Harley-Davidson FLSTN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
4,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 to 2017 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 4 of 14 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 7.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 7.1% |
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 | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Wheels: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer: 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 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 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 (11). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2007: 4; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2017: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10198694 · 2007-08-07 (August 7, 2007)
HOT RUNNING ENGINE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. HARD, METAL TO METAL HIT ON ENGAGEMENT OF STARTER AND TRANSMISSION ON START-UPS. HARD, METAL TO METAL HIT ON INITIAL SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR FROM NEUTRAL AND ON START-UP.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 44 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203982 · 2007-09-24 (September 24, 2007)
2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLSTN, 96B MOTOR, FACTORY NEW, 277 MILES ON ODOMETER, NO AFTERMARKET PARTS: EXCESSIVE VIBRATION OF MOTOR, EXCESSIVE MOTOR HEAT, HARSH / LOUD, METAL TO METAL TRANSMISSION GEAR ENGAGEMENT, AND SECONDARY TRANSMISSION GEAR METAL TO METAL CLUNK WHILE ROLLING OUT CLUTCH IN 1ST & 2ND GEARS. POSSIBLE PINION GEAR DAMAGE AND PINION / MAIN SHAFT RUN-OUT EXCEEDING OEM SPECS. HARLEY IS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT HAS NO CURRENT FIX, RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10608186 · 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)
ABOUT 10:30 PM WHILE EN ROUTE TO WORK I WAS RIDING ON THE FREEWAY AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT AND I NOTED FLASHING LIGHTS APPEARING ON THE SPEEDOMETER- THE LOW FUEL LAMP AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LAMP. I PULLED OVER THE EMERGENCY LANE RIGHT AWAY TO MAKE ANY ASSESSMENT. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY TO SECURE A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR ME. THE FLASHING LOW FUEL LAMP AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LAMP PERSISTED. I CALLED FOR MY TOWING SERVICE THE FOLLOWING MORNING BECAUSE I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE THE MOTORCYCLE HOME. ON 7/1/2014 I CALLED FOR MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11031815 · 2017-10-04 (October 4, 2017)
PURCHASED MY FIRST BIKE, A 2012 SOFTTAIL DELUXE WITH 4,700 MILES PURCHASED FROM MY COWORKER WHO HAD ONLY PUT 500 MILES ON THE BIKE IN LAST TWO YEARS (SINCE THE 5000K SERVICE WAS DONE @ 4200MI.). TOOK THE BIKE OUT ON A COUNTY ROAD FOR THE FIRST TIME AS A NEW RIDER AND THE BIKE DEVELOPED A HANDLEBAR SHAKE THAT I COULD NOT FIGHT AT 45 MI/HR. THEN WHEN THE BIKE WAS SLOWING THE WHOLE BIKE WOULD WOBBLE. MY FIRST RIDE ENDED UP BEING TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FOUND THE SPOKES ON THE REAR RIM HAD COME LOOSE AND HAD ELONGATED THE SPOKE HOLES …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11031815 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10474494 · 2012-09-10 (September 10, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLSTN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE FAILED TO START. IT WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER HAVING A JUMP PERFORMED. ALSO, THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY WHILE RIDING IT. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. UPDATED 09/26/12*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474494 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10993316 · 2017-06-05 (June 5, 2017)
"TAKATA RECALL" WHILE LEAVING MY HOME ABOUT .5 MILES AWAY COMING TO STOP IN TRAFFIC MY WIFE SAID SHE SEEN SMOKE AND ASKED IF THE CAR IN FRONT OF USE WAS COMING FROM ITS TAIL PIPE. AS I LOOKED AND SEEN NO SMOKE FROM THE CAR I LOOKED DOWN AND SEEN APART OF MY BIKE IN FLAMES AND SMOKE COMING UP SHE JUMPED OFF THE BIKE WHILE I SHUT IT OFF PUT DOWN THE KICK STAND. I TRIED TO BLOW OUT THE FLAME OUT WITH NO LUCK THEN GRABBED A HOODIE FROM THE SADDLE BAG AND SWIPED OUT THE FIRE. I THEN STARTED THE BIKE PULLED INTO A CAR WASH TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10993316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10395960 · 2011-04-15 (April 15, 2011)
FUEL LINE "QUICK DISCONNECT" O-RING SEAL LEAKS AT ITS COUPLING TO THE FUEL TANK. O-RING MAY FAIL WITHOUT PRIOR SYMPTOM AND LEAK GAS ON TO ENGINE AT A LOCATION THAT MAY CAUSE A FIRE SPARKED FROM THE IGNITION COIL PACK LOCATED REARWARD OF THE COUPLING. MAY ALSO IGNITE FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM ON SOME MODELS. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS FROM THE MANUFACTURER AT THIS TIME. THE CONCERN AFFECTS NEARLY ALL MODELS EQUIPPED WITH FUEL INJECTION WHICH WAS INTRODUCED IN 1999. THIS ENCOMPASSES HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF UNITS AND IS VERY COMMON IN D…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395960 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
2002: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2009: 0; 2012: 0; 2017: 0