2017 Harley-Davidson FLHXSE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
7,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 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 3 of 6 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 3 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Power Train: 3; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 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). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2017: 1; 2018: 4; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 11022617 · 2017-09-11 (September 11, 2017)
MOTORCYCLE BOOM! AUDIO SYSTEM PRESENTS DISTORTED, CLIPPED, AND INTERMITTENT AUDIO WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING ABOVE IDLE RPM. ISSUE IS PRESENT FOR ALL AUDIO INPUTS (FM, USB/IPOD, SIRIUS XM, BLUETOOTH AUDIO, ETC.). ISSUE REGULARLY OCCURS AT MIDRANGE VOLUMES (5-10 BARS) WHEN BIKE IS MOVING AND ENGINE RPM >1500. THE STEREO SHOULD BE CLEARLY AUDIBLE, BUT INSTEAD CUTS OUT. IF THE RPM IS LOWERED, SUCH AS WHEN PULLING IN THE CLUTCH AND LETTING OFF THE THROTTLE, THE AUDIO WILL RETURN. THE SYMPTOMS ARE PRESENT AT ALL AUTOMATIC VOLUME CONTROL (AVC) SETTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11022617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11104938 · 2018-07-01 (July 1, 2018)
TRANSMISSION FLUID MIGRATES TO PRIMARY WHILE IN MOTION DEPLETING FLUID IN TRANSMISSION AND OVERFILLING PRIMARY. MIGRATION OCCURS WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND AFTER SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES FLUID IS NO LONGER MEASURABLE ON THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK. LOW FLUID RISKS DAMAGE/LOCKUP OF TRANSMISSION AND OR MALFUNCTION OF CLUTCH DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL THAT HAS MIGRATED INTO PRIMARY. HD HAS KNOWN ABOUT PROBLEM SINCE INTRODUCTION OF M8 MOTOR AND/OR HYDRAULIC CLUTCH ON CERTAIN BIKES AND HAS NOT COME UP WITH A REPAIR NOR ARE THEY WILLING TO REPLACE COMPONENTS RELAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,309 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11122249 · 2018-08-24 (August 24, 2018)
TRANSMISSION FLUID TRANSFERRING TO THE PRIMARY CASE, DEPLETING THE FLUID REQUIRED FOR THE TRANSMISSION. HAPPENS PERIODICALLY WHILE IN MOTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128766 · 2018-09-11 (September 11, 2018)
I PURCHASED THIS BIKE IN JAN. 2018 AND FOUND OUT THAT WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS AT NIGHT ON A DARK ROAD I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE THROUGH A TURN. NOT EVEN ABLE TO SEE THE LINE ON THE INSIDE OF TURN DUE TO THE LEAN ANGLE A BIKE HAS COMPARED TO A CAR WHERE THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY 2 TIMES AND THEY NOTED THE CONCERN WITH NO RESOLUTION. I HAVE HAD THE BIKE TO 2 SEPERATE DEALERSHIPS MULTIPLE TIMES AND NO RESOLUTION FOR THE CONCERN. BOTH DEALERSHIPS MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128766 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11140703 · 2018-10-16 (October 16, 2018)
EVERY TIME I RIDE, AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL IS DISCHARGED FROM THE CRANKCASE BREAKERS ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, SATURATE THE AIR FILTER, AND EVENTUALLY DRIP ONTO THE TIMING COVER
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11140703 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11490510 · 2022-10-23 (October 23, 2022)
At the 25K service no mention was made by the service tech. At the 30K service I was informed that oil is migrating form the transmission to the primary case. I was told to operate for 1000 miles bring it back to be verified. Brought it back on 10/22/2022. It was verified that oil is in fact migrating from the transmission to the primary case. This is a known problem with the M8 motorcycles. A service bulletin (M1492) has been made and the dealer stocks the repair kit. Part number 26500027. My concern is that the transmission (gearbox) will r…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11490510 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 ↗