Motorcycle, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from no date to no date.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
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.
48 complaints on file, page 1 of 3.
I was on my 2007 Harley Ultra Classic, going a little over speed limit, but my feet were on the highway pegs away from rear brake. I was in 6th gear as I had a few miles to my destination, the rear wheel locked up causing a straight slide at first the went into a fish tailing state before I completely lost control and crashed causing me to hit the ground with some injuries and a total loss of my bike.
NHTSA complaint 11521711TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON TRI GLIDE FLTR. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVE BELT MALFUNCTIONED AND BECAME MISALIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE BEARINGS THAT HELD THE PIVOT SHAFT TOGETHER EXHIBITED PREMATURE EXCESSIVE WEAR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE BEARINGS WERE FAULTY. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE BEARINGS CONTAINED FRAGMENTS OF RUBBER AND METAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,000.
NHTSA complaint 11000009MICHELIN COMMANDER 11 TIRE, SIZE 149-90-B16REAR, SEPARATED, 8" SECTION OF CAP TREAD CAME OFF TIRE. TIRE IS 14 MONTHS OLD AND HAS 8252 MILES ON IT. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10531659TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE SHIFTING FLY WHEEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE SHIFTING FLY WHEEL ALSO CAUSED THE OIL PUMP TO BECOME FRACTURED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO APPROVED FACTORY REMEDIES THAT WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SO THAT THE ENGINE COULD BE DISASSEMBLED, WELDED AND TRUDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER OR A MECHANIC FOR THE REPAIR IF THE REMEDY WAS NOT APPROVED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,868.
NHTSA complaint 10485130TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVISON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,000.
NHTSA complaint 10463045ENGINE KNOCKS AND KICKS BACKS, ON STARTING AND WHEN ACCELERATING,HAS BEEN WORKED ON SEVERAL TIMES, BY HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER. THE PROBLEM I'VE BEEN TOLD IS THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET AND ASSEMBLY . THROUGH MANY FORUMS AND TALKS WITH OTHER HARLEY RIDERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, THE FIX TO THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESEARCHED THE COMPENSATOR IS FOR IT TO BE REPLACED WITH THE SCREAMING EAGLE COMPENSATOR PART #40274-08.IF THIS IS NOT RECALLED OR REPAIRED BY HARLEY IT CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE FOR THE OWNER TO REPAIR APPROX. 600.00 DOLLARS BUT MORE IMPORTANT THE COMPENSATOR CAN COME APART POSSIBLY BUSTING THE PRIMARY CASE LETTING OIL TO SPILL ON TO ROAD AND TIRES WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY HURTING SOMEONE OR WORSE KILLING SOMEONE. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10440004TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED THAT A METAL PIECE WAS JAMMED IN THE CHAIN, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
NHTSA complaint 10401256FRONT BRAKE FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA complaint 103200872007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. CLUTCH CABLE CONTACT WITH REAR BRAKE LINE CAUSED HOLE TO BE WORN IN BRAKE LINE. TOTAL LOSS OF FLUID RESULTED IN FAILURE OF REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. CONTACTED HARLEY-DAVIDSON BAYSIDE IN PORTSMOUTH, VA AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPLACEMENT OF LINE. STATED THEY WOULD CALL COMPANY AND REPORT BACK. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10319515BRAKE FAILURE OF REAR BRAKE ON 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON MODEL FLHTCUI .REAR BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATE BECAUSE BRAKE LINE DEVELOPED A SMALL HOLE FROM ABRASION BY CONTACT WITH THE CLUTCH CABLE. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10275871AS I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROX. 50 MPH IN 5TH GEAR I NOTICED A DROP IN OIL PRESSURE AND A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. I PULLED THE BIKE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT IT DOWN. I WAITED FOR A WHILE AND RESTARTED IT. THE OIL PRESSURE SEEMED OK AND THE ENGINE WAS QUIET. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THREE TIMES BEFORE I GOT HOME. I CALLED MY LOCAL HARLEY DEALER AND THEY PICKED MY BIKE UP AND TOOK IT TO THEIR SHOP. AFTER THEY STRIPPED THE ENGINE DOWN AND CHECKED IT OUT THEY TOLD ME THE CRANKSHAFT RUNOUT WAS WAY BEYOND SPEC AND WAS STARTING TO WIPE OUT THE OIL PUMP. THE BIKE HAD 5,000 MILES ON IT. IT WAS BAD ENOUGH THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON DECIDED TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE ENGINE. I'VE HEARD THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE NEW 96 CUBIC INCH ENGINE. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10250125STARTED MY '07HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU AND BACKED OUT OF PARKING STALL, BIKE WAS ALREADY IN 1ST GEAR, STARTED TO RELEASE THE CLUTCH TO MOVE THE BIKE WHEN THE ENGINE WENT TO FULL THROTTLE WITH NO INPUT FROM ME. THE BIKE LURCHED FORWARD SO I IMMEDIATELY TWISTED THE THROTTLE OFF AND APPLIED THE FRONT BRAKE BECAUSE I WAS HEADING FOR A CURB. AGAIN THE ENGINE WENT TO FULL THROTTLE ON IT'S OWN. THE BRAKE HAD NO EFFECT SO BEFORE I HIT THE CURB I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND STRAIGHTENED THE BIKE SO I WOULD HIT THE CURB AT A RIGHT ANGLE AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID A TREE. THE BIKE FLEW ABOUT 4-5 FT AND LANDED ON GRASS. I TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE BIKE BUT DESPITE MY EFFORTS THE ENGINE REMAINED WIDE OPEN. I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH BUT THE BIKE SWERVED IN THE SLIPPERY GRASS AND WENT DOWN ON IT'S LEFT SIDE. THE BIKE RIGHTED ITSELF AND KEPT GOING BUT FELL IMMEDIATELY AGAIN ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS SCENARIO REPEATED ITSELF ONE MORE TIME FALLING ON THE LEFT SIDE ONLY THIS TIME IT FELL MORE VIOLENTLY AND EJECTED ME INTO THE DIRT. AS I WAS LAYING THERE I HEARD MY MOTORCYCLE ROARING AND SAW THAT IT HAD FLIPPED OVER ON IT'S RIGHT SIDE ABOUT 30 FEET AWAY AND WAS LAYING PERFECTLY HORIZONTAL WITH THE REAR WHEEL SPINNING. THE BIKE WAS SLOWLY TWISTING ON THE GRASS FROM THE TORQUE OF THE ENGINE AND I HAD A MOMENT OF FEAR THINKING THAT IF THE WHEELS DUG IN AGAIN THERE'S NO TELLING WHICH DIRECTION IT WOULD GO AND I COULDN'T MOVE. I TRIED TO TWIST MY BODY AROUND TO PUT MY FEET TOWARDS THE BIKE AS MY ONLY DEFENSE BUT COULDN'T DO IT. FORTUNATELY, AFTER ABOUT 3 SECONDS, THE ENGINE QUIT. PEOPLE CAME TO MY AID IMMEDIATELY AND IN 15 MINUTES I WAS IN AN AMBULANCE. I SPENT TWO WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH 3 BROKEN VERTEBRAE, 1 BROKEN COLLAR BONE, 2 BROKEN SHOULDER BONES AND 6 BROKEN RIBS. THE BIKE IS IN MY GARAGE. I WON'T LET ANYBODY TOUCH IT UNTIL I GET AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO EXAMINE IT. MY BEST GUESS IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT TRIED TO "RESUME" SOME FORMER SPEED. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10242699HEAT FROM THE REAR EXHAUST IS SO INTENSE THAT IT CAUSED BURNS TO MY WIFE WITH HER FEET ON THE PASSENGER FOOTBOARDS AS DESIGNED. CAUSED BURNS TO THE INSIDE OF MY RIGHT THIGH. *TR
NHTSA complaint 102421552007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON TWIN CAM ENGINE HAS EXCESSIVE HEAT. WHENEVER AIR TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 95 THE AIR COOLED ENGINE DOES NOT COOL PROPERLY. DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM ENGINE, THE BACK OF MY LEGS ARE GETTING EXTREMELY HOT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONCENTRATE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10236886TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR (UP TO 3ED GEAR OR DOWN TO N) . TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF 6YH GEAR BACK INTO 5TH GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AM AFRAID THE TRANSMISSION WILL LOCK UP CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10232228TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS RIDING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, WITH HIS SPOUSE ON THE BACK OF THE BIKE AND HER FOOT ON THE FOOT BOARD, THE FOOT BOARD DETACHED FROM THE BIKE AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT A BOLT FELL OFF INSIDE THE FRAME. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,624 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,900.
NHTSA complaint 10231817TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH AND GREATER AROUND THE CORNERS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE STOPS WOBBLING ONCE THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN CONSIDERABLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE STILL EXISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,834 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,100.
NHTSA complaint 102268332007 FLHTCU HARLEY DAVIDSON RUNS SO HOT IT COOKS YOUR LEGS. DEALER SAYS THIS IS DUE TO FED EMISSION. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10223580ENGINE RUNS EXCESSIVELY HOT ON THE REAR CYLINDER. TEMP. DIFFERENCE OF 100 DEGREES. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10209777HAD THIS '07 FLHTCU SINCE 04/07. THE HEAT COMING OFF THE ENGINE IS TOTALLY UNBEARABLE ABOVE 85 F. THE WIFE HAS HAD FIRST DEGREE BURNS TWICE NOW AS THE SUMMER HAS WORN ON. I'VE DONE ALL THE HD RECOMMENDATIONS, KEEPING WITHIN THE SUM TOTAL OF THE PARTS THAT CAME WITH THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE. I WILL NOT SPEND MORE MONEY WITH HD TO CORRECT A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. FROM ALL THE READING ON THE SUBJECT THAT HD HAS FORCED ME TO PURSUE ... IT CAN BE CORRECTED. I FIND IT ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE ALL MY CALLS TO HD AND THE CONTACTS WITH HD DEALERS HAVE JUST BEEN BLOWING ME OFF. MOST RECENTLY I WAS DOING 75 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE IN 85 F TEMP. AND THE ENGINE JUST TURNS OFF, VERY BAD ... I MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD BETWEEN A COUPLE OF 18 WHEELERS, PRETTY DANGEROUS. AFTER 30 MIN. OF CHECKING EVERY THING I COULD, IT JUST STARTED. IT SEEMED TO BE RUNNING HOT, EVEN AT THAT SPEED; BACK TO A DEALER NEXT AND PROBABLY THE USUAL ... CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. SEEMS TO ME HD HAS A BIG RESPONSIBILITY HERE, VERY SAD THAT THEY WON'T SUPPORT THEIR CUSTOMER. AND, WHERE'S THE GOV'T.PEOPLE ?? *TR THE SYSTEM RELAY SWITCH FAILED WHICH WAS HEAT RELATED. THE DEALER SPECULATED THE LEFT SIDE MUFFLER CLAMP WAS LEAKING WHICH WAS BLOWING HOT EXHAUST NEAR THE FUSE BLOCK. UPDATED09/27/07. *JB
NHTSA complaint 10202455Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.