47 of the 128 complaints filed about the Harley-Davidson Flhtcui are about the electrical system — 37% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.
47
Complaints
37%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I I WAS ON THE FWY AND POWER WENT OFF , WAS ABLE TO RESTART , NOE AT HOME I CAN START THE BIKE BUT POWER SHUTS DOWN WITH IN A COUPLE MINUTES , CAN'T RIDE HAVE CHECKED STATOR,VALTAGE REG IS NEW ? CAN'T FIND THE PROBLUM HEPL
NHTSA complaint #11387329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INCORRECT MILEAGE ON MOTORCYCLE. *LD
NHTSA complaint #11174173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA FLHTCUI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND FLIPPED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS PLACED IN A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA DUE TO THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND LATER DEEMED DESTROYED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PRIOR TO THE FAILURE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE SPECIFICS OF THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V134000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS INCLUDED AND THE RECALL WAS INCOMPLETE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
NHTSA complaint #10935471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BIKE SHUTS DOWN NO POWER NO LIGHTS EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN
NHTSA complaint #10862409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE MOTORCYCLE REVED UP TO 4500 RPM WILE AT AN IDLE AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO PROPER IDLE.
NHTSA complaint #10650777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC FLHTCUI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V134000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.
NHTSA complaint #10604620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
QUIT WHILE RIDING, TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. FORCED TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD WHILE DEALING WITH TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. EVENT HAS HAPPENED ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. RECALL #0113 WAS ISSUED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON ON APRIL 15, 2004. RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE. IN ADDITION THE CIRCUIT BREAKER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE SINCE THE RECALL. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER CONDITION CONTINUES AND HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING. JUST HAPPENED AGAIN FRIDAY JULY 12, 2012. CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROX. 19,000.
NHTSA complaint #10465706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UNEXPECTED COMPLETE SHUT-DOWN OF ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. USUALLY HAPPENS AT SLOW SPEEDS, IN FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD GEAR. HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. ONCE A MONTH THEN ONCE A WEEK, NOW ALMOST EVERY DAY. HAVE REPLACED FORK KEYED LOCK ELECTRICAL SWITCH ONCE IN PAST YEAR. HAVE ALSO BEEN EXPERIENCING MOMENTARY ENGINE HESITATIONS AS IF IGNITION WERE INTERRUPTED FOR A MOMENT. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME BUT NOT AT ANY REGULAR INTERVALS.
NHTSA complaint #10410164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
TL*. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING HE EXPERIENCES UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS CONDITION CAUSES THE MOTORCYCLE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. IN 2004 HE HAD HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL# 04V134000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS). AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE RESURFACED.HE HE SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER, IN WHICH A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,856. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
NHTSA complaint #10282735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALTERNATOR ON 2000 MODEL HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES WERE KNOWINGLY INSTALLED (SEE HARLEY DAVIDSON SERVICE BULLETIN M-1111 DATED FBE.16,2001)ON THIS YEAR MOTORCYCLE WITH A MISMATCHED STATOR/ROTOR COMBINATION. IN DOING SO THE STATOR BEING UNDERSIZED FAILS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. MINE FAILED ON ME. I , SINCE HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY DID NOT PERFORM A RECALL TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALL PERSONS OWNING THIS YEAR MOTORCYCLE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE STATORS AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. A VERY EXPENSIVE LABOR EXPENSE FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE MOTORCYCLES. TO MAKE THE SITUATION EVEN MORE DANGEROUS TO OPERATORS OF THESE MOTORCYCLES HARLEY DAVIDSON DID ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE 40AMP MAIN BREAKER TO BE REPLACE WITH A 50AMP MAIN BREAKER. THIS ONLY INSURED THAT THE 38 AMP STATOR WOULD FAIL. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP I USE THAT MY MOTORCYCLE HAD THE 40 AMP BREAKER REPLACE WITH THE 50AMP BREAKER DUE TO THIS RECALL BUT THAT MY MOTORCYCLE STILL HAD THE "38AMP STATOR AND THE 45AMP ROTOR". A DANGEROUS COMBINATION. LET ME EXPLAIN THE DANGER. WHEN YOUR STATOR FAILS A VERY SMALL RED LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE TO WARN THE OPERATOR OF A PROBLEM. YOU DO NOT KNOW THE PROBLEM AND THE MOTORCYCLE WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE OFF THE BATTERY. YOU PROBABLY,IN DAYLIGHT HOURS WILL NEVER EVEN NOTICE THIS WARNING LIGHT ANYWAY. (AS I DID NOT). THE MOTORCYCLE WILL OPERATE NORMALLY AS THE BATTERY CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER. WHEN THE BATTERY FINALLY FALLS BELOW THE THRESHOLD OPERATING VOLTAGE OF THE ELECTRONICS FOR THE MOTORCYCLE THE ENGINE WILL BEGIN TO BACKFIRE AND THE OPERATOR WILL ,OUT OF INSTINCT, PULL THE CLUTCH IN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE ENGINE WILL DIE IMMEDIATELY. THIS CAN BE A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. (ALMOST FOR ME). THERE MAY HAVE BEEN PERSONS THAT HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED AND NOBODY EVEN REALIZED THIS WAS THE CAUSE. I CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED.
NHTSA complaint #10275789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MOTORCYCLE QUITS WHILE RIDING. CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED IN JUNE, 2008. ON A RIDE WITH THE MOTORCYCLE ON 6/20/2008. THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL POWER, ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL, WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC. RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC SINCE BRAKE LIGHTS AND EMERGENCY SIGNALS DO NOT FUNCTION WITHOUT ELECTRICAL POWER. GOT TO SIDE OF ROAD AND AFTER A MINUTE OR TWO, THE POWER IS RESTORED. THIS HAPPENED TWICE ON THE SAME DAY AND IS VERY DISCONCERTING. THE DEALER HAS NO REMEDY, OTHER THAN TO HAVE ME LEAVE THE VEHICLE FOR LABOR INTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS AT MY EXPENSE. PLEASE ADVISE. REPLACEMENT OF THE MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10231866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE SPEED, ENGINE IDLE CONTROL DEGRADES. PROBLEM SEEM TO BE GREATER DURING HOT WEATHER. HAVE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER RIDERS WITH SIMILAR EQUIPMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10228610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
NO EVENTS OTHER THAN POOR WORKMANSHIP. HORN DOESN'T WORK. SAFETY IS MY CONCERN. HARLEY-DAVIDSON SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY HORN. THEY SAY THAT AT 2000 RPM WHEN YOU PRESS THE HORN BUTTON IT WORKS. SITTING STILL OR IDLING THE HORN WILL NOT WORK. THEY SAY NO ONE USES THE HORN AT IDLE OR SITTING STILL. IF I AM SITTING AT A LIGHT AND SOMEONE TURNS INTO MY LANE I NEED TO WARN THEM. HARLEY SAYS PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND REV THE ENGINE TO 2000 RPM THEN BLOW THE HORN.
NHTSA complaint #10157047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HARLEY DAVIDSON HORN DOESN'T WORK. THE HORN WAS REPLACED AT 1000 MILES. STILL DOESN'T WORK. IT SOUNDS LIKE A WOUNDED DUCK. HARLEY DEALER SAYS THE HORN IS FINE AND THAT YOU MUST BE RUNNING THE ENGINE AT 2000 RPM FOR THE HORN TO WORK. IT WORKED FINE WHEN PURCHASED. I SAY ITS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING. IF YOU NEED THE HORN YOU MUST BE DRIVING AT 2000 RPM OR BETTER. MAKES NO SENSE. YOU MUST INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM. SOMEONE WILL GET HURT.
NHTSA complaint #10157051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OCTOBER 14, 2005 I TOOK MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC INTO BRYAN HD SHOP TO HAVE A SAFETY RECALL COMPLIED WITH. THE SAFETY RECALL IS FOR AN INADVERTENT LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. HARLEY DAVIDSON RECOMMENDED FIX WAS TO CHANGE OUT A CIRCUIT BREAKER. WHILE RIDING MY BIKE I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR OF THESE EVENTS OF WHICH TWO OF THESE EVENTS WOULD HAVE TAKEN MY LIFE HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR GOD SMILING ON ME. I WASN'T SMILING! I DON'T LIKE EXPERIENCING THE EMOTION INVOLVED WITH LOSING MY LIFE TO EQUIPMENT FAILURE. I PURCHASED THIS BIKE FROM A FRIEND. HE DID NOT BOTHER TO TELL ME OF THIS PROBLEM. HE WENT ON TO INFORM THAT HE HAD CHANGED THIS BREAKER OUT TWO OTHER TIMES, ONCE BY HIMSELF AND ONCE BY A DEALER. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THIS INTO THE DEALER THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE BATTERY CABLES WERE LOSE. WHICH PROVED TO BE FALSE. WHEN THE CIRCUIT BREAKER POPS IT CAN TAKE UP TO 40 MINUTES FOR THE BREAKER TO RESET. DEPENDING ON OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO A COMBINATION OF EVENTS; ( OUTSIDE AIR TEMP. COUPLED WITH A MODERATE CURRENT FLOW AND THEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM POPS UP FROM POSSIBLY THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF THE BIKE COUPLED WITH PREVIOUS MENTIONED ITEMS AND THE CIRCUIT BREAKER DOES ITS REQUIRED JOB AND OPENS. REPLACING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS NOT THE FIX. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE BIKE. I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS HOT EACH TIME AND THE BIKE HAD BEEN AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE FOR AT LEAST 20 MINUTES. EACH TIME THIS EVENT TAKES PLACE THAT CIRCUIT BREAKER WILL GET WEAKER AND WEAKER. HELP!!
NHTSA complaint #10140148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING 65 M.P.H. ON HIGHWAY WITH PASSENGER, EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN, RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS EMERGENCY STOP IN RURAL AREA. REPAIRING DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE STATOR HAD BURNED UP, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW HEAVY-DUTY DESIGN. AN H-D SERVICE BULLETIN STIPULATED WARRANTY REPLACEMENT ONLY IF STATOR FAILED WITHIN FIRST 12,000 MILES, EVEN THOUGH STATOR FAILURE IS KNOWN TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. MY MOTORCYCLE HAD LESS THAN 16,000 MILES WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. THESE FAULTY STATORS SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN A FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED.
NHTSA complaint #10139704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
I OWN A HARLEY DAVIDSON 2003 ULTRA CLASSIC FLHTCUI AND EARLY AUGUST I HAD VOLUNTARY RECALL 113 REPLACE 40 AMP WITH 50 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER. THEN OCTOBER 1ST WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AND IT MOMENTARILY SHUTDOWN FOR AN ESTIMATED 4-5 SECONDS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALL POWER SHUT OFF THEN POWER RETURNED AND MOTOR STARTED AUTOMATICALLY AS I LEFT IT IN GEAR. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE I WOULD SAY WAS AROUND 70 DEGREES F. HAD NOT BEEN OVERHEATING THE BIKE IE. SITTING IN TRAFFIC VERY LONG. THEN ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER AT A STOP LIGHT (I HAD JUST PULLED UP TO IT) ALL POWER SHUT OFF AND MOTOR STOPPED. AFTER PULLING IT OUT OF TRAFFIC AND A FEW MINUTES LATER IT STARTED AGAIN, BREAKER RESET AUTOMATICALLY AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO. I HAD ONLY BEEN USING A FEW ACCESSORIES AND AFTER THAT I USED NO ACCESSORIES AND HAD NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. OTHER HISTORY IS I HAD THE 15AMP ACCESSORY FUSE BLOW TWICE BEFORE IN THE LAST YEAR VERY INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER THE MAIN BREAKER INCIDENT I LOOKED AT MOST WIRING AND FOUND WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE THE FAULT THAT THE HORN POWER WIRE WAS CHAFED THROUGH ON THE UPPER MOUNT BRACKET. I REPAIRED AND HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE. I HAVE ALSO BYPASSED THE HARLEY 50 AMP MAIN BREAKER AND MOUNTED IN PLACE A MAXI FUSE HOLDER WITH A 50A MP FUSE, SINCE THE BREAKER WAS NOT DEPENDABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10139672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
I OWN A HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE MODEL MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT USABILITY OF THE HORN. RANGING FROM WORKING AS EXPECTED TO BARELY NOT WORKING AT ALL. HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE. PLUS HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10137298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
I HAVE A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE THAT WILL SHUT COMPLETELY OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS CAUSED SOME TENSE MOMENTS BECAUSE I HAD TO COAST TO A STOP NEAR THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ARE OFF INCLUDING THE ENGINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER SITTING IN TRAFFIC AT A RED LIGHT. A RECALL WAS COMPLETED BY THE DEALER LAST YEAR TO UPGRADE THE CIRCUIT BREAKER.
NHTSA complaint #10135754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH STALLING AND LOSS OF ALL POWER.*MR PRIOR TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE THE CONSUMER'S MOTORCYCLE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH STALLING. SINCE HAVING THE CIRCUIT BREAKER REPLACED THE VEHICLE STALLS AND LOSES POWER. THE RECALL WAS ON THE 40 AMP MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER WHICH COULD OPEN FOR REASONS OTHER THAN WHICH IT WAS DESIGNED.
NHTSA complaint #10131289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.