2018 Harley-Davidson FLHTK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
6,011 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 25.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Engine: 2; Power Train: 1; Wheels: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 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 (4). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation 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 11025236 · 2017-09-25 (September 25, 2017)
HEAD BOLT BROKE ON FRONT CYLINDER OF ENGINE CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO FAIL, WHICH LED TO OIL LEAK FROM HEAD GASKET. THIS LED TO ENGINE OIL BEING LEAKED ONTO SIDE OF MOTORCYCLE AS WELL AS ON PASSENGER BOOTS AND ONTO REAR TIRE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE VEHICL WAS TRAVELLING ON HIGHWAY WITH ENGINE AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE .WASINFORMED BY HARLEY MASTER TECH THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS
Owner-reported narrative. 526 miles reported. Look up ODI 11025236 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11096827 · 2018-05-19 (May 19, 2018)
WHEN SLOWING FOR A STOP THE ENGINE WILL STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH LEVER IS PULLED IN. THE BIKE MUST BE SWITCHED OFF THEN BACK ON AND RESTARTED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT REPRODUCE. HOWEVER, A LITTLE RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS A LOT OF OWNERS WITH THE NEW MILWAUKEE 8 ENGINE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11096827 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11354102 · 2020-09-10 (September 10, 2020)
TIRE DEVELOPED SLICING IN THE TREAD HAVE HAD MULTIPLE HARLEY DEALERS TELL ME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. 16,662 miles reported. Look up ODI 11354102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11412987 · 2021-04-20 (April 20, 2021)
LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, POWER, AND ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED DUE TO OIL SUMP AND FAILURE OF OIL PUMP. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON RESTRICTED ACCESS ROAD.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,022 miles reported. Look up ODI 11412987 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗