Model year

2002 Harley-Davidson Flht

Motorcycle, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Dec 9, 2001 to Jul 21, 2011.

Recall campaigns covering this model year129k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints62.0 times the median 2002 motorcycle
Severity index0.02002 motorcycles average 5.4
First 24 months3Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2002 Harley-Davidson Flht peaked in 2001, with 1 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

00.250.50.7512001120042007201020132016201920222026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

50% of complaints about the 2002 Harley-Davidson Flht name engine and cooling

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Engine and cooling
3
Electrical system
1
Lighting
1
Fuel system
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

One recall campaign covers the 2002 Harley-Davidson Flht

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 2002 Harley-Davidson Flht
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
02V-002Jan 4, 2002On certain motorcycles, the clips that retain the wiring for the front fender tip light can become detached from the fender, causing the wires to…Lighting28,949Part replacement
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2002 Harley-Davidson Flht

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

6 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Jul 21, 2011Failure Jul 20, 201134,000 milesGranville, MIExterior lighting

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING FLHT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CLIP FROM THE FRONT FENDER BECAME LOOSE AND MADE CONTACT WITH THE FRONT TIRE. AS A RESULT, SOME OF THE FUSES WORE OUT AND THE HEADLIGHTS STOPPED ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V002000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECURRENCE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A WAITING LIST TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE A SECOND TIME FREE OF CHARGE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

    NHTSA complaint 10413888
  2. Filed Mar 8, 2010Failure Jul 15, 200929,000 milesSouth Milwaukee, WIEngine

    I OWN A 2002 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHT. LAST YEAR (2009) I NOTICED THAT MY FAIRING STARTED TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHEN THE ENGINE WAS AT 1500 TO 2200 RPM. I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE NEW AND PREVIOUSLY DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE BIKE VIBRATED SO BAD THAT THE FAIRING BRACKET BROKE. I HAD MY MECHANIC REPLACE THE BRACKET AS WELL AS THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT, WHICH DID NOT HELP THE VIBRATION. MY MECHANIC (INDEPENDENT) BELIEVES MY ENGINE CRANK SHAFT HAS "TURNED" OR IN OTHER WORDS IS OUT OF TOLERANCE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON LINE, I HAVE DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OTHER HARLEY DAVIDSON OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH MOTORCYCLES FROM 2001 TO 2010 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY BIKE HAS AROUND 30,000 MILES ON IT, AND VIBRATES SO BAD AT THE MENTIONED RPM'S THAT I CAN'T EVEN SEE THROUGH MY MIRRORS, MAKING THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10317621
  3. Filed Mar 2, 2007Failure Mar 2, 200740,000 milesMadison, MEEngine

    TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2002 FLHT ELECTRIC GLIDE STANDARD HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS BEING REPAIRED THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE CAM TENSIONER WAS WORN OUT . THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CAM TENSIONER WITH A MECHANICAL TENSIONER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 40,000. THE CONTACT STATED HIS CONCERN WAS THAT THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS TO INDICATE THE CAM TENSIONER FAILURE. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10184022
  4. Filed Jun 12, 2003Failure May 19, 20031,200 milesFour Oaks, NCFuel system, Tank assembly

    HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2002 FLHT FUEL TANK QUALITY PROBLEM LEADING TO SAFETY RISK OF FIRE AND VEHICLE STALLING EXPOSING OPERATORS AND/OR PASSENGERS TO PERSONAL DEATH OR PERMANENT DISABLEMENT. FUEL TANKS HAS A SIGNIFICANT RUST CHARACTERISTIC ALLOWING CONTAMINATES TO ENTER INTO THE MOTORCYCLES FUEL SYSTEM CAUSING A CARBURETOR OVERFLOW CONDITION RELEASING RAW FUEL ONTO THE MOTORCYCLE SURFACES LEADING TO FIRE RISK AND ENGINE STALL DURING OPERATION. I HAVE HAD YEARS OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER MODELS OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CYCLES WHICH HAVE NEVER EXHIBITED THIS PROBLEM AND ALL HAVE FACED THE SAME ENVIRONMENTS AND OPERATING CONDITIONS WITHOUT THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT ON THE MANUFACTURING DATE OF THE 2002 FLHT FUEL TANKS THE PROCESS INTRODUCED A QUALITY DEFECT FOR THE PRODUCTION RUN. ALSO, A DESIGN CHANGE IN 2003 PRODUCED FUEL TANKS THAT ADDS A REMOVABLE FUEL FILLER CUP TO THE TANK FURTHER DEMONSTRATES THAT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN QUALITY ISSUE WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON FUEL TANKS. THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR THE CHANGE OTHERWISE. ADDITIONALLY, CURRENT HARLEY-DAVIDSON R&D EFFORTS ON TANK COATING PROCESSES AND TANK COATING COMPOSITION WOULD NOT BE OCCURRING SAVE FOR THIS FUEL TANK QUALITY ISSUE. ALTHOUGH NO DEATHS NOR PERMANENT DISABILITIES HAVE RESULTED AS YET, THERE IS A SAFETY RISK TO THE CONSUMER FOR FIRE AND/OR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OF THIS QUALITY DEFECT WITH THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON FUEL TANK. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10021505
  5. Filed Sep 4, 2002Failure Aug 17, 2002Grand Junction, COGasoline

    AMBIANT AIR THAT IS COMING OFF MOTOR GRADUALLY BURNS PASSENGER OR DRIVER OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. CONSUMER NOT AWARE THAT HE IS BEING BURNT UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 8017891
  6. Filed Dec 9, 2001Failure Dec 2, 2001Shirley, NYWiring, Fuses and circuit breakers

    FRONT FENDER TIP LIGHT WIRE RUBS AGAINST TIRE, CAUSING WIRE TO FRAY AND MAKE CONTACT CAUSING THE LIGHT FUSE TO SHORT OUT. ALL HEAD LIGHTS, AUXILLIARY DRIVING LIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS AND MARKER LIGHTS GO OUT. THIS HAPPENING AT NIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS COULD PROVE TO BE FATAL.

    NHTSA complaint 755456
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

6 manufacturer communications cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • M1684 Aug 16, 2025 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    SERVICE BULLETIN M1684: MARKET SPECIFIC BATTERY INTRODUCTION. PURPOSE: Initial Release. This bulletin informs dealers of the availability of new batteries for new Original Equipment (OE) vehicle production and in the Parts and Accessories (P&A) catalog. Ava…
  • M1555 Sep 12, 2024 · Warranty Program/Extension
    SERVICE BULLETIN M1555 (REV E): BATTERY WARRANTY GUIDELINES. PURPOSE: Revision E. Added: Added procedures for the DCA-8000 E Battery Tester.* Updated: All sections. This bulletin informs the dealership network that Harley-Davidson has provided guidelines f…
  • M1490 Aug 8, 2024 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.8.8): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Ver…
  • PAB1158 Jul 10, 2024 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1158: OIL FILTER PACKAGING AND CASE QUANTITY UPDATE. PURPOSE: To inform dealerships that Harley-Davidson has made updates to oil filters including new part numbers, packaging design, and bulk case quanti…
  • M1490 May 1, 2024 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.6.4): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-…
  • PAB1146 Dec 21, 2023 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1146: 68193-95 BULB WEDGE, FENDER TIP LAMP. Purpose: To inform dealers of an issue with the bulb wire terminals not being to specification. The light bulbs were used in numerous front and rear fender tip…
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.