Harley-Davidson FLHRI problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
32,021 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 8.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 8.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
Tires: 3; Electrical System: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Wheels: 2; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2021: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 567360 · 2002-09-09 (September 9, 2002)
THE MOTORCYCLE'S FRONT BRAKE FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED SIX TIMES INCLUDING REPLACING MASTER CYLINDER BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 567360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326236 · 2010-04-18 (April 18, 2010)
HARLEY DAVIDSON 2003 FLHRI TOURING MOTORCYCLE. NOTICED FLUID ALONG FRAME NEAR FLOORBOARD MOUNT FOR SOMETIME, WAS NOT SURE WERE IT WAS COMING FROM. ON A RIDE AND BRAKE PETAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN, REAR BRAKE FAILURE. BROUGHT BIKE HOME. I REMOVED THE EAR BRAKE LINE TO FIND IT HAD BEEN RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME. HARLEY PUT A THIN PLASTIC SLEEVE IN THE AREA OF THE FRAME WHERE FLOORBOARD MOUNT IS. THE PROBLEM WAS LINE IS ROUTED AGAINST THIS AREA AND RUBBED RIGHT THROUGH METAL BRAKE LINE. BROUGHT TO AMERICAN HARLEY IN LEOMINSTER MASS. GOT NEW LINE AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10734218 · 2015-07-15 (July 15, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VOLTAGE METER FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM THAT EXPIRED IN 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10734218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201081 · 2007-08-29 (August 29, 2007)
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE CLUTCH CABLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE MOTORCYCLE IT CLICKS AS IF IT WAS A DIEING BATTERY. THE CLUTCH CABLE GETS HOT, IF THE CLUTCH CABLE IS MOVED SPARKS ARE GENERATED AT THE CONNECTION POINT BETWEEN THE CABLE AND THE CLUTCH HANDLE. CHECKING THE BATTERY SHOWS THAT IT IS FULLY CHARGED WITH 12.3 VDC. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT CONERNING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN MARCH 2007. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS YESTERDAY 8/28/07.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,243 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11424584 · 2021-07-13 (July 13, 2021)
I felt the tail end of the Harley begin to lose traction and began to slow to pull off the highway onto the shoulder. The tire separated completely from the rim which cause me to lose all control of the steering. There are multiple instances - including 5 fatalities and 22 injuries on record - of the same Dunlop D402 tire I had on my Harley. No warnings whatsoever.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11424584 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230510 · 2008-06-10 (June 10, 2008)
MAJOR FUEL LEAK FROM QUICK CONNECT CHECK VALVE ADAPTOR ON FUEL TANK AT THE FUEL HOSE CONNECTION. MANUFACTURER SUGGESTION FOR REPAIR IS TO REPLACE CHECK VALVE AND FUEL HOSES, 2 EACH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 49,563 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230510 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 |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
1997: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 0