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U.S. public vehicle records

2017 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

4 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

13,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting125.0%
Braking behavior125.0%

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.

Engine
1
Exterior Lighting
1
Power Train
1
Service Brakes
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine1
Exterior Lighting1
Power Train1
Service Brakes1

Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 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 (2). 1 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.

2017
1
2019
1
2022
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20171
20191
20221
20261

2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2022: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10992776 · 2017-06-01 (June 1, 2017)

THE "DAY MAKER HEADLIGHT " FOUND ON THE HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC IS COMPLETELY UNUSABLE.IN USING THE LED BULBS ON THIS SYSTEM THE REFRACTORY NATURE OF THE LENS DICTATES THAT A HORIZONTAL LINE WITH LIGHT BELOW THE LINE AND DARKNESS ABOVE IT A DISTANCE KEEPS THE LIGHT FROM SHINING INTO THE ONCOMING DRIVERS. THIS WORKS FINE IN AN AUTOMOBILE, BUT ON A MOTORCYCLE, IT BECOMES UNRIDEABLE .THE REASON BEING IS THAT WHEN YOU LEAN INTO A CORNER THE HORIZONTAL LINE DIPS TO THE SAME DEGREE AS THE MOTORCYCLE, AND THE DARKNESS ABOVE DIPS DOWN WITH THE B…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992776 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11242859 · 2019-08-09 (August 9, 2019)

HEAD GASKET LETS LOOSE AND OIL ALL OVER REAR TIRE! VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY IN MOTION, NOT GOOD.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11242859 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11494224 · 2022-11-19 (November 19, 2022)

ABS module failure resulting in front brake locking up. ABS module failed resulting in brake failure. While I was not involved in any incident the failed part showed no signs of beginning to fail. One day I I got onto the motorcycle and when I went to squeeze the front brake it was hard as a rock and it locked up my front wheel. This particular failure happened in my driveway so nobody was in danger but it also had no warning lights on or gave any signs of failure prior to this incident. If this were to happen while riding the motorcycle it c…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11494224 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11750346 · 2026-07-14 (July 14, 2026)

The contact owns a 2017 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU. The contact stated that while riding at 5 MPH, the motorcycle failed to shift out of gear or stop as needed. The motorcycle fell over on the contact’s right leg, causing the leg to become swollen. The contact used a bag of ice to help with the swelling. The motorcycle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V734000 (Power Train); however, the failure persisted. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,490.

Owner-reported narrative. 45,490 miles reported. Look up ODI 11750346 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

17V333000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Reported: 2017-05-22 (May 22, 2017)

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2017 Electric Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), Police Road King (FLHP), Road King (FLHR), Road King Special (FLHRXS), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), Road Glide (FLTRX), and Road Glide Special (FLTRXS) motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, a clamp used to secure an engine oil cooler line may have been improperly installed.

Consequence: The incorrectly installed clamp may result in the engine oil cooler line detaching, causing a sudden loss of oil, potentially into the path of the rear tire, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the oil cooler line clamps, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2017. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0170.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V734000 · Power Train:Clutch Assembly

Reported: 2018-10-18 (October 18, 2018)

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Police Road King (FLHP), Road King (FLHR), Road King Special (FLHRXS), Electra Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Ultra Limited (FLHTK), Ultra Limited Low (FLHTKL), Ultra Limited Shrine (FLHTK SHRINE), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), Road Glide Ultra (FLTRU), Road Glide (FLTRX), Road Glide Special (FLTRXS), Freewheeler (FLRT), Tri Glide Ultra (FLHTCUTG), CVO Limited (FLHTKSE) and CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE) motorcycles, 2017 Softail Slim S (FLSS), Fat Boy S (FLSTFBS) and CVO Pro Street Breakout (FXSE) motorcycles, 2018 115th Anniversary Ultra Limited (FLHTK ANV), 115th Anniversary Street Glide (FLHX ANV), 115th Anniversary Street Glide Special (FLHXS ANX), 115th Anniversary Tri Glide Ultra (FLHTCUTG ANV), 115th Anniversary CVO Limited (FLHTKSE ANV) and CVO Road Glide (FLTRXSE) motorcycles. The secondary clutch actuator cylinder may leak fluid internally and the clutch master cylinder may lose the ability to generate enough lift to disengage the clutch.

Consequence: If the clutch cannot be disengaged it can result in a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will install a new secondary clutch actuator piston assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 5, 2018. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0173.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V574000 · Visibility

Reported: 2019-08-05 (August 5, 2019)

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles, including 2017-2019 FLHTCU, FLHTCUL, FLHTK ANV, FLHTKL, FLTRU, FLHTK, and 2016-2019 FLHTKSE, FLHTKSE ANV, and FLTRUSE models equipped with a Harley-Davidson Detachable Tour-Pak Luggage Conversion Kit (Part numbers 53000291, 53000291A, and 53000567). The kit did not include replacement rear red reflectors for the ones that are eliminated by installing this kit. As such, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: Without the rear red reflectors, the motorcycle has reduced visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Harley-Davidson has notified owners, and dealers will install the replacement reflectors, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0629.

NHTSA campaign record ↗