2018 Harley-Davidson FLTRXS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
1,993 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 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
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 6 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
Engine: 4; Power Train: 3
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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2018: 4; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 11089192 · 2018-04-21 (April 21, 2018)
NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO ME, HOWEVER , HARLEY HAS BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THEIR NEW MILWAUKEE EIGHT ENGINES" ( SERVICE BULLETIN , 1450 ) THE PROBLEM CENTERS AROUND AN ISSUE CALLED OIL SUMPING. THIS CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO MIS-DIRECT THE OIL INTO THE CRANKCASE ,MAKING THE FLYWHEEL HAVE TO TURN THROUGH THE OIL ,CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SLOW DOWN, AND/OR STALL . THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WOULD HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO HAPPEN ON STOCK MOTORCYCLES, AS WELL AS THOSE EQUIPPED WITH PERFORMANCE KITS FROM HARLEY. AGAIN, I HAVE NOT EXPE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11089192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11141185 · 2018-10-18 (October 18, 2018)
WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE WENT TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC AND THE BIKE HAD NO ACCELERATION HAD JUST ENOUGH TO GET BIKE MOVING AND IN WAY OF OTHER VEHICLES. I WAS ABLE TO NARROWLY GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING HIT OTHER CAR MISSED US BY JUST A COUPLE OF FEET .WHILE TALKING WITH THE DEALER THEY STATED THEY HAVE 3 OTHER BIKES DOING THE SAME AND DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11141185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11142630 · 2018-10-25 (October 25, 2018)
I WAS DRIVING MY BIKE WHEN IT JUST CUT OFF AND I HEARD SOMETHING RATTLE. HARLEY PICKED UP MY BIKE BECAUSE I WAS STRANDED AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEN A WEEK LATER AFTER PICKING THE BIKE UP THE BIKE CUT OFF AGAIN WHILE DRIVING AND NOW THEY SAID I NEED A NEW ENGINE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY WOULD I NEED A NEW ENGINE IF MY BIKE IS BRAND NEW OR A TRANSMISSION. THIS IS HORRIBLE AND EXTREMLY DANGEROS BECASUE I WAS ON A HIGHWAY BOTH TIMES.
Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 11142630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11156828 · 2018-12-07 (December 7, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE SPECIAL (FLTRXS). THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V734000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED TOP ROCKET HARLEY-DAVIDSON (22107 SHERMAN WAY, CANOGA PARK, CA 91303, [phone removed]) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND WAS ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11156828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11173116 · 2019-01-30 (January 30, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 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. INDIANAPOLIS SOUTHSIDE HARLEY-DAVIDSON (4930 SOUTHPORT CROSSING PL, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46237, [phone removed]) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE CONTACT WAS BEHIND 400 OTHER CONSUMERS WAITING FOR THE REPAIR. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,985 miles reported. Look up ODI 11173116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11220266 · 2019-06-15 (June 15, 2019)
I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON A RURAL ROAD AND WAS TRYING TO SPEED UP. NOTICED BIKE HAD LOST ALL POWER AND FELT LIKE I WAS RUNNING INTO A 100MPH WIND AT 60 MPH. CHECK INGINE LIGHT CAME ON INFO BUTTON SAID LOW OIL. IT WAS FULL OF OIL 20 MILES PRIOR WHEN I TOOK OFF. I PULLED OVER IN A VERY UNSAFE AREA WITH 18 WHEELERS FLYING BY AT 60+ MPH AND CHECKED THE OIL THERE WAS BARELY ANY ON THE DIPSTICK. ALL THE OIL WAS PUMPED INTO THE CRANK CASE AND NOT BACK TO THE OIL PAN BOGGING DOWN THE MOTOR POTENTIALLY BURNING UP THE ENGINE AND ABSOLUTELY PUTTING M…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,008 miles reported. Look up ODI 11220266 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 ↗