2017 Harley-Davidson FLHX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
4,027 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 20.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 20.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Power Train: 2; Engine: 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). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 11014685 · 2017-08-11 (August 11, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, TRANSMISSION LUBRICANT IS TRANSFERRING TO THE PRIMARY CHAINCASE, CAUSING THE PRIMARY CHAINCASE TO OVERFILL. IF NOT DETECTED IMMEDIATELY BY VERIFYING FLUID LEVEL, THIS CAN CAUSE TRANSMISSION AND/OR CLUTCH DAMAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11014685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11093489 · 2018-05-12 (May 12, 2018)
I BOUGHTA 2017 HARLEY DAVIDSON WITH A TWO YEAR MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND I ALSO PURCHASED ADDITIONAL FIVE YEARS.ON EASTER SUNDAY THE BIKE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN I WENT TO GO RESTART THE BIKE.THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A ELECTRICALMALFUNCTION.HARLEY DAVIDSON DON'T WANT TO COVER THE BIKE.THE BIKE WAS PARK IN THE GARAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11093489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128397 · 2018-09-10 (September 10, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHX. UPON CHECKING THE OIL, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE OIL HAD TRANSFERRED TO THE PRIMARY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN THE ENGINE STALLING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO BROTHERS HARLEY-DAVIDSON INC (LOCATED AT 557 W MAIN ST, BRANFORD, CT) WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED AND A TSB WAS PERFORMED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE OPERAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,854 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11193825 · 2019-04-04 (April 4, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE (FLHX). THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V734000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. ABC HARLEY-DAVIDSON (4405 HIGHLAND RD, WATERFORD TWP, MI 48328, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11193825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203329 · 2019-04-24 (April 24, 2019)
MY 2018 HARLEY DAVIDSON CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN I WENT TO GO RESTART THE BIKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT AND LATER DETERMINED IT WAS ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. HARLEY DAVISON DOES NOT WANT TO COVER THE FIVE YEAR WARRANTY ON THE BIKE PERIOD.I HAD A FIRE ANALYSIS DONE BY A PRIVATE COMPANY AND THEY DETERMINE THE FUSE PANEL COST ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION, I HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT AND ALSO THAT IN THE PINDINGT CORPORATION WHO DID THE FIRE ANALYSIS.
Owner-reported narrative. 423 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203329 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.
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 ↗