30 of the
210 complaints filed about the Harley-Davidson Flhtk
are about the transmission —
14% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2014.
30
Complaints
14%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
Rear wheel locked at 40 mph and power cutoff while on a highway on ramp (soft right turn) making the rear wheel slide to the right, causing my passenger and I to fall off the bike hurting our left extremities (legs, arms, wrists, elbows, shoulders) as it slid and ended on its left side on the right shoulder. Harley-Davidson RDRS and Rain Mode were turned on and the road was wet from a previous rain but visible debris on the road.
NHTSA complaint #11675294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Recently while riding my motorcycle, I experienced a near total loss of clutch control. Fortunately, was able to safely limp it back to the garage. What I found when checking components, my clutch lever lost most of its tension. I thought it might be a stripped plastic tensioner that others have experienced. Instead, it was partially the plastic push button slipped and the metal retaining threads on the clutch cable separated from the upper clutch cable causing an immediate loss in tension to engage the clutch. I did not take a photo, but included a photo of exactly what the failure looks like. Photo from [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11571996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Intermittent loss of all throttle control and will shut off, it can happen at anytime it can be stopped at a light or on the freeway this is the 4th time this has happened
NHTSA complaint #11540231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, POWER, AND ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO OIL SUMP AND FAILURE OF OIL PUMP. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON RESTRICTED ACCESS ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11412987 — 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 2019 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE OIL AND NOTICED THAT THE OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE CLUTCH BOX. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO ROUTE 30 HARLEY-DAVIDSON (350 TARHE TRAIL, UPPER SANDUSKY, OH 43351, (419) 294-4951) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID MIGRATING TO THE PRIMARY INTERNAL VENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: TA0022. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000.
NHTSA complaint #11287874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK. WHILE RIDING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE MOTORCYCLE DOWN BY DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH; HOWEVER, THE CLUTCH FAILED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE AT HOME, THE MOTORCYCLE WAS SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATED BEFORE THE CLUTCH WAS RELEASED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP THE MOTORCYCLE BEFORE DRIVING OVER A CURB AND THROUGH SOME POTTED PLANTS. THE RADIATOR, FAIRING, REAR SADDLE BAGS, AND EXHAUST WERE DAMAGED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE LEG THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO CALIENTE HARLEY-DAVIDSON (7230 NORTHWEST LOOP 410, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78245, (210) 681-2254) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR ON THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR HAD BEEN REPLACED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *LN
NHTSA complaint #11277261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRANSMISSION LOSES OIL. BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION OIL IN JUST 3 THOUSAND MILES. COULD CAUSE COMPLETE FAILURE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING ! HARLEY DAVIDSON REFUSES TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11219098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V734000 (POWER TRAIN) FAILED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY CANNONBALL HARLEY-DAVIDSON (3912 S US HWY 41, TERRE HAUTE, IN 47802, 1-(812) 232-7821). THE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE AFTER BEING MADE AWARE THAT THE NEW SECONDARY CLUTCH ACTUATOR PISTON ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE CONTACT ORDERED THE PART FROM LEGACY HARLEY-DAVIDSON (1315 ALTHOFF DR, EFFINGHAM, IL 62401, 1-(217) 342-3494) AND THE OWNER REPLACED THE PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11216942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS ISSUED THEIR TECHNICAL ADVISORY TA0022 TO DEALERS BUT NOT CUSTOMERS. IT IDENTIFIES A PROBLEM OF OIL TRANSFERRING FROM THE MOTORCYCLE'S TRANSMISSION TO THE PRIMARY CHAIN CASE RESULTING IN BELOW MINIMUM REQUIRED OIL VOLUME IN THE TRANSMISSION AND TOO MUCH OIL IN THE PRIMARY CHAINCASE. INADEQUATE OIL VOLUME IN THE TRANSMISSION CAN RESULT IN TRANSMISSION DAMAGE/FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES FOR THE RIDER (I.E. A CRASH). HARLEY-DAVIDSON STATES IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE MOTORCYCLE 'DO NOT OVERFILL THE PRIMARY CHAINCASE WITH LUBRICANT. OVERFILLING CAN CAUSE ROUGH CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT, INCOMPLETE DISENGAGEMENT, CLUTCH DRAG AND/OR DIFFICULTY IN FINDING NEUTRAL AT ENGINE IDLE'. THESE CONDITIONS COULD ALSO PRODUCE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE RIDER SUCH AS BEING UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH WHEN TRYING TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. THE TA0022 OFFERS NO SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM ON 2017 AND NEWER VEHICLES AND ADVISERS DEALERS ONLY TO 'CHECK THE PRIMARY AND TRANSMISSION OIL LEVELS AND ADJUST THE OIL VOLUMES AS NEEDED. VERIFY OIL LEVELS AGAIN IN 1,600KM (1,000 MI)'. THIS WOULD ONLY HAPPEN IF A CUSTOMER BECOMES AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEN TAKES THE MOTORCYCLE TO A DEALER. CUSTOMERS MUST LEARN OF THE PROBLEM FROM SOME SOURCE OTHER THAN HARLEY-DAVIDSON AS HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS NOT NOTIFIED CUSTOMERS OF THE PROBLEM OR TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. IT MUST BE NOTED THAT THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT TRANSMISSION OIL ONLY NEEDS TO BE CHANGED EVERY 20,000 MILES. CLEARLY, HARLEY-DAVIDSON EXPECTED THAT ADEQUATE OIL VOLUME WOULD REMAIN IN THE TRANSMISSION FOR THAT AMOUNT OF USAGE. ENCLOSED IS A COPY OF THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON TECHNICAL ADVISORY TA0022.
NHTSA complaint #11071860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE LOOSES TRANSMISSION FLUID. 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AND CONTINUES TO DO IT. SAFETY ISSUE AS ONCE THE TRANSMISSION RUNS OUT OF OIL IT MAY LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, DUE TO BEING UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11022327 — 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.
HYDRAULIC CLUTCH HAS NO ADJUSTMENT AND MY PARTICULAR CLUTCH IS ALL THE WAY AT THE VERY END APPEARS IT MAY EVEN BE SLIPPING SOME LESS THAN 500 MILES ON THE MACHINE AND CLUTCH HAS TO BE WHAT APPEARS TO BE 1/8 INCH FROM THE END BEFORE IT CATCHES AND NO FRICTION ZONE HAS ALMOST GOTTEN ME HIT MORE THAN ONCE DUE TO NO TAKE UP BEFORE RELEASE AND WITH CLUTCH SO FAR HAND HAS SLIPPED FROM CLUTCH HANDLE MORE THAN ONCE. IT HAS ALSO CAUSED ME TO ROLL BACK ALMOST INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR HAS CAUSED ME TO KILL THE BIKE TRYING TO TAKE OFF FROM A LIGHT OR STOP. I HAVE OVER 30 YEARS RIDING EXPERIENCE AND WHEN MENTIONED T DEALERSHIP WAS INFORMED THEY HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS BUT I'D JUST HAVE TO GET USED TO IT. I HAVE RIDDEN TO MANY BIKES AND NO BETTER THAN THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10946903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE I WAS RIDING MY 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTK MOTORCYCLE ON A 35 MPH TWO LANE CITY STREET, THE SHIFTER SHAFT LEVER BECAME STRIPPED. I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE MOTORCYCLE OUT OF FIRST GEAR AFTER A STOP AND TRAFFIC WAS BACKING UP BEHIND AND PASSING ME CREATING SOMEWHAT OF A HAZARD. FORTUNATELY FOR ME I WAS IN AN AREA WHERE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE ROADWAY. HAD THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A ROADWAY WITH LIMITED ACCESS/SIGHT LINES AND HIGHER SPEEDS AN INJURY COULD HAVE RESULTED.
NHTSA complaint #10882272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
YESTERDAY (04/03/16), I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH NORTHERN VA (ON ROUTE #66), ON MY WAY HOME. TRYING TO TAKE AN EXIT TO GAS UP, I WASN'T ABLE TO SHIFT AT ALL. SO I'M TRYING TO PULL OVER (VERY WORRIED I MIGHT BE HIT BY AN ANOTHER COMMUTER IN A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY / 1ST SAFETY ISSUE), TO CHECK THE BIKE, I COULDN'T USE MY LEFT FLOOR BOARD (AFFECTING MY BALANCE / 2ND SAFETY ISSUE), BECAUSE THE SHIFTER AND SHIFTER SHAFT WERE OUT OF THEIR POSITION AND LAYING ON MY FLOOR BOARD (THESE PARTS COULD HAVE JUST FLEW AWAY AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD / 3RD SAFETY ISSUE). FINALLY, I STOPPED THE MOTORCYCLE, CHECKED THE BIKE, PUT IT ON 3RD GEAR, USING LINKAGE AND MADE IT TO LOCAL HD DEALERSHIP. AFTER THIS SCARY EXPERIENCE A GENTLEMEN AT THE DEALERSHIP (JUST A CUSTOMER WITH A SIMILAR MOTORCYCLE RUSHMORE TOURING), TOLD ME THAT HE HAD THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS WELL; THANKS!
NHTSA complaint #10853307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE FALLS OFF OF THE TRANSMISSION SPLINE BOLT. IT HAPPENED TO ME WITH LESS THAN 9000 MILES. APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I GOT STUCK IN 6TH GEAR AND THERE WERE MANY TIMES ON THE WAY HOME I NEEDED TO NOT COME TO A STOP WITH TWO ON THE BIKE. THERE WAS A FEW TIMES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFER TO DOWN SHIFT ON THE ROAD. THE ISSUE IS A VERY POOR DESIGN WHERE THE SHIFT ARM LEVER MATES TO THE TRANSMISSION SPLINE BOLT.
NHTSA complaint #10846312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA GLIDE LIMITED (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET ATTACHED TO THE CRANKSHAFT RATTLED AND VIBRATED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A LOOSE BOLT FROM THE SPROCKET. THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET WAS REPLACED BUT, APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A THIRD TIME APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES LATER, WHICH DAMAGED THE CRANKSHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE INITIAL FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA complaint #10691157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.