30 of the
210 complaints filed about the Harley-Davidson Flhtk
are about the engine —
14% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2014.
The contact owns a 2022 Harley-Davidson FLHTK. The contact stated that while riding approximately 70 MPH, the motorcycle went into LIMP Mode and unexpectedly downshifted. The motorcycle was taken to the same local dealer on various occasions to be diagnosed; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure was associated with an automatic safety feature. The motorcycle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,800.
NHTSA complaint #11752988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'M EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY TBW. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NOVEMBER AT THE END OF A CHARITY RIDE AND I THOUGHT PERHAPS THE PACK RIDE CAUSED IT TO OVERHEAT, AFTER SHUTTING THE BIKE OFF IT WENT AWAY BRIEFLY. DID SOME TROUBLESHOOTING ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PLUGS ON THE ECM AND TB WERE TYPICALLY THE ISSUE SO CLEANED, ADDED DIELITHIUM GREASE TO THE CONNECTORS AND ISSUES WENT AWAY. HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME I PULLED THE CEL CODES TO DISCOVER THE TGS AND ETC CODES WERE IN FAULT. AFTER MORE RESEARCH DECIDED TO ELIMINATE THE GREEN QUICK CONNECT PLUGS IN THE HANDLEBARS AND FAIRING BY SODERING AND HEAT SHRINKING CONNECTIONS AS IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT THE CONNECTORS WERE A POSSIBLE CULPRIT FOR SAID CEL CODES. THAT RESOLVED THE ISSUES TEMPORARILY LIKE THE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS. BACK TO THE SEEMINGLY COMMON ISSUE OF THE DREADED LIMP MODE, TO WHICH I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE EXIT RAMP AFTER THE BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. ALL THE ARTICLES ARE HITTING THE SAME SPOT, 08-13YRS, 96, 103, 110CI ENGINES EFFECTED BY THIS SAME ISSUES, HOW MANY OF US HAVE TO GO INTO LIMP MODE OR WORSE BE STRUCK AND KILLED FOR A FACTORY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURE.
NHTSA complaint #11403192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD JUST PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY IN HIGH TRAFFIC AREA AND MY MOTORCYCLE STARTED PRODUCING A CLANKING NOISE FROM THE PRIMARY CASE AND AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE PRIMARY COMPENSATOR WAS FAILING. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, MY CYCLE ALSO DROPPED VOLTAGE FROM 14.8 VOLTS DC DOWN TO 8 OR 9 VOLTS DC AND CAUSED THE CYCLE TO BOG, AND LOST MECHANICAL POWER ON A HILL WITH HIGH TRAFFIC FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS ON A HEAVILY TRAFFICKED MAIN U.S. HIGHWAY. HAD IT BEEN DAYLIGHT, THE ISSUE COULD HAVE COSTED MY LIFE HAD IT NOT BEEN FROM THE GLOW OF MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS GLOWING IN THE DARK NIGHT, BLINKING. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD DUE TO AN 11 FOOT DROP OFF. THIS IS AND HAS BEEN A COMMONLY KNOWN ISSUE FOR SEVERAL YEAR HARLEY DAVIDSON MODELS AND ARE ALL STILL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THE COMPENSATOR FAILING DANGEROUSLY. AT TIMES, THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN CASES OF THEM DISMANTLING THEMSELVES AND CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY AND DEATH BEFORE NOW AND ALMOST CAUSED DEATH OF MY OWN DUE TO WHEN AND WHERE IT HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint #11316186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK LIMITED. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, IT DISENGAGED AUTOMATICALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. ALSO, THE THROTTLE WOULD DECREASE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. ON JULY 30, 2019, WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE THROTTLE COMPLETELY FAILED IN TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LA CROSSE AREA HARLEY-DAVIDSON (1116 OAK FOREST DR, ONALASKA, WI 54650, (608) 783-6112) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SIX TERMINAL SOCKET CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER PERFORMED WIRING REPAIRS AND REPLACED THE TERMINAL SOCKET TO THE THROTTLE. THE DEALER DID NOT COVER THE REPAIRS SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD RECENTLY EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,960.
NHTSA complaint #11255545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
WHEN SLOWING FOR A STOP THE ENGINE WILL STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH LEVER IS PULLED IN. THE BIKE MUST BE SWITCHED OFF THEN BACK ON AND RESTARTED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT REPRODUCE. HOWEVER, A LITTLE RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS A LOT OF OWNERS WITH THE NEW MILWAUKEE 8 ENGINE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11096827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OVERHEAT LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER CONSULTING WITH LOCAL HD DEALER BY PHONE WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE BIKE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR (PER HD MEMO). PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY WATER PUMP WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER STATED, AND CONFIRMED AT OTHER HD DEALERS, THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THESE WATER PUMPS IN STOCK DUE TO THE HIGH FAILURE RATE. NECESSITY TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSED AN UNSAFE CONDITION DUE TO REMAINING ALONGSIDE THE HIGHWAY UNTIL A TOW VEHICLE COULD MOVE BIKE. THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE ON 2014 HD MOTORCYCLES WITH "TWIN COOLING" ACCORDING TO SEVERAL DEALERS. ONCE REPLACED, THE NEW PUMP MOTORS FUNCTION PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #11030849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEAD BOLT BROKE ON FRONT CYLINDER OF ENGINE CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO FAIL, WHICH LED TO OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET. THIS LED TO ENGINE OIL BEING LEAKED ONTO SIDE OF MOTORCYCLE AS WELL AS ON PASSENGER BOOTS AND ONTO REAR TIRE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE VEHICL WAS TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY WITH ENGINE AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE .WASINFORMED BY HARLEY MASTER TECH THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS
NHTSA complaint #11025236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IT IS TRANSFERRING OIL FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE PRIMARY WHILE RIDING. THIS CAUSES THE PRIMARY TO OVERFILL WHICH RESULTS IN CLUTCH ISSUES AND DIFFICULTY FINDING NEUTRAL. THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING DOWN WHICH IS PROBABLY DECREASING ITS LIFE AND COULD CAUSE IT TO LOCK UP DUE TO LOW OIL LEVEL. THIS IS POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT IF THIS OCCURS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. BIKE HAS ONLY 2500 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS. NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #11012209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES ENGINE AND THERMOSTAT LIGHTS CAME ON. THE SENSOR WAS CHANGED. THIS LASTED FOR 600 MILES. DIFFERENT SHOP CHANGED THE SENSOR AND WATER PUMP WHICH LASTED ABOUT 2000 MILES. WHEN RETURNED TO THE SHOP, THEY RETRIEVED THE FAULTY CODE BUT COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO REPRODUCE THE ERROR AND WOULD NOT LOOK INTO ISSUE. PROBLEM RETURNED LESS THAN 100 MILES LATER/ AT THE PRESENT TIME, I RIDE THE BIKE WITH THE ENGINE AND TEMPERATURE LIGHTS ACTIVATED.
NHTSA complaint #10929777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA LIMITED. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE VIBRATION, THROTTLE ISSUES, CLUTCH COMPENSATOR AND POSSIBLE EITMS FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE NOTICED A VIBRATION FROM THE ENGINE WHICH WAS MORE THAN HE EXPECTED, AND AN INTERMITTENT KNOCK FROM THE ENGINE. THE HD PERSONNEL SAID IT WAS NORMAL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE LIKED THE POWER AND RIDE AS SPEED. HOWEVER, WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS ROLLED OFF, THE BIKE LUGGED AND SURGED AND AT IDLE THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT VIBRATION. ALSO, AT IDLE THERE WAS A HEAVY. LOUD INTERMITTENT CLUNKING SOUND MUCH LIKE A PRE-IGNITION KNOCK. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED DIFFERENT OPINIONS OF WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE TWIN OVERHEAD CAM ENGINE WAS AN ISSUE FOR THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #10888362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 H-D FLHTK MOTORCYCLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, THE RADIATOR EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR HOSE WAS WARPED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE CAP ON THE COOLANT SYSTEM DETACHED TWICE AND THE FLUID SPILLED WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
NHTSA complaint #10651104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 04/24/14 DRIVING AT APP. 45 MPH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND LOST POWER FROM REAR CYLINDER. APP. 30 TO 45 SECS. LATER , LIGHT WENT OFF AND POWER RETURNED TO REAR CYLINDER. WENT DOWN ROAD A FEW MORE MILES AND SAME THING OCCURRED AGAIN. THIS TIME LIGHT STAYED ON AND NO POWER FROM REAR CYLINDER. CHECKED CODE FROM ENGINE AND CAME UP WITH PO264 WHICH IS "REAR INJECTOR HIGH". TOOK TO DEALER NEXT DAY. ON 4/26/14 WAS DRIVING AT APP. 65 MPH SAME THING OCCURRED 4 TIMES. TOOK TO DEALER ON 5/1/14. GOT BIKE BACK SAME DAY FROM DEALER. ON 5/3/14 SAME THING OCCURRED AND HAD DEALER PICK UP. ON 5/5/14 PICKED BIKE FROM DEALER AND WITHING 3.5 MILES FROM DEALER TRAVELING AT APP. 55 MPH, SAME THING HAPPENED BUT THIS TIME I WAS IN A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND CAME WITHIN A FOOT OF BEING STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE SUDDEN POWER LOSS OF THE REAR CYLINDER. GOT BIKE HOME AND TRAILERED IT TO DEALER ON 5/6/14. DEALER CONTACTED HD BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHECKED EVERYTHING THEY COULD. MY CONCERN IS THE SAFETY FACTOR FROM THE LOSS OF POWER AND SUDDEN REDUCTION IN SPEED IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10587066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS IS CONCERNING MY 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC LIMITED. WITHOUT WARNING, MOST PREDOMINANTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE BIKE WILL GO INTO LIMP MODE. BY THAT I MEAN, THE THROTTLE-BY-WIRE WILL DISCONNECT THE ENGINE'S RPM'S AND DECREASE TO 1200 RPM RESULTING IN MAKING THE HANDLEBAR THROTTLE CONTROL USELESS. (CREATING INSTANT PANIC FOR FEAR OF VEHICLES BEHIND ME RUNNING OVER ME, ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC) THEREFORE I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND GO THROUGH TO PROCEDURE OF RESTARTING THE ENGINE. TO DATE, BY MY COUNT, THE BIKE HAS DONE THIS 29 TIMES. HARLEY DAVIDSON SERVICE HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM 8 TIMES, FOR WHICH I HAVE DOCUMENTS. PLEASE CALL [XXX] FOR MORE INFO. I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE ON 12/18/2012. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10583274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE MOTORCYCLE LEAKS COOLANT FROM MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, THE COOLANT FILLER NECK WHICH WAS A SERVICE UPGRADE AND SHOULD OF BEEN A RECALL, THE THERMOSTAT IS THE NEXT PROBLEM AREA, ITS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT IS PRONE TO LEAK AT THE ELBOW INTO IT, HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THEY LEAK FROM THE COOLANT PUMP AND HOSES, MOST COMMON IS THE THERMOSTAT. IT GETS ON THE GROUND AND ON THE TIRES OF THE MOTORCYCLE, IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE NEW TWIN COOLED HARLEY DAVIDSONS THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING THEM FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIPS. MINE NOW LEAKS FROM THE THERMOSTAT AND THE DEALERS DO NOT HAVE AN UPDATED PART SO THE REPLACEMENTS PARTS CAN LEAK AND THIS BECOMES A DANGER BECAUSE YOU PUT YOUR FEET DOWN AND THERE IS COOLANT UNDER THE BIKE IT COULD SLIP OUT FROM UNDER YOUR FEET , THE BIKE WEIGHTS 860 LBS !!!ALSO IF COOLANT GETS ON THE TIRES WHEN YOUR RIDING YOU COULD CRASH AND GET HURT BADLY. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CONTACT ME AND TAKE PICTURES OF THE LEAK ON MY BIKE THAT WILL BE OK. ALSO IF YOU RESEARCH THIS YOU WILL FIND THAT I'M TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT CURRENTLY A FIX AND A SUPPOSED RUNNING CHANGE IN THE PART NUMBER OF THERMOSTAT OR POSSIBLE RUNNING CHANGE IN MANUFACTURING PROCESS. I CANT CHANCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, ITS MAKES FOR A DANGER TO ME AND THE PEOPLE AROUND ME, IT MAKES THE MOTORCYCLE UNRELIABLE AND NOT SAFE. I NEED YOUR HELP ON THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10565636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKS WHEN IN MOTION WHICH SPILLS THE COOLANT IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. IT ALSO LEAKS WHILE SITTING PARKED. IT HAS ALSO OVERFLOWED AND SPILLED ALL OF THE COOLANT ONTO THE GROUND IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOUR PREVIOUS TIMES AND HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE BIKE IS CURRENTLY AT A HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AGAIN. I HAVE OWNED THE MOTORCYCLE THREE MONTHS AND I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RIDE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH DUE TO BEING IN THE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE OF THE LEAKS.
NHTSA complaint #10556997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.