Harley-Davidson FLHR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
84 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
15,282 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2022 model years. Data snapshot: . 63 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 84 complaints (15.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 23.8% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 6.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 13 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Engine | 9 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Tires | 5 |
Service Brakes: 13; Electrical System: 11; Engine: 9; Power Train: 7; Suspension: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Tires: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 46 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 46; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 21 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 4; 2007: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 2; 2012: 5; 2013: 8; 2014: 8; 2015: 4; 2016: 5; 2017: 4; 2018: 7; 2019: 6; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10024880 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER INSPECTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE BULBS DIDN'T FAIL BUT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS DEFECT IN THE BULB SOCKET. THE DEALER DIDN'T HAVE THE NEWLY DESIGNED BULB SOCKET. THE DEALER BENT THE CONTACT POINT IN THE OLD SOCKETS TO MAKE A CONNECTION. *AK *CB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515728 · 2013-06-07 (June 7, 2013)
I DROVE IN TO CHURCH PARKING LOT AND WHEN I WAS ALMOST AT FULL STOP I SMELL SOME THING BURNING AND THEN I SAW SMOG COMING FROM MY RIGHT SIDE BELOW THE PIPES THEN I SAW SMALL FIRE I GOT ON MY KNEES AND BLOW THE FLAME AWAY AND SEE THAT WHAT WAS ON FIRE WAS MY REAR BRAKE SWITCH ONE OF THE TWO PLUGS HAVE MELTED ,I CALLED HARLEY DAVIDSON AFTER CHECKING ON LINE AND FIND A RECALL FOR SAME PROBLEM BUT DIFFERENT YEAR 2009-2011 ONLY AND THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT MINE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 735913 · 2000-11-07 (November 7, 2000)
1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON 88 CUBIC INCH TWIN CAM ENGINES HAVE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CAM BEARINGS. MANY OF THE BEARINGS ARE FAILING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE, DIE OR STALL CAUSING A HAZARD TO THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS AN UPDATE KIT OF PARTS AVAILABLE TO DEALERS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE REFUSING TO TAKE ANY ACTION UNTIL THE ENGINE ACTUALLY FAILS. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPAIR THE KNOWN DEFECTS WITHIN THIS ENGINE. I CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 11/7/00 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735913 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10598226 · 2014-06-13 (June 13, 2014)
I GOT MY BIKE FROM WINTER STORAGE FROM THE HARLEY DEALERSHIP ON 5/8/14. THEY NEVER TOLD US THERE WAS ANY WORK DONE OVER THE WINTER. AFTER ASKING FOR A SERVICE MANAGER ON 6/2/14, TO SEE WHAT THEY HAD DONE TO THE BIKE DURING STORAGE WE RECEIVED THE PAPERWORK THAT SAID THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE STATOR ASSEMBLY AND PARTS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE ROTORS ON THIS BRAND NEW BIKE (2954 MILES) WERE REPLACED AS THEY WERE STATED AS WARPED. THIS BIKE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A REGULAR CHECK UP FOR OIL CHANGE ETC. 8/21/14, AND THEY ADJUSTED THE CLUTCH …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10598226 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 897945 · 2001-10-18 (October 18, 2001)
TWO BOLTS IN THE MIDDLE HOLDING ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BROKE. THIS CAUSED ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO FALL. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THIS WAS CAUSED BY SUSPENSION, AND NOT A MANUFACTURER'E DEFECT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 897945 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169586 · 2006-09-29 (September 29, 2006)
2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING STANDARD. THE TRANSMISSION/OR DRIVETRAIN MAKES A WHIRLING AND CLATTERING SOUND IN 5TH GEAR AND SOME IN 6TH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I TOOK TO DEALER FOR SERVICE AND TO INVESTIGATE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL AND THERE WAS A LETTER FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOCO THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD NOT SOUND LIKE THIS, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS A PROBLEM IN IT AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT COULD LOCK UP AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE FATAL IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN. FROM THE SERVICE AND THE LETTER FROM HD IT A…
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169586 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066092 · 2004-04-13 (April 13, 2004)
WHILE RIDING MY 2001 HARLEY ROAD KING (FLHR) ON TWO SEPARATE TIMES AS WE WERE RIDING DOWN THE MOTOR DIED. PRIOR TO THAT ON THE FIRST TIME BEFORE WE STARTED OFF THE BIKE WOULD NOT START, I ONLY HEARD THE SOUND OF A RELAY CLICKING SO I PUT IN A NEW BATTERY AND IT STARTED, THEN WE TOOK OFF AND IT QUIT IN TRAFFIC. IT DID START AND WE RODE HOME. THEN A WEEK LATER WE WENT FOR A RIDE AND IT DIED ON THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WOULD ONLY CLICK A RELAY. THEY FOUND A BURNED OUT STATOR WHICH I PERSONALLY BELIEVE IS CAUSED BY SOMETHING ELS…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10434594 · 2011-11-03 (November 3, 2011)
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYLCE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RAPID ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE RIDING THE BIKE, IT STARTED TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE OVER THE SPEED SET ON THE ELECTRICAL SPEED CONTROL. THE SPEED CONTROL WAS SET AT 50 MPH. HOWEVER, THE BIKE RACED UP TO 70 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL DID SHUT OF WHEN THE CONSUMER MANUALLY PRESSED THE SET SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION. ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL SETTING WAS TURNED OFF, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE SPEEDOMETER. UPON RETURNING HOME, THE CONSUMER ATTACHE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10434594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10537735 · 2013-08-28 (August 28, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING FLHR MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537735 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2007: 0; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 0; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 0; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 6 | 0 | Not available |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | Not available |
| 1999 | 5 | 1 | Not available |
| 2001 | 4 | 1 | Not available |
| 2002 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | -1 |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | 4 | 0 | Not available |
| 2008 | 14 | 2 | +2 |
| 2009 | 10 | 3 | +1 |
| 2010 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 9 | 2 | -1 |
| 2012 | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | -1 |
| 2014 | 3 | 2 | +2 |
| 2015 | 2 | 1 | -1 |
| 2017 | 3 | 2 | Not available |
| 2018 | 5 | 1 | -1 |
| 2019 | 2 | 0 | -1 |
| 2020 | 1 | 1 | +1 |
| 2021 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 1 | 0 |