2017 Harley-Davidson FLTRX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 3 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 33.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 33.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 33.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Engine: 2; Power Train: 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 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 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 (1). 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 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2017: 1; 2020: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 11014680 · 2017-08-11 (August 11, 2017)
TRANSMISSION IS MIGRATING FLUID OVER TO THE PRIMARY.HAD TO ADD TRANS FLUID SINCE NEW.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11014680 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11329219 · 2020-06-16 (June 16, 2020)
MY BIKE LEAKS HOT OIL OUT OF THE AIR CLEANER. THE HOT OIL HAS BURNED MY LEG AND OIL HAS GOTTEN ONTO THE RIGHT SADDLE BAG AND ONTO THE REAR TIRE CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE DEALERSHIP FIRST SAID THERE WAS TOO MUCH OIL IN THE BIKE AFTER THE SAME DEALER CHANGED THE OIL. THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT IN, THE SAID IT WAS A PINCHED BREATHER HOSE IN THE AIR INTAKE. THE 3RD TIME THE REPLACED THE BREATHER HOSE IN THE AIR INTAKE. THE 4TH TIME THEY SAID I WAS NOT RIDING HARD ENOUGH AND THE OIL THAT SHOULD BE SUCKING BACK INTO THE BREATHER WAS NOT DOI…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11329219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11536776 · 2023-08-06 (August 6, 2023)
The auto compression release on the front cylinder came loose and stripped the hole in the head that it was screwed into. The caused the head to have to be replaced. The total bill was approximately $2000. This caused a sudden loss of power on the road as the engine effectively had a hole in the top of it. This put my life at risk if I was unable to pull over to the side of the road. I have read from multiple sources that this is happening fairly often. I have also spoke to 2 different mechanics who have said the same thing.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11536776 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V333000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2017-05-22 (May 22, 2017)
Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2017 Electric Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), Police Road King (FLHP), Road King (FLHR), Road King Special (FLHRXS), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), Road Glide (FLTRX), and Road Glide Special (FLTRXS) motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, a clamp used to secure an engine oil cooler line may have been improperly installed.
Consequence: The incorrectly installed clamp may result in the engine oil cooler line detaching, causing a sudden loss of oil, potentially into the path of the rear tire, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the oil cooler line clamps, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 6, 2017. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0170.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗