2014 Harley-Davidson FLHXS: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY DAVISON FLHXS STREET GLIDE SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VIBRATION WOULD OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE'S RPM'S WERE BETWEEN 2000 AND 1500 DURING DECELERATION. THE VIBRATION WOULD STOP WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DISENGAGED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A LOOSE DRIVE BELT AND AN UNSECURED FLOORBOARD. THE DRIVE B…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564809 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND NOTICED THAT THE GPS SPEED AND THE SPEED ON THE SPEEDOMETER WERE DIFFERENT. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED A READING 5 MPH HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED BEING TRAVELED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED IN RED SHOWING THAT THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING OVER THE SPEED LIMIT BY 5 MPH. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER COULD BE ADJUSTED IF WERE INACCURATELY REGISTERING 5 MPH UNDER, BUT NOT OVER THE ACTUAL SPEE…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10574454 at NHTSA ↗

I THOUGHT I WAS FLASHING MY BRAKE LIGHTS TO WARN DRIVERS BEHIND ME THAT I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN..I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN!! I DECIDED TO NOT MAKE THAT TURN AND KEPT GOING TO PREVENT ME FROM GETTING HIT. PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY BRAKE LIGHTS. I FOUND THAT THEY DO NOT ACTIVATE UNTIL THERE IS SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER. THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD BE ILLUMINATED AS SOON AS THE BRAKE LEVER IS PULLED BEFORE THE BRAKE PADS CONTACT THE ROTOR! WHEN COMING TO A NORMAL STOP, I STOP AND LOOK …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10621286 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHXS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHT LENS DETACHED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPAIRED THE MOTORCYCLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. ...UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10746487 at NHTSA ↗

FOLLOWING RECALL UPGRADE TO CLUTCH ACTUATION SYSTEM, CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS CLUTCH FLUID.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10777025 at NHTSA ↗

REGARDING NHTSA RECALL NO. 15V-427: LOCAL HD DEALER REPLACED MY ORIGINAL ATTACHMENT SPRINGS TO MY 2024 HD STREET GLIDE SADDLEBAGS AS REQUIRED BY THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, ONE OF MY BAGS RECENTLY FELL OFF WHILE RIDING AFTER THE NEW REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WERE INSTALLED. A LOCAL DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND ORIGINALLY STATED HARLEY SENT THEM THE WRONG REPLACEMENT SPRINGS. THAT WAS THE REASON MY BAG FELL OFF. AFTER THEY SPOKE WITH HARLEY THEY CHANGED THEIR STORY AND STATED THAT INDEED THEY DID REPLACE MY FAULTY SPRINGS WITH THE CORRECT REPLACEMENT SPRINGS.…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10787604 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE RIDING THE BIKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN APPLYING FRONT BRAKE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND DEALS WITH THE SWITCH HOUSING ON THE HANDLEBARS WHERE THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER IS ATTACHED. WHEN GOOGLED OTHER BIKE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND HARLEY DOES NOT WANT TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE AT THE TIME IT IS BROUGHT TO SHOP. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR THIS POSE A SERIOUS RISK TO RIDER AND OTHERS.

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10816751 at NHTSA ↗

CLUTCH/BRAKE GASKET FAILURE CAUSING FLUID TO ERODE RESERVOIR COVERS.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10836618 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2013-10-17 (October 17, 2013)

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2014 FLHTCU, FLHTK, FLHTP, FLHX, FLHXS, FLHTKSE, and FLHRSE motorcycles manufactured May 3, 2013, through October 14, 2013. The clutch master cylinder may allow air into the clutch system. Additionally, the motorcycles may have been assembled with an incorrect clutch release plate. Either condition may prevent the clutch from disengaging.

Consequence: If the clutch does not disengage, the rider may have difficulty slowing or stopping the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Harley-Davidson has already notified owners, and dealers will rebuild the clutch master cylinder and install the proper clutch release plate, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in late October 2013. Harley-Davidson's recall number is 0153. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson at 1-800-258-2464.

Reported: 2014-06-12 (June 12, 2014)

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2014 ABS-equipped Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles, models FLHTK, FLHTKSE, FLHTKSHRINE, FLHTCU, FLHTCUTC, FLHTP, FLHX, FLHXS, FLHXSHRINE, FLHR, FLHRC, FLHP, and FLHRSE, manufactured July 1, 2013, through May 7, 2014. The affected motorcycles may have been assembled with the front brake line positioned so that it can be pinched between the fuel tank and frame causing the front brake fluid pressure to increase.

Consequence: A pinched brake line will increase the front brake fluid pressure, possibly resulting in a front wheel lock-up, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the motorcycles for brake line damage and replace the damaged lines as necessary. Dealers will also install one or two cable straps to properly prevent the line from being pinched in the future, free of charge. The recall began on June 25, 2014. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464.

Reported: 2014-09-05 (September 5, 2014)

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2014 Electra Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Ultra Limited (FLHTK), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), Street Glide (FLHX), Tri Glide Ultra (FLHTCUTG), CVO Limited (FLHTKSE), CVO Road King (FLHRSE), CVO Breakout (FXSBSE), Electra Glide Ultra Classic Twin Cooled (FLHTCUTC), Ultra Limited Shrine (FLHTK SHRINE), Street Glide Shrine (FLHX SHRINE), and CVO Softail Deluxe (FLSTNSE). In the affected motorcycles, a component in the clutch master cylinder may fail, reducing the pressure available to keep the clutch disengaged.

Consequence: If the clutch does not remain disengaged, the motorcycle may creep forward while the rider intends to be stopped, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will rebuild the affected clutch master cylinders, free of charge. The recall began on September 17, 2014. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0159 & 0160.

Reported: 2015-04-13 (April 13, 2015)

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) notified the agency on April 9, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Electra Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Electra Glide Ultra Classic - Twin Cooled (FLHTCU TC), Ultra Limited (FLHTK), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), 2015 Electra Glide Ultra Classic Low (FLHTCUL), Ultra Limited Low (FLHTKL), Electra Glide Ultra Classic Low - Twin Cooled (FLHTCUL TC), Road Glide Special (FLTRXS), Road Glide (FLTRX), and 2014 CVO Road King (FLHRSE) motorcycles. On July 31, 2015, Harley-Davidson expanded the recall to cover an additional 61,065 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 flush the clutch system and rebuild the clutch master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began April 23, 2015. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0165.

Reported: 2015-07-06 (July 6, 2015)

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Road King (FLHR), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), Electra Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Ultra Limited (FLHTK), Police Road King (FLHP), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), CVO Ultra Limited (FLHTKSE), 2014 CVO Road King (FLHRSE), and 2015 Electra Glide Ultra Classic Low (FLHTCUL), Ultra Limited Low (FLHTKL), Road Glide (FLTRX), Road Glide Special (FLTRXS), CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), and CVO Road Glide Ultra (FLTRUSE) motorcycles. The affected motorcycles have saddlebag mounting receptacles that may not adequately secure the saddlebags to the motorcycle.

Consequence: If a saddlebag is not adequately secured, it may separate from the motorcycle while riding, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected saddlebag mounting receptacles with updated receptacles, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2015. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0166.