILABLE. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | Too few reports for a range | 2,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11229282 · 2,000 miACCELERATES ON ITS OWN REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, TURNING, |
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 | 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 (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.
2015: 1 complaints · 2016: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 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 | Power Train | Vehicle Speed Control |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | — | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.