60 of the
333 complaints filed about the Harley-Davidson Flhtcu
are about the engine —
18% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
The guard/spring housing locater on the rotor behind the drive sprocket developed a fatigue crack, it propagated approximately half way around the circumference before separating and then being pulled thru between the drive chain and sprocket . this caused the drive train to seize up locking up the engine and rear wheel and damaging the engine. being a motorcycle this can lead to a serious injury or death crash. fortunately for me it let go at low speed.
NHTSA complaint #11471559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON TRI GLIDE FLTR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVE BELT MALFUNCTIONED AND BECAME MISALIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE BEARINGS THAT HELD THE PIVOT SHAFT TOGETHER EXHIBITED PREMATURE EXCESSIVE WEAR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE FAULTY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BEARINGS CONTAINED FRAGMENTS OF RUBBER AND METAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000.
NHTSA complaint #11000009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU ELECTRA GLIDE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO IDLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.
NHTSA complaint #10898562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ACCELERATION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. ...UPDATED 07/13/16
NHTSA complaint #10873475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ORIGINAL COMPENSATOR SPROCKET WAS FOUND TO BE INADEQUATE BY HARLY IN 2011 AND A SE MODEL WAS REQUIRED TO REPLACE IT. AFTER THE USUAL 20 TO 30 THOUSAND MILES THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE/IS NOT COVERED IN A RECALL EVEN THOUGH A DEFECTIVE PART WAS ORIGINALLY USED.
NHTSA complaint #10821697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE RIDDING MY FLHTCU THE BIKE GOES TO "LIMP MODE" NO THROTTLE,AT MULTIPLE SPEEDS, WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING. AFTER TONES OF RESEARCHING, HOUR OF LABOR, AND A TONE OF MONEY, THE ISSUE STILL EXIST AND I AM AT BUT A LOSE. DURING RESEARCH I FOND THIS ISSUE TO BE A VERY COMMON ONE WITH MULTIPLE HD MODELS. DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY OF THE MATERIALS, PARTS, AND ENGINEERING DESIGNED USED TO CAUSE SUCH A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD, ANY WHERE ON THE ROAD. I AM REQUESTING HD TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND TO GENERATE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THEIR COSTUMERS. YOU CAN NOT HAVE A MOTORCYCLE QUIT ON YOU IN FRONT OF A TRACTOR TRAILER ON THE INTERSTATE OR ANY WHERE ON THE ROAD ALL BY ITS SELF. EXTREAMLY DANGERIOUS.
NHTSA complaint #10759798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC (FLHTCU). CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO COMPENSATOR SPROCKET ENGINE DEFECT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AT 11,900 THE ENGINE STARTER FAILED. THE DEALER FIXED THE STARTED AND RING GEAR UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPLACE THE STARTER AND CLUTCH BASKET, BUT CHARGED THE CONSUMER THE WARRANTY CLAIM FEE. AFTER THE STARTER AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER RING GEAR AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS, BUT NOT THE LABOR. THE PROBLEM RETURNED AGAIN, NOT REALIZING THE NEW PARTS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10636876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE WENT INTO IDLE MODE AND HAD NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BY WIRE TBW. CAN HAPPEN AT ANY OPERATING SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #10629530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 06/24/2014 AT 16,948 MILES WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT STOP ON MY 2010 FLHTCU, I GOT TO 30 MPH AND THE THROTTLE CUT OUT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I LIMPED THE BIKE 4 MILES HOME AND SHUT IT DOWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT RESET ON THE SECOND RESTART AND THROTTLE RESUMED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A FAULTY TWIST GRIP SENSOR. THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR AND THEY SAID IT WAS ALL SET. ON 08/15/2014 AT 18,600 MILES WHILE MERGING ONTO ROUTE 6 EAST IN BREWSTER, MA THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, THE THROTTLE CUT OUT AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. TRAFFIC HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING ME AS I PULLED OFF INTO A TWO FOOT WIDE SHOULDER. I HAD TO RIDE IN THIS NARROW SHOULDER AREA FOR FIVE MILES TO THE NEXT EXIT AT 10 MPH WITH A PASSENGER WHILE TRAFFIC RUSHED BY AT 65 MPH JUST INCHES AWAY. I GOT OFF THE NEXT EXIT AND SHUT THE BIKE DOWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THROTTLE RESET ON THE NEXT RESTART. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT CODE AND AS DIRECTED BY A FACTORY TECH TIP REPLACED A PIN IN THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HARNESS AND PACKED IT WITH DIELECTRIC GREASE. THEY CLEARED THE CODE AND SAID IT WAS ALL SET. I'M CURRENTLY RIDING THE BIKE AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER EITHER BY RECALL OR PRODUCT PROGRAM. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE AS SEEN HERE ON THE NHTSA SITE AND OTHER FORUMS. PLEASE HAVE THIS ADDRESSED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON.
NHTSA complaint #10628276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEATING AND CAUSING THE HEAT SHIELD TO FAIL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL OF THE FAILURE CAUSING SEVERE BURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,900.
NHTSA complaint #10607984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE O-RING AND THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V357000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 45,000.
NHTSA complaint #10595171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS PER SERVICE BULLETIN ; TT418-A ,ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CORROSION AND FRETTING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN DUE TO VIBRATION . THIS SITUATION IS HAZARDOUS AS THE BIKE CAN FAIL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND INTERSECTIONS . HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION SENSE 2008 . AS TO DATE THERE IS NO RECALL PLANNED.
NHTSA complaint #10584426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAVELING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THE SPEED DROPS TO 15 MPH HARLEY DAVIDSON CALLS IT LIMP MODE , SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED NOT FUN ON THE HIGHWAY. HARLEY DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.
NHTSA complaint #10515560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE CARBURETOR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THEY WOULD REPLACE THE COMPENSATOR ASSEMBLY AT HIS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #10488104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SHIFTING FLY WHEEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE SHIFTING FLY WHEEL ALSO CAUSED THE OIL PUMP TO BECOME FRACTURED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO APPROVED FACTORY REMEDIES THAT WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SO THAT THE ENGINE COULD BE DISASSEMBLED, WELDED AND TRUDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER OR A MECHANIC FOR THE REPAIR IF THE REMEDY WAS NOT APPROVED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,868.
NHTSA complaint #10485130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIDING ALONG AT 60 MPH WHEN THE BIKE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE". I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE AND MY SPEED INSTANTLY DROPPED TO 10 MPH. ONCE THE BIKE GOES INTO THIS "LIMP MODE", THE SPEED IS AUTOMATICALLY LIMITED TO 10 MPH. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO RIDE AT 10 MPH DOWN A BUSY STREET WITH MY FLASHERS ON TO PREVENT GETTING REAR ENDED BY ALL THE CARS. THIS "LIMP MODE" IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON (CHECK IT OUT ON GOOGLE OR AT HDFORUMS.COM. HARLEY IS APPARENTLY REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE WITH THE BIKES. THROTTLE BY WIRE (TBW) IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSTIC ISSUES THAT "THROW CODES" (DTC) DIAGNOSTIC TECHNICAL CODES AND CAUSE THE BIKE TO IMMEDIATELY GO INTO THIS DANGEROUS LIMP MODE. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND CREATE THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING HIT IN THE REAR END BY TRAFFIC THAT IS BEHIND YOU. IMAGINE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND HAVING YOUR MOTORCYCLE IMMEDIATELY DROP TO 10 MPH. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES ON HDFORUMS.COM AND ON THE INTERNET RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. *JS
NHTSA complaint #10455951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE RIDING AT 60MPH, THE ENGINE SLOWED THE BIKE DOWN TO 25MPH. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC WHERE A SURPRISE SLOW DOWN WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS ABLE TO RIDE THE BIKE ON THE SHOULDER AT 25MPH, AND LET TRAFFIC GO AROUND ME UNTIL THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAFELY GET OFF OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED 4 TO 5 MINUTES. I THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE RESPONDED NORMALLY, AND I RODE HOME WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS. THE LAST TIME WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS FOR ME AS I WAS IN 55MPH, ALMOST BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY TO EXIT THE ROAD WHERE I GOT OFF AND FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10448488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLS AND QUITS. NO POWER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION AND TURNING IT BACK ON, ENGINE IS OPERATIONAL AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10445798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.