2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
13,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 14 complaints (64.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 71.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 14.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Service Brakes: 9; Power Train: 2; Structure: 2; Engine: 1; Steering: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10548204 · 2013-10-17 (October 17, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTHTK MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND UPON ENGAGEMENT. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE OPERABLE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE A BLEEDING OF THE BRAKES WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. UPDATED 10/29/13*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOWER PANEL COVERS WERE FALLING OFF. UPDATED 10/30/2…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548204 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10551330 · 2013-11-07 (November 7, 2013)
RODE MY NEW HARLEY FLHTK FOR AN HOUR AND THE RIGHT SIDE GOT SO HOT I TIRED AVOIDING TOUCHING IT TO PREVENT BURNING MYSELF. THE AIR CLEANER WAS SO I HOT MY RIGHT PANT LEG LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN IRONED. MY POSTERIOR WAS SOAKED WITH SWEAT MAKING FOR A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE RIDE. EVEN THE LEFT SIDE ON THE PRIMARY CASE WAS UNCOMFORTABLE TO THE TOUCH. I WAS JUST CRUISING BACK COUNTRY ROADS NOT RIDING IN TRAFFIC AND THE AIR TEMP WAS ONLY ABOUT 60 FAHRENHEIT NOT CELSIUS THOUGH THE AMBIENT TEMP AROUND ME WAS PROBABLY 60C OR GREATER. AFTER THIS I HAD THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10551330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585538 · 2014-04-29 (April 29, 2014)
WHILE RIDING MY 2013 HARLEY ULTRA CLASSIC I NOTICED FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT 7-9-2013 IT WAS MAKING A NOISE IN THE CHAIN CASE THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE PRIMARY CHAIN IS LOOSE AND MAKING A SLAPPING SOUND. I TOOK THE BIKE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL THEY ALL DO IT. THE NOISE GOT A LITTLE LOUDER OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS SO I TOOK THE BIKE BACK ON 10-29-2013 AND A SERVICE TECH TOOK THE BIKE OUT AND SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CHAIN TENSIONER IS NOT WORKING. HE REMOVED THE INSPECTION COVER AND SAID IT LOOKED OK. HE SAID …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916844 · 2016-10-18 (October 18, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE SADDLE BAG DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECENT RECALL FOR THE SADDLE BAG AND HIS WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,300.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11024799 · 2017-09-21 (September 21, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE HANDLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ROUTE 66 HARLEY-DAVIDSON LOCATED IN TULSA, OK WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CITED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE16009 (SERVICE BR…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11025031 · 2017-09-22 (September 22, 2017)
WHILE OUT RIDING WITH MY MEETUP MOTORCYCLE GROUP ALONG BACK COUNTRY ROADS ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND. WE WERE APPROACHING A SHARP RIGHT HAND TURN IN THE ROAD WHEN I FIRST APPLIED MY BRAKES THE BRAKES NEVER COMPLETELY ENGAGED. AFTER REAPPLYING THE BRAKES IN A PANIC STOP CONDITION THE ABS SYSTEM NEVER KICKED IN, HOWEVER THE REAR BRAKES DID EVENTUALLY ENGAGE RESULTING IN THE BIKE LAYING DOWN A LONG SKIDMARK AND THE REAR TIRE GOING INTO A FISHTAIL MOTION. THE RESULT WAS I CROSSED OVER THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LINE AND END UP OFF OF THE ROAD ON TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11025031 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11074421 · 2018-02-23 (February 23, 2018)
ABS BRAKE MODULES FREEZING UP. WHEN THAT HAPPENS YOU HAVE NO BRAKES
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11074421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11083866 · 2018-04-08 (April 8, 2018)
ABS FAILURE WHILE RIDING. NO WARNING. NEAR COLLISION WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. FRONT BRAKE LEVER STUCK.
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083866 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.