2021 Harley-Davidson FLHXS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 50.0% |
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 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Electrical System: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 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
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. 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 11541898 · 2023-08-31 (August 31, 2023)
The bike randomly goes into limp mode. When codes are pulled they are always the same ECM and ABS codes. Took the bike to Harley Dealer they said they couldn't find anything wrong and couldn't duplicate it. It's happened four times now. Leaving a stoplight and entering a freeway are two examples. There is no warning before going into limp mode.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11541898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11655472 · 2025-04-18 (April 18, 2025)
This is my second report on 2021 street glide special. Bike goes into limp mode whenever it wants to. This has happened at idle at a light, driving 25 MPH in town and running at 65 MPH on the freeway. Bike was at the dealer for a month in 2022 and they claimed nothing was wrong. The first time was at 13,000 miles, Bike is currently at 28,000 and problem still here. Check engine light comes on and codes all run you in circles. Resetting ECM seems to be a short term fix. This is a very dangerous problem that needs to be addressed.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11655472 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.
22V781000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
Reported: 2022-10-18 (October 18, 2022)
Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Trike and CVO Trike and 2020-2022 Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles. Please refer to Addendum A for specific vehicle model details. Due to a software error, the brake lights may illuminate without the rider applying the brakes. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Unintended illumination of the brake lights may confuse other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the software on Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles. On Trike and CVO Trike motorcycles, a new pressure switch will also be installed. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2022. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0635.
NHTSA campaign record ↗