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FaultScore report

2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtk problems

Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtk with NHTSA between 2015 and 2022. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 7 of 8 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Harley-Davidson Flhtk All 2015 cars
B

FaultScore 34/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Harley-Davidson Flhtk.

How this is worked out

The numbers

13

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

6,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

100%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 27 vs 50 Severity 0 vs 50 Early failure 100 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 27
Against the median year of the Harley-Davidson Flhtk. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 100
100% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2015 compares with every other Harley-Davidson Flhtk

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtk

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 4 30.8%

Median failure at 6,000 miles

Body & Structure 3 23.1%

Median failure at 15,200 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 2 15.4%

Median failure at 5,600 miles

Electrical System 2 15.4%

Median failure at 6,000 miles

Brakes 1 7.7%

Median failure at 13,000 miles

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 7.7%

Median failure at 14,870 miles

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Sep 2015 peak 4 Oct 2022

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Knoxville, TN

STRUCTURE:BODY

Saddlebag fell off while driving. Dealer inspected and did not find cause. Previous recall fix had been completed.

NHTSA complaint #11489836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,200 miles Aventura, FL

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CLUTCH BECAME FROZEN IN GEAR REQUIRING TOWING. EVENT OCCURRED TWICE. DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO NEUTRAL. DEALER MADE REPAIRS AT MY EXPENSE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THESE ISSUES FOR LATER MODELS!

NHTSA complaint #11182611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Concord, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN APPROX. 8 HOURS, WHILE IN MOTION, ENGINE DIED APPROX. 2 SECONDS WHEN STOPPING, TURNING OR ACCELERATING. 1 TIME ENGINE SPUTTERED WHEN IT DIED AT A STOP, THE OTHER TIMES ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. OK IF FUEL TANK AND PCM (SEAT) ARE COVERED OR BIKE IN GARAGE. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY. DIED SEVERAL TIMES FROM 3/18/17.

NHTSA complaint #11143417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Concord, CA

ENGINE

AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN APPROX. 8 HOURS, WHILE IN MOTION, ENGINE DIED APPROX. 2 SECONDS WHEN STOPPING, TURNING OR ACCELERATING. 1 TIME ENGINE SPUTTERED WHEN IT DIED AT A STOP, THE OTHER TIMES ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. OK IF FUEL TANK AND PCM (SEAT) ARE COVERED OR BIKE IN GARAGE. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY. DIED SEVERAL TIMES FROM 3/18/17.

NHTSA complaint #11143417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Concord, CA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN APPROX. 8 HOURS, WHILE IN MOTION, ENGINE DIED APPROX. 2 SECONDS WHEN STOPPING, TURNING OR ACCELERATING. 1 TIME ENGINE SPUTTERED WHEN IT DIED AT A STOP, THE OTHER TIMES ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. OK IF FUEL TANK AND PCM (SEAT) ARE COVERED OR BIKE IN GARAGE. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY. DIED SEVERAL TIMES FROM 3/18/17.

NHTSA complaint #11143417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,000 miles Harrison, AR

ENGINE

ON INTERSTATE WATER PUMP FAILURE AT 9000 MILES ON THE BIKE. HAD THE WATER PUMP REPLACED AT DENVER HARLEY COST $810.00

NHTSA complaint #11140807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kirkland, WA

ENGINE

2015 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DISTURBING ENGINE IMPLOSION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS THE ENGINE ON THE VEHICLE BLEW.

NHTSA complaint #11111614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,870 miles Sanford, NC

POWER TRAIN

CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING AT 14,000 MILES WHILE IN 6TH GEAR WHILE ON INTERSTATE. RESULTED IN EVASIVE MANEUVERS BEING TAKEN BY MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS TO AVOID COLLISION, AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE CLUTCH IS NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #11072437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Sanford, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SPARK PLUG WIRE LEADING TO FRONT CYLINDER RUBS AGAINST THE FUEL TANK, LEADING TO ABRASION THROUGH THE INSULATION OF THE SPARK PLUG WIRE. REPLACEMENT OF PARK PLUG WIRE UNDER WARRANTY DENIED BY FORT BRAGG HARLEY DAVIDSON. ABRASION THROUGH THE INSULATION BY CONTACT OF THE FUEL TANK COULD LEAD TO FIRE OR EXPLOSION SHOULD THE WIRE ARC ON THE FUEL TANK OR IF FUEL LEAKS.

NHTSA complaint #11072438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Sanford, NC

ENGINE

SPARK PLUG WIRE LEADING TO FRONT CYLINDER RUBS AGAINST THE FUEL TANK, LEADING TO ABRASION THROUGH THE INSULATION OF THE SPARK PLUG WIRE. REPLACEMENT OF PARK PLUG WIRE UNDER WARRANTY DENIED BY FORT BRAGG HARLEY DAVIDSON. ABRASION THROUGH THE INSULATION BY CONTACT OF THE FUEL TANK COULD LEAD TO FIRE OR EXPLOSION SHOULD THE WIRE ARC ON THE FUEL TANK OR IF FUEL LEAKS.

NHTSA complaint #11072438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,200 miles Washington, DC

STRUCTURE:BODY

DECEMBER 23, 2016, WHILE RIDING MY HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTK ULTRA LIMITED MOTORCYCLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF INTERSTATE 295 IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE RIGHT SADDLEBAG MOUNTING PINS DETACHED FROM THE RECEPTACLES, ALLOWING THE SADDLEBAG TO DETACH FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS UNWANTED EVENT CAUSED A TRAFFIC HAZARD FOR OTHER MOTORISTS. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY AND RELATIVELY EVEN. THE SADDLEBAGS WERE CHECKED APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES BEFORE THE EVENT, PRIOR TO OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE, AND NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS OBSERVED. THIS EVENT OCCURRED AFTER RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PIN CONNECTORS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V427000). THE REPLACEMENT DESIGN OF THE PIN CONNECTORS HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO UNWANTED DETACHMENT OF THE SADDLEBAGS. AN INSURANCE CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED WITH GEICO MOTORCYCLE AND IS IN PROCESS. PHOTOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN.

NHTSA complaint #10937407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,200 miles Washington, DC

STRUCTURE:BODY

DECEMBER 23, 2016, WHILE RIDING MY HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTK ULTRA LIMITED MOTORCYCLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A STRAIGHT SECTION INTERSTATE 295 IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE RIGHT SADDLEBAG PINS FROM THE RECEPTACLES, ALLOWING THE SADDLEBAG TO DETACH FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS EVENT CAUSED A TRAFFIC HAZARD FOR OTHER MOTORISTS. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY AND RELATIVELY EVEN. THE SADDLEBAGS WERE CHECKED APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES BEFORE THE EVENT, PRIOR TO OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE, AND NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS OBSERVED. THIS EVENT OCCURRED AFTER RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PIN CONNECTORS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V427000). THE REPLACEMENT DESIGN OF THE PIN CONNECTORS HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO UNWANTED DETACHMENT OF THE SADDLEBAGS. AN INSURANCE CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED WITH GEICO MOTORCYCLE AND IS IN PROCESS. PHOTOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND WILL BE UPLOADED.

NHTSA complaint #10937339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,000 miles Mukwonago, WI

SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE ON A TRIP THROUGH COLORADO I WAS DESCENDING A STEEP MOUNTAIN GRADE. I APPLIED LIGHT PRESSURE TO THE FRONT BRAKE AND FELT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. AS I INCREASED THE FRONT BRAKE PRESSURE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW FOR A TIGHT TURN, THE VIBRATION INCREASED UNTIL THE ENTIRE MOTORCYCLE SHOOK. THE VIBRATION CEASED ONCE THE SPEED WAS REDUCED BELOW ABOUT 30 MPH OR BRAKE PRESSURE WAS RELEASED. THIS SITUATION CAUSED ME SURPRISE AND DISTRACTION IN A CRITICAL STAGE OF OPERATION AND IT IS MY BELIEF THAT LOSS OF CONTROL IS POSSIBLE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR ADVICE THEY REPLACED THE TWO FRONT ROTORS THAT HAD BEEN CHECKED TWICE AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN "SPECS." VEHICLE NOW OPERATES NORMALLY.

NHTSA complaint #10778492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.