Harley-Davidson FLHXSE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
5,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 11 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 6 of 19 complaints (31.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 21.1% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 15.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Electrical System: 6; Power Train: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Engine: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Suspension: 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 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 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: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 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 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2014: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 5; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 11104938 · 2018-07-01 (July 1, 2018)
TRANSMISSION FLUID MIGRATES TO PRIMARY WHILE IN MOTION DEPLETING FLUID IN TRANSMISSION AND OVERFILLING PRIMARY. MIGRATION OCCURS WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND AFTER SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES FLUID IS NO LONGER MEASURABLE ON THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK. LOW FLUID RISKS DAMAGE/LOCKUP OF TRANSMISSION AND OR MALFUNCTION OF CLUTCH DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL THAT HAS MIGRATED INTO PRIMARY. HD HAS KNOWN ABOUT PROBLEM SINCE INTRODUCTION OF M8 MOTOR AND/OR HYDRAULIC CLUTCH ON CERTAIN BIKES AND HAS NOT COME UP WITH A REPAIR NOR ARE THEY WILLING TO REPLACE COMPONENTS RELAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,309 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11122249 · 2018-08-24 (August 24, 2018)
TRANSMISSION FLUID TRANSFERRING TO THE PRIMARY CASE, DEPLETING THE FLUID REQUIRED FOR THE TRANSMISSION. HAPPENS PERIODICALLY WHILE IN MOTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11071686 · 2018-02-08 (February 8, 2018)
IN 2017 MY BRAKES FROZE UP. IT WAS TAKEN TO MY LOCAL HD SHOP, MOBILE BAY HARLEY DAVIDSON IN MOBILE, AL. I WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FLUIDS HAD BEEN CHANGED WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE BY MBHD. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FLUID HAD CAUSED THE ABS BRAKE CONTROL WAS BAD BECAUSE OF BAD BRAKE FLUID. SUBSEQUENTLY I WAS CHARGED $764.09 TO REPLACE. NOW THERE IS A RECALL. I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,630 miles reported. Look up ODI 11071686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11337180 · 2020-07-02 (July 2, 2020)
I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND NEEDING USE MY FRONT BRAKES. MY FRONT BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK AND WAS LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED ME TO LAY MY BIKE ON ITS SIDE. I NOW HAVE NO FRONT BRAKES AT ALL NOR CAN I SQUEEZE THE BRAKE HANDLE. MY SADDLE BAG IS SCRATCHED UP PRETTY BAD FROM LAYING IT DOWN. MY WIFE WAS ON THE BACK WITH ME AND IT THREW HER OFF THE BIKE. WE BOTH ONLY HAD MINOR SCRAPES AND BRUISES.
Owner-reported narrative. 26,340 miles reported. Look up ODI 11337180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11746743 · 2026-06-26 (June 26, 2026)
Riding the motorcycle in rush hour traffic, it completely lost all power in the fast lane. We had a semi right behind us that almost ran us over. We had to get to the side of the road with no power. We had it towed to the nearest Harley Davidson dealer. The drive belt chewed through the wiring harness with less than 150 miles on the motorcycle.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11746743 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
2010: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 0; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 0; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 0