Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim — NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,215,138 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports — when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report — that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints — specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened — feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 4,189 complaints for HARLEY-DAVIDSON
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2014) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 28, 2013
Incident date: Oct 27, 2013
A PUSH TO TALK BUTTON FOR THE CB COMMUNICATION SYSTEM ON ALL HARLEYS FOR WELL OVER 10 YEARS HAS BEEN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HANDLE BAR BUTTON CLUSTER FOR BIKES WITH CB AND RADIO. ON THE NEW 2014 THE BUTTON WAS SWITCHED WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON (WHICH WAS MOVED TO THE LEFT SIDE) AND MOVED TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE CONTROL CLUSTER. BECAUSE OF THIS AND THE NEED TO CONTINUALLY GRAB THE THROTTLE ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2014) — ENGINE
Oct 24, 2013
Incident date: Sep 17, 2013
HARLEY DAVIDSON MODEL FLTHK MOTORCYCLE. BOUGHT NEW MOTORCYCLE ON 9-13-13 COOLANT LEAKING AROUND THE THERMOSTAT ONTO GROUND & ON REAR TIRE ON 9-17-13 WITH 450 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER THEY REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING & HAD MOTORCYCLE UNTIL 9-26-13. RODE MOTORCYCLE & COOLANT BOTTLE OVERFLOWED IN PARKING LOT AT LOWE'S ON 9-27-13. WE TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER ON 9-29-13 FOR THE COOLANT LEAK & COOLANT GETTI... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTC
(2009) — SERVICE BRAKES
Oct 22, 2013
Incident date: Oct 22, 2013
WHILE DESCENDING A STEEP INCLINE AND ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN IN LESS THAN 100 YARDS THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN APPLIED, WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN RENDERING THE REAR BRAKE USELESS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS BROUGHT TO A SAFE STOP BY USING THE FRONT BRAKE AND DOWNSHIFTING AND WAS ABLE TO BE SAFELY RIDDEN TO A LOCAL H-D DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE REAR STOP LIGHT SWITCH HAD FAI... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2014) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Oct 18, 2013
Incident date: Sep 15, 2013
AFTER DELIVERY, I DISCOVERED WHILE PARKED THERE WAS A COOLING SYSTEM LEAK NEAR THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE (~90 MILES); IF IT WERE NOT ADDRESSED, SUCH A LEAK HAS POTENTIAL TO DEPOSIT COOLANT ON THE REAR TIRE AND COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A CRASH AND ENSUING INJURY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE LEAK, IT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RETURNED AND BECOME MORE SERIOUS (DISCOVERED AT 975 MILES). THE SELLING DEALER ADVISED ME NO... Read more
Crash
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2014) — ENGINE
Oct 18, 2013
Incident date: Sep 15, 2013
AFTER DELIVERY, I DISCOVERED WHILE PARKED THERE WAS A COOLING SYSTEM LEAK NEAR THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE (~90 MILES); IF IT WERE NOT ADDRESSED, SUCH A LEAK HAS POTENTIAL TO DEPOSIT COOLANT ON THE REAR TIRE AND COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A CRASH AND ENSUING INJURY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE LEAK, IT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RETURNED AND BECOME MORE SERIOUS (DISCOVERED AT 975 MILES). THE SELLING DEALER ADVISED ME NO... Read more
Crash
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2013) — STRUCTURE
Oct 17, 2013
Incident date: Aug 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTHTK MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND UPON ENGAGEMENT. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE OPERABLE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE A BLEEDING OF THE BRAKES WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2013) — SERVICE BRAKES
Oct 17, 2013
Incident date: Aug 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTHTK MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND UPON ENGAGEMENT. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE OPERABLE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE A BLEEDING OF THE BRAKES WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHX
(2007) — POWER TRAIN
Oct 11, 2013
Incident date: Oct 16, 2008
ALL TOURING HARLEYS FROM 07-10 WITH STOCK COMPENSATOR SPROCKETS SEEN TO FAIL AROUND 25,000 MILES AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED DO TO WEAK DIAPHRAGM SPRINGS. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2014) — ENGINE
Oct 9, 2013
Incident date: Oct 6, 2013
OCTOBER 6, 2013, AFTER RIDING 98 MILES (ODOMETER) ON A NEWLY PURCHASED MOTORCYCLE, MOTORCYCLE COOLANT WAS NOTICED ON THE GARAGE FLOORS SHORTLY AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE MOTORCYCLE (30 MIN). RIGHT LOWER FARING COVER WAS REMOVED TO INSPECT COOLANT RESERVOIR WITH NO APPARENT SIGNS OF COOLANT LEAKAGE. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR OVERFLOW TUBE APPEARED TO BE DRY, HOWEVER, THE RESERVOIR COOLANT WAS BELOW THE CO... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
VRSCDX
(2009) — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Oct 7, 2013
Incident date: Jul 20, 2012
FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE DROPS FROM FULL TO COMPLETELY EMPTY IN 5-10 MINUTES EVEN WHEN TANK IS COMPLETELY FULL. SOMETIMES NEEDLE GETS STUCK ON EMPTY, FULL OR ANY OTHER POSITION REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON TANK. AFTER MOTORCYCLE IS RESTING ON OFF POSITION FOR A WHILE, NEEDLE SEEMS TO RESET TO CORRECT MEASUREMENT UNTIL TANK IS REFUELED AND PROBLEM RECURS ALL OVER AGAIN. SITUATION APPEARS TO BE COMP... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
VRSCDX
(2009) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 7, 2013
Incident date: Jul 20, 2012
FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE DROPS FROM FULL TO COMPLETELY EMPTY IN 5-10 MINUTES EVEN WHEN TANK IS COMPLETELY FULL. SOMETIMES NEEDLE GETS STUCK ON EMPTY, FULL OR ANY OTHER POSITION REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON TANK. AFTER MOTORCYCLE IS RESTING ON OFF POSITION FOR A WHILE, NEEDLE SEEMS TO RESET TO CORRECT MEASUREMENT UNTIL TANK IS REFUELED AND PROBLEM RECURS ALL OVER AGAIN. SITUATION APPEARS TO BE COMP... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
VRSCDX
(2009) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Oct 7, 2013
Incident date: Jul 20, 2012
FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE DROPS FROM FULL TO COMPLETELY EMPTY IN 5-10 MINUTES EVEN WHEN TANK IS COMPLETELY FULL. SOMETIMES NEEDLE GETS STUCK ON EMPTY, FULL OR ANY OTHER POSITION REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON TANK. AFTER MOTORCYCLE IS RESTING ON OFF POSITION FOR A WHILE, NEEDLE SEEMS TO RESET TO CORRECT MEASUREMENT UNTIL TANK IS REFUELED AND PROBLEM RECURS ALL OVER AGAIN. SITUATION APPEARS TO BE COMP... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDLI
(2006) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 4, 2013
Incident date: Oct 4, 2013
PURCHASED 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDLI FOR MY WIFE IN 2007, WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION CYLINDER/FORK LOCK MECHANISM FOR SOME TIME. ISSUE IS THAT IT TAKES MORE EFFORT THAN REALLY NECESSARY TO OPERATE, WHETHER REMOVING THE KEY OR PLACING IN THE START POSITION. CAN NOT FEEL THE SWITCH DETENT POINTS ACCURATELY AT ALL TIMES. MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE CYLINDER REPLA... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDLI
(2006) — STEERING
Oct 4, 2013
Incident date: Oct 4, 2013
PURCHASED 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDLI FOR MY WIFE IN 2007, WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION CYLINDER/FORK LOCK MECHANISM FOR SOME TIME. ISSUE IS THAT IT TAKES MORE EFFORT THAN REALLY NECESSARY TO OPERATE, WHETHER REMOVING THE KEY OR PLACING IN THE START POSITION. CAN NOT FEEL THE SWITCH DETENT POINTS ACCURATELY AT ALL TIMES. MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE CYLINDER REPLA... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDLI
(2006) — STRUCTURE:BODY
Oct 4, 2013
Incident date: Oct 4, 2013
PURCHASED 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDLI FOR MY WIFE IN 2007, WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION CYLINDER/FORK LOCK MECHANISM FOR SOME TIME. ISSUE IS THAT IT TAKES MORE EFFORT THAN REALLY NECESSARY TO OPERATE, WHETHER REMOVING THE KEY OR PLACING IN THE START POSITION. CAN NOT FEEL THE SWITCH DETENT POINTS ACCURATELY AT ALL TIMES. MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE CYLINDER REPLA... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDLI
(2006) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Oct 4, 2013
Incident date: Oct 4, 2013
PURCHASED 2006 FXDLI IN 2007 FOR MY WIFE, WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING. NO WARNING, NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATION DURING OCCURRENCE (HENCE NO TROUBLE CODE STORED). SPEEDO FAILS INTERMITTENT, CYCLE HOT OR COLD, WHILE DRIVING OR FROM STOP. MOTORCYCLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TACHOMETER AS WELL, IT CONTINUES TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. WHEN SPEEDO FAILS, MOTORCYCLE RUNS ROUGH A... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDLI
(2006) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 4, 2013
Incident date: Oct 4, 2013
PURCHASED 2006 FXDLI IN 2007 FOR MY WIFE, WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER STOPS WORKING. NO WARNING, NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATION DURING OCCURRENCE (HENCE NO TROUBLE CODE STORED). SPEEDO FAILS INTERMITTENT, CYCLE HOT OR COLD, WHILE DRIVING OR FROM STOP. MOTORCYCLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TACHOMETER AS WELL, IT CONTINUES TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. WHEN SPEEDO FAILS, MOTORCYCLE RUNS ROUGH A... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2014) — ENGINE
Oct 3, 2013
Incident date: Sep 7, 2013
THIS IS A BRAND NEW 2014 HD FLHTK LIMITED. NEW WITH THIS MODEL YEAR, HARLEY-DAVIDSON INTRODUCED THEIR NEW TWIN-COOLED TECHNOLOGY. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A COOLANT SYSTEM, WHEREBY THE EXHAUST PORTS INSIDE EACH OF THE TWO ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS ARE COOL WITH ANTIFREEZE. AFTER RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. COOLANT LIQUID (ANTIFREEZE) BEGAN... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2010) — WHEELS
Oct 2, 2013
Incident date: Sep 15, 2013
FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. (MISSING BALLS - LOSS OF CONTROL). *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCU
(2008) — TIRES
Oct 1, 2013
Incident date: Sep 19, 2013
THE INSIDE OF TIRE CAME APART. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2010) — WHEELS
Sep 30, 2013
Incident date: Sep 23, 2013
FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS PREMATURELY FAILING. MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING FAILURES ON THESE BEARINGS WITH LESS THAN 2000 MILES. I HAVE REPORTED MY COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY TO HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE LOGGED AGAINST MY VIN. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT REPLACING WHEEL BEARINGS AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE FAILURE. THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURED FOR TOU... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTCI
(2004) — WHEELS
Sep 23, 2013
Incident date: Sep 14, 2013
WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I HEARD A STRANGE SOUND AND LOSS OF POWER SO PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY TO CHECK IT OUT. WHEN I PULLED OVER, COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG SO ATTEMPTED TO GO AGAIN AND THE BIKE WOULD NOT GO ANYWHERE. HAD IT TOWED TO THE HOUSE AND THE NEXT DAY I FOUND THAT ALL 5 OF THE CHROME BOLTS ON THE REAR DRIVE BELT PULLEY HAVE ALL SHEARED. CALLED THE HARLEY DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THE... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUTG
(2013) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Sep 20, 2013
Incident date: Sep 20, 2013
EXTREME HEAT COMING FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH RUNS VERY CLOSE TO MY RIGHT LEG. NOT TOO NOTICEABLE WHILE RIDING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS BUT WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS IT BECOMES UNBEARABLE. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER ABOUT IT THEY SAID ITS NORMAL AND THIS IS THE WAY THEY RUN, BUT... I COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IF I SPEND OVER $2000.00 TO CHANGE OVER THE EXHAUST TO TAKE OUT THE CATALYTIC ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUTG
(2013) — ENGINE
Sep 20, 2013
Incident date: Aug 30, 2013
WHILE RIDING USUALLY ON BUMPY STREETS I WOULD HEAR A FUNNY SQUEAKING. AFTER STOPPING AT MY DESTINATION I FOUND THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE STABILIZER TO THE CYLINDER HEAD WERE LOOSE. AFTER TIGHTENING THEM FOR ABOUT 5 TIME I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE HOLES IN THE HEAD ARE STRIPPED AND THEY WILL REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. WELL 2 WEEKS LATER THE SOUND WAS BACK AND B... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUI
(2005) — ENGINE
Sep 18, 2013
Incident date: Sep 18, 2013
HARLEY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO UPGRADE THE CAM TENSIONER ON THE TWIN CAM 88 MOTOR FROM 1991-1996. THEY HAVE A TENDENCEY TO "EXPLODE" AFTER 20-25K MILES. $500 FOR THE PART #25284-11, $500-$1000 FOR LABOR. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE SERVICE MANUALS FOR CHECKING THIS PART. TO REPLACE IT REQUIRES A COMPLETE MOTOR TEAR DOWN. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR A MOTOR PART NOT TO LAST OVER 20K MILES.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHX
(2009) — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Sep 17, 2013
Incident date: Sep 16, 2013
ACCELERATING FROM A STOP UP TO SPEED WHEN LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE, ENGINE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 1500-2000 RPM. WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT BIKE DOWN AND WAITED A MINUTE AND RESTARTED IT. IT STARTED UP AND RAN AS NORMAL. TALKED TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY SEEMED VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE AND SAID TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME A COST TO F... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHX
(2009) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 17, 2013
Incident date: Sep 16, 2013
ACCELERATING FROM A STOP UP TO SPEED WHEN LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE, ENGINE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 1500-2000 RPM. WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT BIKE DOWN AND WAITED A MINUTE AND RESTARTED IT. IT STARTED UP AND RAN AS NORMAL. TALKED TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY SEEMED VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE AND SAID TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME A COST TO F... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXSTB
(2008) — POWER TRAIN
Sep 13, 2013
Incident date: Sep 2, 2013
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 1835 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER I NOTICED AN AUDIBLE "CLUNK" WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE. I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM ONLINE AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST HARLEY DAVIDSONS WITH THE 96 CID ENGINE. THE SOUND IS THE MECHANICS WITHIN THE ENGINE INTERLOCKING VIOLENTLY WHICH CAN RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBL... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDL
(2008) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Sep 13, 2013
Incident date: Sep 14, 2011
APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, GEARING DOWN TO STOP, THE IDLE CONTINUED ABOVE 3000RPM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE BIKE STARTED EATING THE BATTERY. NOW, WHEN IT HAPPENS, I KNOW TO GET IT HOME TO THE BATTERY TENDER ASAP. THREE TIMES THE HD MECHANICS CHARGE THE BATTERY AND THEN, "CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG". I HAD TO FIRE OLD GLORY HD IN LAUREL, MD. LOOKING FOR A REAL MECHANIC HERE IN FLORIDA. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDL
(2008) — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Sep 13, 2013
Incident date: Sep 14, 2011
APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, GEARING DOWN TO STOP, THE IDLE CONTINUED ABOVE 3000RPM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE BIKE STARTED EATING THE BATTERY. NOW, WHEN IT HAPPENS, I KNOW TO GET IT HOME TO THE BATTERY TENDER ASAP. THREE TIMES THE HD MECHANICS CHARGE THE BATTERY AND THEN, "CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG". I HAD TO FIRE OLD GLORY HD IN LAUREL, MD. LOOKING FOR A REAL MECHANIC HERE IN FLORIDA. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTRU
(2011) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 12, 2013
Incident date: Jul 25, 2012
THROTTLE BY WIRE (TBW) SAFETY . I PURCHASED THE BIKE IN JUNE OF 2012. THE FIRST ISSUE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE BIKE. TO DATE I HAVE HAD 7 INCIDENCES WITH THE TBW, EITHER GOING FULL THROTTLE OR NO THROTTLE. HAVE HAD THE BIKE BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS. AT THE MOMENT I DON' ??T THINK I CAN SAFELY RIDE THE ROAD GLIDE. WILL IT RESPOND THE WAY I WANT IT... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTRU
(2011) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Sep 12, 2013
Incident date: Jul 25, 2012
THROTTLE BY WIRE (TBW) SAFETY . I PURCHASED THE BIKE IN JUNE OF 2012. THE FIRST ISSUE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE BIKE. TO DATE I HAVE HAD 7 INCIDENCES WITH THE TBW, EITHER GOING FULL THROTTLE OR NO THROTTLE. HAVE HAD THE BIKE BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS. AT THE MOMENT I DON' ??T THINK I CAN SAFELY RIDE THE ROAD GLIDE. WILL IT RESPOND THE WAY I WANT IT... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2014) — WHEELS
Sep 11, 2013
Incident date: Sep 1, 2013
NEW ENGINE OVERHEATING DUMPING COOLANT OUT OF OVERFLOW TUBE UNDERNEATH MOTORCYCLE AND ON TO REAR TIRE CREATING A SAFETY RISK. FOUR OVERHEATING INCIDENTS WITHIN THE FIRST 400 MILES OF ENGINE LIFE. ENGINE BREAK IN WITH MALFUNCTIONING COOLING SYSTEM CREATING EXCESSIVE ENGINE HEAT AND RISK OF IMPROPER BREAK IN OR ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2014) — ENGINE
Sep 11, 2013
Incident date: Sep 1, 2013
NEW ENGINE OVERHEATING DUMPING COOLANT OUT OF OVERFLOW TUBE UNDERNEATH MOTORCYCLE AND ON TO REAR TIRE CREATING A SAFETY RISK. FOUR OVERHEATING INCIDENTS WITHIN THE FIRST 400 MILES OF ENGINE LIFE. ENGINE BREAK IN WITH MALFUNCTIONING COOLING SYSTEM CREATING EXCESSIVE ENGINE HEAT AND RISK OF IMPROPER BREAK IN OR ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2014) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Sep 10, 2013
Incident date: Aug 31, 2013
I EXPERIENCED COOLANT LEAKAGE AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALERSHIP SPENT A FEW DAYS TESTING AND MAKING THE REPAIR. AT APPROX.. 300 MILES IT DID IT AGAIN. COOLANT IS VERY SLIPPERY, IF COOLANT GETS ON A MOTORCYCLES TIRES IT WOULD BE ALL BAD. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING, HARLEY IS HAVING ISSUES WITH COOLANT LEAKS ON SELECTED NEW BIKES. THIS IS A WHOLE NEW DESIGN FOR HARLEY DAVIDSON, USED ON 3 201... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2014) — POWER TRAIN
Sep 10, 2013
Incident date: Aug 31, 2013
I EXPERIENCED COOLANT LEAKAGE AFTER COMING TO A STOP. THE DEALERSHIP SPENT A FEW DAYS TESTING AND MAKING THE REPAIR. AT APPROX.. 300 MILES IT DID IT AGAIN. COOLANT IS VERY SLIPPERY, IF COOLANT GETS ON A MOTORCYCLES TIRES IT WOULD BE ALL BAD. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING, HARLEY IS HAVING ISSUES WITH COOLANT LEAKS ON SELECTED NEW BIKES. THIS IS A WHOLE NEW DESIGN FOR HARLEY DAVIDSON, USED ON 3 201... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTN
(2012) — WHEELS
Sep 9, 2013
Incident date: Oct 15, 2012
2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLSTN WITH ONLY 2,000 MILES. WIRE WHEEL SPOKES WORKED LOOSE. WHEEL WOBBLED. MY HARLEY WAS UNCONTROLLABLE AND NOT SAFE TO RIDE. I HAD THE SPOKES TIGHTENED UP BY THE HARLEY DEALER, BUT AT ABOUT 5,000 MILES SPOKES CAME LOOSE AGAIN. SAME THING HAPPENED AROUND 10,000. MY HARLEY IS NOT SAFE TO RIDE AND THE HARLEY DEALERS ARE NOT WILLING TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM OR FIX OR REPLAC... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHX
(2009) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Sep 7, 2013
Incident date: Sep 6, 2013
WHILE RIDING DOWN THE I 65 SOUTH, I ATTEMPTED TO PASS A 18 WHEELER ON THE LEFT. AS I DID I NOTICED THE CAR IN FRONT SWERVE INTO MY LANE AND I TRIED TO THROTTLE TO GET OVER AND I LOST POWER NEARLY SLAMMING INTO THE OTHER CAR. YESTERDAY AS I PULLED OUT TO MERGE ONTO THE HIWAY I AGAIN LOST THROTTLE(POWER) AND HAD TO SWEARVE TO AVOID BEING HIT BY ON COMING TRAFFIC.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUSE
(2013) — WHEELS
Sep 7, 2013
Incident date: May 25, 2013
THIS MOTORCYCLE IS UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS IN THE TIRE OR THE WHEEL BUT MY DEALER HAS TRIED OTHER FIXES, ALL TO NO AVAIL. FIXES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE NECK BEARINGS, SWINGARM, ETC. THE FRONT END DOES NOT HUG THE ROAD AND ALWAYS FEELS LIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN THERE IS NO TRAFFIC IT STILL FEELS AND HANDLES THE SAME WAY. OCCASIONALLY THE FRONT END WILL "DANCE" WITHOUT W... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUSE
(2013) — SUSPENSION
Sep 7, 2013
Incident date: May 25, 2013
THIS MOTORCYCLE IS UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS IN THE TIRE OR THE WHEEL BUT MY DEALER HAS TRIED OTHER FIXES, ALL TO NO AVAIL. FIXES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE NECK BEARINGS, SWINGARM, ETC. THE FRONT END DOES NOT HUG THE ROAD AND ALWAYS FEELS LIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN THERE IS NO TRAFFIC IT STILL FEELS AND HANDLES THE SAME WAY. OCCASIONALLY THE FRONT END WILL "DANCE" WITHOUT W... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUSE
(2013) — STEERING
Sep 7, 2013
Incident date: May 25, 2013
THIS MOTORCYCLE IS UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS IN THE TIRE OR THE WHEEL BUT MY DEALER HAS TRIED OTHER FIXES, ALL TO NO AVAIL. FIXES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE NECK BEARINGS, SWINGARM, ETC. THE FRONT END DOES NOT HUG THE ROAD AND ALWAYS FEELS LIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN THERE IS NO TRAFFIC IT STILL FEELS AND HANDLES THE SAME WAY. OCCASIONALLY THE FRONT END WILL "DANCE" WITHOUT W... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2011) — WHEELS
Sep 6, 2013
Incident date: Aug 31, 2013
THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS STARTED MAKING METAL TO METAL NOISES OFF AND ON WHILE THE HANDLE BARS WOULD VIBRATE. IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON CHANGED TO A SMALLER WHEEL BEARING AND THEY COME FROM SOUTH KOREA AND DELHI, INDIA. THERE IS NO SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON THIS EVER AND THEY SHOULD NOT GO BAD AT 11,000 MILES. THE BEARINGS RUINED THE WHEEL AND WILL COST $550 TO REPLACE IT ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCU
(2010) — WHEELS
Sep 4, 2013
Incident date: Jun 12, 2013
RIDING IN NEBRASKA ON I-80 WESTBOUND, VEHICLE WENT INTO AN ALMOST UNCORRECTABLE FRONT WHEEL WOBBLE, AFTER GAINING CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE I WAS ABLE TO GET ONTO ROAD SHOULDER AND FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAD "DISINTEGRATED", NO BALL BEARINGS WERE VISIBLE AND THE SEAL WAS MISSING. THIS INCIDENT WAS VERY UNNERVING. THE H-D DEALER IN GRAND ISLAND, NE WAS ABLE TO FIX THE BEARING IN QUES... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCU
(2010) — SUSPENSION
Sep 4, 2013
Incident date: Jun 12, 2013
RIDING IN NEBRASKA ON I-80 WESTBOUND, VEHICLE WENT INTO AN ALMOST UNCORRECTABLE FRONT WHEEL WOBBLE, AFTER GAINING CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE I WAS ABLE TO GET ONTO ROAD SHOULDER AND FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAD "DISINTEGRATED", NO BALL BEARINGS WERE VISIBLE AND THE SEAL WAS MISSING. THIS INCIDENT WAS VERY UNNERVING. THE H-D DEALER IN GRAND ISLAND, NE WAS ABLE TO FIX THE BEARING IN QUES... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUTG
(2013) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
Sep 4, 2013
Incident date: Sep 30, 2012
HARLEY DAVIDSON TRIKE RIGHT SIDE MANIFOLD PRODUCES EXTREME HEAT. WILL CAUSE BURNS AND HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY, IT IS AN AVERAGE OF $2,000 TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. MUST REPLACE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, EXHAUST PIPES, AIR CLEANER AND RE PROGRAM TO BRING THE HEAT LEVEL DOWN A NORMAL LEVEL.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTR
(2009) — STEERING
Sep 4, 2013
Incident date: Oct 8, 2012
THE HANDLE BARS GO INTO A TERRIBLE WOBBLE. I HAVE A BAD WOBBLE AT 40- 45 MPH AND HARLEY KNOWS ABOUT THIS AS THEY PUT A BULLETIN OUT TO SERVICE DEPARTMENTS # M-1246. BUT THINK THE CONSUMER NEEDS TO JUST SUCK IT UP . *JB
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCU103
(2012) — WHEELS
Sep 3, 2013
Incident date: Sep 3, 2013
WHILE TAKING MY HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR A RIDE, ABOUT 30 MILES INTO THE RIDE, I NOTICED ABNORMAL SOUNDS COMING FROM MY FRONT WHEEL AREA. IT SOUNDED AS IF I HIT A ROCK, OR THAT MY TIRE WAS GOING FLAT. I SLOWED DOWN AND AS I PULLING INTO A GAS STATION, I COULD HEAR MORE NOISES AND FEEL VIBRATIONS. IT SOUNDED LIKE WORN BRAKE PADS. I PARKED THE BIKE AND GOT OFF TO INSPECT THE FRONT END. I NOTICED THAT THE... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
VRSCDX
(2011) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Sep 2, 2013
Incident date: Aug 3, 2013
THE SPEEDOMETER BOUNCES AND DOES NOT GIVE AN ACCURATE READ OUT. I WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL BY HARLEY DAVIDSON IN BELLMORE, NY. I HAVE ASKED ABOUT IT NUMEROUS TIMES AND NOW MY WARRANTY IS OUT SO IT WILL NOT BE COVERED. *JS
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTRU
(2013) — STEERING
Aug 30, 2013
Incident date: Aug 30, 2013
DURING RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT SPEED RANGING FROM 40-75 MPH, ANY DECELERATION OF THE THROTTLE CAUSES WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END STEERING. THIS MOTORCYCLE IS 61 DAYS REGISTERED AND HAS 4,700 MILES DRIVEN. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER BECAUSE IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION REQUIRING STRENGTH TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT AND LEVEL RIDING DURING THE WOBBLE. THE DEALER FOUND THE STEERING STEM NUT LOOSE AND REQUIR... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHR
(2008) — FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Aug 28, 2013
Incident date: Aug 19, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING FLHR MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.