2018 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTKSE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

VISIBILITY

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles, including 2017-2019 FLHTCU, FLHTCUL, FLHTK ANV, FLHTKL, FLTRU, FLHTK, and 2016-2019 FLHTKSE, FLHTKSE ANV, and FLTRUSE models equipped with a Harley-Davidson Detachable Tour-Pak Luggage Conversion Kit (Part numbers 53000291, 53000291A, and 53000567). The kit did not include replacement rear red reflectors for the ones that are eliminated by installing this kit. As such, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Remedy: Harley-Davidson has notified owners, and dealers will install the replacement reflectors, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0629.

12,733 vehicles affected

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

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.

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.

177,636 vehicles affected

ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND BECAME VERY HOT AFTER SUSTAINED HIGHWAY SPEEDS (75MPH), WHEN SHIFTED DOWN TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. IN ADDITION TO THE LOSS OF POWER VEHICLE FUEL CONSUMPTION INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. DEALER FOUND ENGINE EXPERIENCED ENGINE OIL SUMPING, WHEREBY THE ENGINE OIL PUMP WAS NOT RETURNING SUFFICIENT OIL TO THE OIL TANK. EXCESS OIL WAS COLLECTING IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CRANK CASE. THIS OIL WOULD BUILD UP TO THE POINT THAT THE CRANK WOULD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE EXCESS AND CAUSE FOAMING. THE RESULTING LACK OF LUBRICATION HAS CAUSED SIGNIFICANT INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THEIR 2017 MODELS. THEY HAVE COME OUT WITH NUMEROUS DESIGN CHANGES TO THE OIL PUMP, HOWEVER, THE SUMPING HAS CONTINUED THROUGH THE 2017, 2018, AND 2019 MODEL YEARS. IN 2020 THEY HAVE NOW COME OUT WITH YET ANOTHER PUMP DESIGN WHICH THEY CONTEND WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. IN THE MEAN TIME HARLEY HAS NOT CONDUCTED A RECALL ON THE PRIOR MODELS, LEAVING THE ENTIRE 3 YEARS OF PRODUCTION OF TOURING MODELS SUBJECT TO LOSS OF POWER DURING CRITICAL PERIODS, SUCH AS ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. HARLEY RECOMMENDS THAT THE OIL PUMP BE REPLACED AT OWNER COST IF ENGINE UPGRADES ARE ADDED, BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THE PUMP AT THE COMPANY'S EXPENSE UNTIL INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE OCCURS. IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO WAIT OUT FOR THE EXPIRATION OF THE MANUFACTURERS ORIGINAL 2 YEAR WARRANTY.