2017 Harley-Davidson FLTRXS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
2,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 8 complaints (62.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 12.5% |
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 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 |
Power Train: 5; Engine: 2; Electrical System: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 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 | 1 |
| 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: 1; 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). 3 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 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
2017: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10995751 · 2017-06-18 (June 18, 2017)
THIS APPLIES TO HARLEY DAVIDSON 2017 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE NEW M8 ENGINE. GEAR LUBRICANT WILL TRANSFER FROM THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION TO THE PRIMARY CASE OF THE ENGINE RESULTING IN THE OVERFILLING OF THE PRIMARY CASE AND ZERO LUBRICANT IN THE TRANSMISSION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP AND SLIDING THE REAR WHEEL DUE TO NO LUBRICATION IN THE TRANSMISSION. IF THIS HAPPENS DEATH OR SEVERE INJURY COULD OCCUR. IT ALSO IS A HUGE RELIABILITY ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION HAVING LESS GEAR LUBE THAN WHAT IT WAS DE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10995751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11006574 · 2017-07-20 (July 20, 2017)
ON 7/19/17, WHILE RIDING IN 85+ DEGREE HEAT, THE CLUTCH ON THE BIKE BEGAN TO OPERATE DIFFERENTLY THAN NORMAL, ENGAGING EARLIER AND EARLIER. (NORMALLY THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THE LAST FEW DEGREES OF TRAVEL AT THE HAND LEVER.) AS TRAFFIC GREW AND BECAME MORE STOP AND GO, THIS BECAME WORSE AND WORSE UNTIL FINALLY, WITH THE CLUTCH LEVER PULLED ALL THE WAY BACK, THE BIKE CONTINUED TO MOVE UNDER ITS OWN POWER, EVEN WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. ONLY SWITCHING THE ENGINE OFF KEPT ME FROM HITTING THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 11006574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11041938 · 2017-11-01 (November 1, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRXS ROAD GLIDE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, AN OBJECT STRUCK THE VEHICLE AND FRACTURED THE OIL COOLER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HARLEY DAVIDSON (4000 N HWY 75, SHERMAN, TX 75090) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE, BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124.
Owner-reported narrative. 124 miles reported. Look up ODI 11041938 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11091079 · 2018-04-30 (April 30, 2018)
FINALLY GOT THE BIKE BACK AFTER 7 DAYS IN THE SHOP. I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY UNDER ACCELERATION AND THE BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT GETTING RUN OVER. CALLED THE LOCAL HD DEALER FROM THE SHOULDER. WHEN I GOT OFF THE PHONE THE BIKE STARTED NORMALLY, SO I RODE IT DIRECTLY THERE WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. THEY KEPT IT ALL WEEK TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR. IT WAS DELIVERED TO MY HOUSE 7 DAYS LATER AND ROLLED INTO THE GARAGE. STARTED TO TAKE IT OUT THE NEXT MORNING. GOT ABOUT 1 MI AWAY BEF…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091079 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11151999 · 2018-11-16 (November 16, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE SPECIAL (FLTRXS). 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. THE CONTACT CALLED DALLAS HARLEY-DAVIDSON (334 W CENTERVILLE RD, GARLAND, TX 75041, [phone removed]) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11151999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11174682 · 2019-02-06 (February 6, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE SPECIAL (FLTRXS). THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V734000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO REPAIR THE MOTORCYCLE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. ROMMEL HARLEY-DAVIDSON DELMARVA (22586 SUSSEX HWY, SEAFORD, DE 19973) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 3608893. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCON…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11174682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11175534 · 2019-02-25 (February 25, 2019)
2017 HARLEY DAVIDSON. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SYSTEM. *LD *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11175534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11271769 · 2019-10-29 (October 29, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE SPECIAL (FLTRXS) MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS VERY LOW AND FLUID WAS ERRONEOUSLY TRANSFERRED FROM THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE PRIMARY CHAIN CASE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. RED ROCK HARLEY-DAVIDSON (2260 S RAINBOW BLVD, LAS VEGAS, NV 89146) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11271769 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 ↗