Harley-Davidson FXDF problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
4,051 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 to 2015 model years. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 12 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 58.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 16.7% |
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 | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Service Brakes: 6; Exterior Lighting: 3; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Equipment: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 1; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 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 11001462 · 2017-06-26 (June 26, 2017)
AFTER WARMING UP (E.G. 15-20 MILE RIDE), A SHRIEKING/HOWLING NOISE COMES FROM AREA OF RIGHT REAR. BRAKE ROTOR IS NOT OVERLY HOT, NOR IS THE HUB, WHICH WOULD POSS INDICATE HANGING CALIPER OR SEIZING BEARING. NOISE CONTINUES WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED AND ENGINE AT IDLE. IT CAN BE HEARD OVER EXHAUST WHILE ON THROTTLE. LESS THAN 3000 MILES, BOUGHT BRAND NEW, BUT AFRAID TO RIDE DUE TO NOISE. I HAVE OVER 45 YRS EXPERIENCE IN RIDING, RACING, ETC. BEEN TO DEALER TWICE FOR ISSUE, TOLD "NO PROBLEMS FOUND." DEALERSHIP HAS NOW CHANGED HANDS AND BIKE IS OBVIOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001462 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051072 · 2017-11-28 (November 28, 2017)
THE REAR BRAKE RESERVOIR HAS 2 WIRES COMING OUT OF IT TO THE BACK. THE LOWER OF THESE 2 WIRES MELTED AND LEAKED ALL MY BRAKE FLUID OUT. THIS CAUSED AND ACCIDENT WITH DAMAGE TO MY BIKE AND MYSELF WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10379311 · 2011-01-27 (January 27, 2011)
WHEN RIDING IN THE RAIN ON MY 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FAT BOB, MY TAIL LIGHT HAS FILLED WITH WATER, AND THE BULB FAILED (STOP AND TAIL). WATER GETS INTO THIS AREA BETWEEN THE REAR FENDER AND THE LICENSE PLATE/TAIL LIGHT BRACKET FROM THE INSIDE. THERE IS QUITE A LARGE AREA HERE TO FILL WITH WATER, WHICH GOES UNNOTICED. THE DAMPNESS BEHIND THE TAIL LIGHT HAS CAUSED MAJOR CORROSION IN THE WIRING AND MAKES THE TURN SIGNALS COME ON BY THEMSELVES DUE TO SHORTING OUT A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD, INTO WHICH THE TAIL LIGHT AND OTHER COMPONENTS PLUG INTO. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10379311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10870069 · 2016-05-20 (May 20, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDF. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE PIPE WAS ONLY MOUNTED TO THE HEADERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS DETACHED FROM THE PIPES NEAR THE MOUNTING BRACKET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE BOLTS NEAR THE MOUNTING BRACKET; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V794000 (SERVICE BR…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,011 miles reported. Look up ODI 10870069 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
2008: 0; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2012: 0; 2013: 0; 2014: 0; 2015: 0