Harley-Davidson FLTR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
14,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 37 complaints (43.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 18 | 48.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.7% |
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 | 16 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
Service Brakes: 16; Electrical System: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Steering: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 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 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 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: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 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 (19). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 5; 2008: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 6; 2017: 7; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10466510 · 2012-07-18 (July 18, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE REAR BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BRAKE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE USING THE FRONTAL BRAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000. ....UPDATED 08-24-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE SWITCH FAILED AFTER IT SHORTED AND MELTED. I INSPECTED THE FAILED PART IT HAD OBVIOUS DAMAGE ON THE EXTERIOR A…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452039 · 2012-03-16 (March 16, 2012)
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED WHILE TRAVELING ON I-85 IN ATLANTA, GA. ON BRAKING TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FULL DOWN POSITION WITH NO EFFECT ON BRAKING. I WAS CLOSE TO WORK AND WHEN I GOT TO WORK, I PRESSED THE PEDAL TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG AND NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER THE BIKE. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL A LARGE AMOUNT OF FLUID STREAMED OUT OF THE AREA WHERE THE PLASTIC PART OF THE SWITCH INSERTS INTO THE METAL HOUSING. ALL OF THE FLUID LEAKED OUT. THERE WERE TWO PUDDLES APPROXIMATELY 8-10 INCHES IN DIAMETER…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189108 · 2007-04-27 (April 27, 2007)
6 SPEED TRANSMISSION ON A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTR ROAD GLIDE CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO RATTLE LIKE IT HAS ROCKS IN IT. THE ENTIRE MOTORCYCLE SHAKES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 896 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11193282 · 2019-04-02 (April 2, 2019)
WHILE RIDING ON 3/31/2018 I WAS APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AND BEGAN MY DOWN SHIFTING AND BRAKING. I STEPPED ON THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS LITTLE RESISTANCE, I PUMPED THE PEDAL AGAIN ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME RESULT. I THEN PUMPED THE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES NOTING SAME RESULT AS PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS BUT WAS ABLE TO STOP USING MY FRONT BRAKE. WE PULLED OFF INTO A GAS STATION PARKING LOT TO ASSESS THE PROBLEM. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND ONE OF TWO WIRES (RED) ON THE REAR BRAKELITE SWITCH SENSOR HAD MELTED OFF FROM THE SWITCH AN WAS LYING…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11193282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10416580 · 2011-08-01 (August 1, 2011)
2008 FLTR HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE TWICE WENT TO FORCED IDLE MODE WHILE OPERATING. DTC CODES P1511 AND P2135 WERE SET. HARLEY HAS ISSUED TT 418 NOV 3, 2009, TO ADDRESS THIS WIDESPREAD PROBLEM ON THROTTLE BY WIRE BIKES 2008 - 2011. DEALER COMPLIANCE ON TT 418 WEAK. BIKE CUTTING OFF IN TRAFFIC IS OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. RECALL IS NEEDED TO REPLACE POORLY DESIGNED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ON TCA (THROTTLE CONTROL ACTUATOR). *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11242860 · 2019-08-09 (August 9, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE (FLTR). WHILE RIDING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACTED PULLED OVER, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND RESUMED NORMAL RIDING. WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO BAER SPORT CENTER HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND POLARIS (330 GRANDVIEW AVE, HONESDALE, PA 18431, [phone removed]) WHERE THEY REPLACED THE PLUGS ON THE THROTTLE BODY. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OTHER UNKN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11242860 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 |
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
1994: 1; 1995: 1; 1996: 1; 1997: 1; 1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2003: 1; 2007: 0; 2008: 2; 2009: 3