2016 Harley-Davidson FLHTKSE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
975 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 4 complaints (75.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 50.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 25.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 3 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
Power Train: 3; Electrical System: 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 | 4 |
2017: 4
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10981522 · 2017-04-30 (April 30, 2017)
CLUTCH MAY NOT FULLY DISENGAGE WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN GEAR, THE CLUTCH MAY NOT BE FULLY DISENGAGED.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10981522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10981526 · 2017-04-30 (April 30, 2017)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD AND LOUD SHIFTING BETWEEN SOME OF THE GEARS IS EXTREMELY HARSH AND LOUD AND CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE WHOLE BIKE, FROM MY HANDS ON THE HANDLEBARS TO MY FEET ON THE FLOORBOARDS! IT FEELS LIKE A HAMMER HITTING THE TRANSMISSION WHETHER IT IS AN UPSHIFT OR A DOWNSHIFT. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION COULD SHATTER THE NEXT TIME I SHIFT AND POSSIBLY FAIL ME SOMETIME I WILL NEED IT THE MOST IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND CAUSE ME TO GET IN A CAR ACCIDENT!
Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10981526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10992600 · 2017-06-01 (June 1, 2017)
THE ASSIST & SLIP CLUTCH OF MY HD NEARLY GOT ME KILLED THE OTHER DAY. I WAS TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION AND HAD SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN A CAR DIDN'T SEE ME AND WAS COMING RIGHT AT ME. I ACCELERATED HARD WHILE LETTING THE CLUTCH OUT, AND INSTEAD OF IT GRABBING, IT SLIPPED! SO MY MOTORCYCLE JUST SAT THERE REVVING THE ENGINE AND BARELY MOVING BECAUSE THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING! THANK GOD THE ONCOMING CAR SLAMMED ON ITS BRAKES AT THE LAST MINUTE AND BARELY MISSED ME. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE A&S CLUTCH HARLEY HAS IN MY CVO HARLEY.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10995731 · 2017-06-18 (June 18, 2017)
THE SPARK PLUG WIRE FOR THE FRONT CYLINDER RUBS AGAINST THE FUEL TANK WEARING THE PROTECTIVE SHEATH AROUND THE SPARK PLUG WIRE. PROLONGED RUBBING WILL WEAR A HOLE IN THE SHEATHING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AGAINST THE FUEL TANK OR ENGINE STUMBLE. MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 8100 MILES ON IT AND VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED TO CAUSE THE RUBBING. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ACROSS ALL 2014-2016 HARLEY DAVIDSON TOURING SERIES MOTORCYCLES, BOTH OF MY NEIGHBORS 2015 AND 2016 MOTORCYCLES HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,096 miles reported. Look up ODI 10995731 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.
16V471000 · Power Train:Clutch Assembly
Reported: 2016-06-27 (June 27, 2016)
Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2016 Electric Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Electra Glide Ultra Classic Low (FLHTCUL), Ultra Limited Low (FLHTKL), Ultra Limited (FLHTK), CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), Road Glide Special (FLTRXS), Road Glide (FLTRX), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), Road Glide Ultra (FLTRU), Fat Boy S (FLSTFBS), Softail Slim S (FLSS), and CVO Softail Pro Street Breakout (FXSE) motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, the clutch master cylinder may lose the ability to generate enough lift to disengage the clutch, especially if the motorcycle has been parked for an extended period of time.
Consequence: When the engine is running and the motorcycle is in gear, if the clutch cannot be fully disengaged, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the clutch master cylinder for the presence of gas in the fluid, if so, the dealer will flush the clutch system and rebuild the clutch master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2016. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0169.
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 ↗