2015 Harley-Davidson FLHXS: complaints, problems and recalls

EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM A DEFECTIVE ENGINE DESIGN HAS CAUSED SEVERAL BURNS TO RIGHT LOWER LEG. REAR CYLINDER CREATES EXCESSIVE HEAT WHICH FORCES OPERATOR TO ASSUME UNSAFE SITTING POSITIONS TO AVOID ENGINE HEAT, WHICH RIGHT LEG IS ALWAYS EXPOSED TO WITH NO CHOICE DUE TO VEHICLE CONTROLS.

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10716123 at NHTSA ↗

STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN I PULLED IN THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AND PUT THE BIKE IN 1ST GEAR, THE BIKE TOOK OFF. THE CLUTCH WAS COMPLETELY INEFFECTIVE AND I BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE BIKE BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES AND SHUTTING THE BIKE OFF. THE BIKE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AS IT IS NOT SAFE TO RIDE. WHEN THE DEALER RAN THE VIN TO SEE IF IT WAS PART OF THE 2014-2015 FLHXS THAT ARE RECALLED...IT CAME UP AS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.

Owner-reported narrative. 398 miles reported. Look up ODI 10747700 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHXS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V216000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10764540 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHXS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE CAUSING IT TO RUN OFF OF THE ROAD AND FLIP THE CONTACT OFF OF THE MOTORCYCLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH THERE WERE INJURIES SUSTAINED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V21600…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10806758 at NHTSA ↗

CLUTCH FAILED TO DISENGAGE. I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD JUST ROLLED MY MOTORCYCLE OUTTA THE GARAGE. STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE IN NEUTRAL AND THAT'S WHEN IT LEAPED FORWARD WITH A VIOLENT JERKING MOTION AND WOULDN'T STOP. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP HANGING ONTO THE RIGHT HAND BRAKE LEVER UNTIL IT ULTIMATELY KILLED THE ENGINE AND STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DEALER HAS ESTIMATED THE DAMAGE TO BE OVER $9200...!!! IT HAS HAD ALL RECALLS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED.

Owner-reported narrative. 15,062 miles reported. Look up ODI 10927753 at NHTSA ↗

ON 7/2/17 I WAS RIDING ON HIGHWAY 13 TRAVELING 50-55 MILES PER HOUR AND GOING INTO A GENTLE CURVE HEADING TO CLINTON, MO. FOR LUNCH WITH A GROUP OF FRIENDS. MY RIGHT SADDLEBAG CAME OFF THE BIKE AND SLIDE ACROSS THE ASPHALT ROAD INTO A GRASSY AREA. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN BAD SINCE THERE WERE FIVE (5) BIKES BEHIND ME, I TURNED AROUND AS DID SOME OF THE OTHER TO GO BACK TO GET WHAT WAS LEFT OF MY BAG AND CONTENTS. ON SATURDAY 7/1/17 I HAD MY BIKE IN THE SHOP FOR IT'S 20,000 MILE SERVICE AND TOLD THEM TO CHECK EVERYTHING OUT REALLY GOOD BECAUSE I AM…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 11002909 at NHTSA ↗

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.