Harley-Davidson FXD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
8,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 to 2010 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 23 complaints (13.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 21.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 17.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 8.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.3% |
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 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 |
Electrical System: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Fuel System, Other: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Structure:Frame And Members: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 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: 12; 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 (12). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2003: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 4; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 855245 · 2000-01-20 (January 20, 2000)
THE FXD DYNA SUPER GLIDE MOTORCYCLE'S FRONT RIM WAS NOT STRAIGHT EDGED. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS ENGINE DELAY LIGHT. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE CLUNKING NOISE WHILE BEING SHIFTED. IT ALSO WAS HARD TO SHIFT. WOULD MAKE WHINNING NOISE WHILE JUST DRIVING. THE BRAKES WOULD DRAG WHEN APPLIED. THEMOTOR CYCLE WOULD ALSO LEAK OIL & THE BRAKE PADS MAKE NOISES. TAKING MOTORCYCLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11076263 · 2018-03-05 (March 5, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXD DYNA GLIDE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MANCUSCO HARLEY-DAVIDSON CROSSROADS (12710 CROSSROADS PARK DR, HOUSTON, TX 77065) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11076263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10703421 · 2015-04-02 (April 2, 2015)
BATTERY LITE CAME ON, BARELY MADE IT HOME... BOLTS IN ROTOR CAME LOSE, (ONLY 06 WAS BOLTED), RUINED THE STATER AND IN THE WORDS OF MY MECHANIC "FRIED THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR" $1,000+ REPAIR. IF YOU GOOGLE 06 DYNA BATTERY LIGHT, WELL IF YOU WERE IN A CASINO YOU WOULD BE KNEE DEEP IN TOKENS...ALL REPLIES UNDER 20,000 MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10703421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10595135 · 2014-05-30 (May 30, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,678.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595135 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031848 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT RESPONDING TO NUMEROUS CALLS TO REPAIR MOTORCYCLE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER DOES HAVE A RECALL LETTER FOR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER HAS ALSO BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN TRYING TO GET THE PARTS FOR MOTORCYCLE,WHICH HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER TWO WEEKS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,052 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031848 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232931 · 2008-07-01 (July 1, 2008)
FUEL PUMP ON 2008 HARLEY ULTRA CLASSIC CAUSED PIPES TO GET SO HOT ( GLOWING RED )WHEN I CHECKED OIL LEVEL THE RAG I WAS USING CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALSO THE PIPES ARE NOW REALLY DISCOLORED AND HARLEY WON'T REPLACE THEM BACK TO ORIGINAL CONDITION. THEY WON'T EVEN CHANGE THE OIL THAT I'M SURE WAS BROKEN DOWN BY THE HEAT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232931 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 |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
1999: 2; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2003: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 0