Harley-Davidson FLHTCI problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
32,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 29 complaints (10.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 17.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 17.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 10.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Electrical System:Horn: 2; Suspension: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 14 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 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 4; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10071838 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND AT HIGH TEMPERATURES OIL SPRAYED FROM THE AIR CLEANER. THE HOT OIL SPRAYED BACKWARDS ONTO THE LOWER PANTS LEG OF THE CONSUMER. ALSO, THE OIL SPRAYED ON THE REAR TIRE AND THE REAR BRAKE PAD. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TEN TIMES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10749936 · 2015-08-20 (August 20, 2015)
MY 2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAD A FRAME FAILURE ON THE SWING ARM (REAR FORK) WHERE THE AXLE BOLT GOES THROUGH THE SWING ARM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE TOURING MODELS 1997-2001. HARLEY-DAVIDSON DID A RECALL IN 2000 FOR THE SWING ARM, THEY NEVER CHANGED THE DESIGN UNTIL 2002. HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS DISCONTINUED THE SWING ARM FOR THE 2001 TOURING BIKES. THE DEALERS I SPOKE TO HAVE TOLD ME THAT HARLEY-DAVIDSON WANTS YOU UPGRADE TO A 2002-2008 SWING ARM BECAUSE THE CHANGED THE DESIGN TO PREVENT THE SWING AR…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10749936 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063853 · 2004-03-25 (March 25, 2004)
I RECENTLY SAW THAT HARLEY-DAVIDSON ISSUED RECALL CAMPAIGN # 0113, EVEN THOUGH MY FLHTCI IS A 2000 (MANUFACTURED IN 1999), I HAVE HAD THE SITUATION WHERE MY BIKE HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED (INCLUDING ELECTRICAL SHUTTING OFF) ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THREE OF THESE I WAS MOVING AT SPEED AND THE LAST TIME WHEN I WAS AT A DEAD STOP. AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS AND TURNING THE MAIN SWITCH OFF/ON I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE BIKE. I AM WONDERING IF THIS RECALL INCLUDES MY BIKE ALSO - AND IF IT DOESN'T COULD THE RECALL BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MODEL YEAR 2000 ALSO....MY …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063853 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 763270 · 2002-06-20 (June 20, 2002)
THE FRONT FENDER TIP MARKER LIGHT HAS WIRING THAT RUNS UNDER THE FRONT FENDER, IT RUBS ON THE TIRE WHICH WEARS THE INSULATION OFF THE WIRES , THIS CAUSES A SHORT AND BLOWS THE FUSE, THIS FUSE IS ALSO FOR THE HEADLIGHT SO WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE MOTORCYCLE LOSES HEADLIGHT AND RUNNING LIGHT, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE AT NIGHT ON A DARK UNLIT ROAD, MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE DEALER IS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS OF THIS MODEL.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 763270 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283248 · 2009-09-04 (September 4, 2009)
HARLEY DAVIDSON 2006 ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC (FLHTCI). CONSUMER IS WRITING ABOUT POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON. *NJ WHILE RIDING THE BIKE, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT A JOLT WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR . IT WAS A VERY LOUD NOISE AND THEN A VIBRATION/RATTLING NOISE. HE STOPPED TO CHECK, BUT HE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THE NEXT DAY WHEN HE WENT TO PUSH THE BIKE OUT OF THE GARAGE, IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. THE CONSUMER WAS GIVEN SOME SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO DO AND AFTER THAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED, …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10283248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10352827 · 2010-08-30 (August 30, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCI ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. WHILE RIDING 10 MPH HE WENT TO DOWN SHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR AND THE SHIFT LINKAGE BROKE. HE COULD NOT SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR, HIGH GEAR OR NEUTRAL. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DID SOME TEMPORARY REPAIRS WHERE HE USED SOME TIE RODS TO TIE THE SHIFT ROD BACK TO THE LINKAGE. HE WAS ABLE TO RIDE AND SHIFT GEARS TO THE DEALER AND PURCHASE AN AFTER-MARKET SHIFT LINKAGE AND THEN INSTALLED IT HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD P…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132195 · 2005-08-10 (August 10, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER WASHAVING A PROBLEM WITH RECALL REPAIRS DONE. HE HAS CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR 5 WEEKS AND NO ONE COULD HELP HIM. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT EVERY TIME THAT HE WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY GIAVE OUT ALL THE PARTS. THE DEALER KEPT TELLING THE CONSUMER THAT HE NEEDED TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER AND THE CONSUMER KEPT GETTING A TAPED MESSAGE THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL OPEN AT 8 AM AND IT HAS BEEN AFTER 9 AM WHEN THE CONSUMER H CALLED. THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED AN…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261100 · 2009-03-08 (March 8, 2009)
IN AUGUST OF 2008, I WAS RIDING MY 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCI ELECTRA GLIDE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MOTORCYCLE JUST SHUT DOWN. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. JUST AS I WAS ENTERING THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED RIGHT UP. HOWEVER, I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER BOUNDING UP AND DOWN AND NOT CORRECTLY REPORTING MY SPEED. WHEN I TOOK THE BIKE IN FOR REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SPEED SENSOR WHICH WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MY PARTICULAR MODEL MOTORCYCLE. LESS THAN 4,000 MILES LATER, IT HAPPENED YE…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,246 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10990470 · 2017-05-18 (May 18, 2017)
AT 32,000. MILES BOTH FUEL LINES AT BOTTOM OF FUEL TANK STARTED SQUIRTING FUEL ALL OVER HOT ENGINE WHILE RIDING AND CAUGHT FIRE ! ! REPLACEABLE O RINGS DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM INTERNAL LEAK IN BOTH FITTINGS 0
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10990470 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 |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
1994: 1; 1996: 1; 1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 2; 2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 0; 2006: 0