2018 Harley-Davidson FLHXS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
21 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 6 complaints (83.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 16.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 16.7% |
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 | 5 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Power Train: 5; Engine: 1; Service Brakes: 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 | 2 |
| 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: 2; 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 (2). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 5 |
2018: 1; 2019: 5
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 11118656 · 2018-08-08 (August 8, 2018)
I EXPERIENCED A FRONT BRAKE LOCK-UP THAT THREW ME OFF THE BIKE, AND ALMOST GOT RAN OVER BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. IT SEEMED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CALIPERS, BUT DON'T KNOW FOR SURE. I WAS GOING AT 20 MILES PER HOUR AS WAS STARTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP LIGHT. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AS THE BIKE IS BRAND NEW, AND THEY CAME AND PICKED IT UP UNDER THE WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11165402 · 2019-01-05 (January 5, 2019)
I RECEIVED A NOTICE ON NOV.05, 2018 HARLEY DAVIDSON RECALL NO. 0173 NHTSA RECALL NO. 18V734. I WENT APPROXIMATELY ON NOV. 17, 2018 TO DROP OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AT ONE OF THE LOCAL HARLEY DEALERSHIPS IN GARLAND TX. AND WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET ON THE LIST AND THAT I WOULD BE CALLED WHEN IT CAME MY TURN DUE TO THEM NOT HAVING THE PARTS NEEDED TO FIX THE RECALL. I WENT BACK ON 18TH OF DEC. 2018 AND ASKED ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS IF HE HAD ANY IDEA ON THE WAIT AND FOR THE FIX. HE SAID HE COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ANSWER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11165402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11170373 · 2019-01-16 (January 16, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE SPECIAL (FLHXS). THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V734000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. DESTINATION HARLEY-DAVIDSON (LOCATED AT 2302 PACIFIC HWY E, TACOMA, WA 98424, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11170373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11186577 · 2019-03-13 (March 13, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE (FLHXS). THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V734000 (POWER TRAIN). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BERT'S BARRACUDA HARLEY-DAVIDSON (2805 54TH AVE N, ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33714, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11186577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11186605 · 2019-03-13 (March 13, 2019)
DRIVING AROUND A CURVE IN THE STATE BACK ROAD (35-40MPH MAX) AND LOST CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE; CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. I CAN PROVIDE BETTER DETAILS AND PHOTOS.
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 11186605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11193768 · 2019-04-04 (April 4, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE SPECIAL (FLHXS). 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. NORTH COUNTRY HARLEY-DAVIDSON (LOCATED AT 3099 NORTH BELFAST AVENUE, AUGUSTA, ME 04330, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11193768 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 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 ↗