29 of the
107 complaints filed about the Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg
are about the engine —
27% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2013.
While riding at 55mph the bike suddenly lost oil pressure and started blowing an enormous amount of smoke out the exhaust and the breather tubes in the intake. This caused oil to come out and blow back under the rear tires which could have resulted in loss of control. I was able to stop and when I checked the oil the cap blew out into my hand because of crankcase pressure. The oil level showed it was very low so I added 2 3/4 quarts of new oil. After cooling down the trike ran ok and I was able to ride it home where I checked the oil again and it had the same crankcase pressure however it was now showing overfilled 2 1/2 quarts. The problem is that the oil built up in the crankcase and was not pumped out back to the oil tank. This is known as sumping which is affecting some 2017-2019 Harley’s with the new Milwaukee 8 engine. As I stated before this could have caused loss of control resulting in an accident with a less experienced rider because of the oil blowing back under the rear tires on the trike. I am 70 years old and have been riding since 16 years old and I believe my experience helped me knowing what to do when something like this occurs. There are service bulletins explaining this problem however I firmly believe all 2017-2019 Harley Davidson Milwaukee 8 motorcycle’s and trike need to be recalled and repaired with the updated parts that Harley Davidson began installing in all 2020 and newer Milwaukee 8 engines during manufacturing. Someone may likely lose their life as a result of this know problem.
NHTSA complaint #11473442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUTG Tri Glide Ultra Classic. The contact stated while riding 70 MPH, the check engine and coolant temperature warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to allow the motorcycle to cool down. The motorcycle cooled down and operated normal; however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred twice. The motorcycle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the water pump was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was contacted and stated that they were made aware about the water pump failure and that there was no recall regarding the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 23,605.
NHTSA complaint #11471582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUTG Tri Glide Ultra Classic. The contact stated while riding 70 MPH, the check engine and coolant temperature warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to allow the motorcycle to cool down. The motorcycle cooled down and operated normal; however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred twice. The motorcycle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the water pump was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was contacted and stated that they were made aware about the water pump failure and that there was no recall regarding the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 23,605.
NHTSA complaint #11471582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This Harley Davidson and many others won’t start while in gear. I was at a red light and when the light turned green I started in 1st gear and stalled the bike in the middle of the intersection. Normally Harley’s will start in gear so I tried but it wouldn’t. I had to turn off the bike, put it in neutral and start it. Harley issued a Service Bulletin, see attached, however unless the bike is under warranty they won’t fix it. This should be a recall as it’s very dangerous. I just purchased the bike and the previous owner had no idea. Please help fix this. Thanks
NHTSA complaint #11429208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OIL PRESSURE SWITCH WORKED IT'S WAY OUT ONLY INDICATING LOW PRESSURE BY THE TIME WHILE RIDING. I GOT IT TO MY DEALER AFTER THEY TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN WHEN PARKED THE SWITCH WAS OUT FAR ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE OIL TO POUR OUT. IF THIS HAD HAPPEND WHEN RIDING IN MY OPINION THE ENGINE WOULD SIEZE CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK AND THROW THE RIDER OFF THE MOTOR CYCLE CAUSING SERIOS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OF THE VEHICLES BEHIND. THIS IS ON THE NEW MILWALKEE 8 ENGINE. HAVE READ COMPLAINT OF THE FAILURE BUT NOT ON IT WORKING IT'S WAY OUT. NOTIFIED HARLEY DAVIDSON REQUESTED AN ENGINEER BE SENT TO LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM,WAITING ON A REPLY
NHTSA complaint #11185800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHILE IDLING AND RIDING.COOLING LIGHT COMES ON AT IDLE AND WHILE RIDING.ALL COOLING PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ,COOLING SENSOR, THERMOSTAT,WATER PUMP AND CAP BUT NO CODE IS THROWN
NHTSA complaint #11123138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EVERY NOW AND THEN THE ENGINE WILL STALL OUT DURING STOP & GO TRAFFIC OR WHEN YOU PULL INTO A PARKING LOT WITH THE CLUTCH PULLED IN & NO THROTTLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. I HEAR BY INTERNET THREADS THAT HARLEY IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION AND HAS CHOSEN NOT TO MAKE THIS PUBLIC TO OWNERS. DO WE WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS KILLED TO ADDRESS THIS CRITICAL ISSUE?.
NHTSA complaint #11065355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG (TRI-GLIDE ULTRA). WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE VIBRATED AND JERKED EXCESSIVELY, CAUSING DISCOMFORT TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. THE MOTORCYCLE ALSO BECAME EXTREMELY HOT, CAUSING MINOR BURNS TO THE CONTACT'S LEG. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO WAR HORSE HARLEY-DAVIDSON (5331 N US HWY 441, OCALA, FL 34475), BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO GATOR HARLEY-DAVIDSON (1745 U.S. HWY 441, LEESBURG, FL 34748), BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AGAIN. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND FAILED TO ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30.
NHTSA complaint #11018942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STALLS WHEN AT IDLE OR SLOW MANOUVERING, RPMS ARE GOING FROM 1200 DOWN TO 300-0 CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. THIS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AT TIMES. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER AND CALLED CORPORATE WITH A NO TROUBLE FOUND.
NHTSA complaint #10986071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRST INCIDENT 2015, LOG IN EST 100 MILES, MC STARTED SMOKING. DEALERSHIP CHECKED OUT NO PROBLEMS. SECOND INCIDENT ENGINE LOST POWER DOWN TO 35MPH COULD NOT GO HIGHER, DEALERSHIP FIXED PUT NEW CLUTCH NO CHARGE. THE THIRD TIME, IT REPEATED LOST POWER AGAIN SMOKE & BURNING INSIDE ENGINE AREA THE CLUTCH WAS OUT HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS THIRD TIME THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX, I HAD ONLY 2100 MILES LOG AND CHARGED ME $500. THE GENERAL MANAGER TOOK ME ON A ROAD TEST TO CHECK MY SHIFTING. HIS CONCLUSION WAS A DEFECTED CLUTCH PROBLEM WHICH THEY FIXED . BUT THEY DID NOT REFUND ME. I NOW HAVE 5,000 MILES ON MY MC WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS SO FAR SO IT WAS A DEFAULTED CLUTCH PROBLEM ON A BRAND NEW BIKE WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10954042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE IS A CONTINUOUS TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR. IT STARTS AS SOON AS THE ENGINE IS STARTED AND LASTS APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES WHILE RIDING. IT SOUNDS TO BE THE LIFTERS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT WITHOUT IT BEING FIXED. THE DEALER ADVISED THEY CONTACTED HARLEY-DAVIDSON TECH SERVICE BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO "FIX" TO THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10886225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE ENGINE AND EXHAUST PRODUCES EXCESSIVE HEAT WHICH I BURNED MY PANTS ON AND THE HEAT IS OVERWHELMING . I TALKED TO HD AND THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WANT TO BRUSH IT UNDER THE RUG. PLEASE HELP THIS IS A MAJOR INCIDENT BURN JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10713538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER PAYING OVER $400 TO GET THE PIPES REBUILT BY HARLEY TO TAKE CARE OF THE HEAT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTOR I LEFT FOR TEXAS FROM OHIO (I'M 72 YEARS OLD).. THE MOTOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS SO HOT I HAD TO BUY A SCARF TO WET AND PUT ON THE INSIDE OF MY PANTS ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO KEEP MY LEG FROM BURNING... HAS HARLEY DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THAT PROBLEM.. AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THERE PROBLEM.. ALMOST EVERYONE I KNOW COMPLAINS ABOUT THAT HEAT PROBLEM.. I LOVE MY TRIKE AND IT RIDES SO NICE.. WE BOUGHT IT NEW.. IT'S THE TAN AND BROWN ONE.. HOWEVER THIS NEXT WEEKEND IS THE BIG MOTORCYCLE SHOW IN CLEVELAND OHIO AND WE ARE GOING TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER MAKER OF MOTORCYCLES... I WOULD LOVE TO STAY WITH HARLEY BUT WOULD RATHER HAVE A TRIKE THAT I CAN RIDE WITHOUT HAVING TO CARRY WATER TO KEEP MY RIGHT LEG WET BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME HEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10678720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE EXHAUST BURNS MY LEG WHEN I STOP FOR A LIGHT OR ANYTHING ELSE. $35,000.00 AND CANT USE IT WHEN AMBIENT TEMP IS ABOVE 80 UNLESS I WANT TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL WITH 2ND DEGREE BURNS.
NHTSA complaint #10653696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW 2013 HD TRI GLIDE I WAS SURPRISED TO FEEL THE HEAT THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BIKE. THE TEMPS OUTSIDE WERE ABOUT 80 DEGREES AND MY INNER RIGHT THIGH FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS ON FIRE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, BOWLING GREEN HARLEY DAVIDSON, THE SERVICE DEPT RECOMMENDED THAT I HAVE THEM REMOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS THIS WOULD HELP WITH SOME OF THE HEAT ISSUE. I PAID CASH FOR THIS TO BE DONE TO THE EMPLOYEE AS THEY SAID THIS WAS NOT A COMPANY PROCEDURE. THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED HIGHWAY PEGS ATTACHED TO THE FARING WHICH I HAD DONE. THIS WOULD ELEVATE MY LEG AWAY FROM THE HEAT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS BETTER AT 80 DEGREES AND UNDER BUT HERE IN KY IT'S OVER THAT MOST OF JUNE THROUGH MID SEPTEMBER. LAST SUMMER I RODE FROM KY TO CT OVER 2 DAYS THAT WERE 95-100 DEGREES AND HAD TO WEAR MY CHAPS AS MY LEG WAS HOT AND RED. HD HAS JUST KEPT TELLING ME THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE TRIKE. I ONLY FOUND OUT TODAY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT OR I WOULD HAVE DONE IT SOONER. MY 8 YEAR OLD SON RIDES WITH ME AND EVEN THOUGH HIS FOOT PLACEMENT IS HIGHER HE COMPLAINS OF THE HEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10615664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT SLOW SPEED OR STOPPED THERE IS ETREME HEAT COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. IT IS SO HOT IT FEELS LIKE MY LEG IS BEING BURNED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WITH A SYSTEM WITHOUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS AT A COST OF CLOSE TO $2,000 ON A VEHICLE ALREADY COSTING $30,000. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10592290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 BOTH BOLTS WERE AGAIN LOSE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUES SINCE IT SEEMS THAT THE ENGINE CAN SHIFT AND CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE IF THE STABILIZER ACCIDENTALLY CAME LOOSE. I HAVE READ ON A FEW FORUMS ON LINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10544560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 CONVERTERS. ITS OVER $30,000.00 FOR THIS BIKE WHY DO I HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO MAKE IT SAFE TO RIDE??? HARLEY DAVIDSON KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WONT FIX IT. I HAD A 2011 MODEL ALSO WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10544568 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10541852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEED THERE WAS A SLIGHT VIBRATION WHICH CAUSED TWO BOLTS TO DETACH FROM THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT DISLODGED AND THE HEAD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY ONCE THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,219.
NHTSA complaint #10536020 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.