1998 Harley-Davidson Fl Series Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Harley-Davidson Fl Series, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical233.3%
- Powertrain (other)116.7%
- Suspension116.7%
- Tires & wheels116.7%
- Visibility116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MOTORCYCLE'S IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL AND DAMAGE. YH
INTERMITTENTLY AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES MOTORCYCLE LOSES ALL POWER. THE SPARK PLUGS DO NOT GET ANY ELECTRICITY. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. MODEL ULTRA CLASSIC.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPEEDOMETER STICKS AT 33 MPH WHEN WEATHER IS COOL (75 DEGRESS OF LOWER).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR FORK CRACK NOTED ABOVE REAR AXEL ON DRIVE SIDE OF FORK. COMPLETE FAILURE WOULD/COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASH. THIS PROBLEM IS NOTED IN WEB INFO AVAILABLE BY RESEARCHING GOOGLE SEARCH HARLEY DAVIDSON REAR FORK CRACKS. THIS RESEARCH REVEALED THAR IN FLH MODELS FROM 1996 TO 2002 THIS IS OCCURRING. I NOTED THE CRACK IN MY REAR FORK FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY IN A CLOSE FRIENDS 1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHT MODEL. WEB RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON MAJOR STRUCTURE FAILURE. HARLEY DAVIDSON 2003 AND NEWER MODELS HAVE STRENGTHENED THIS AREA OF THE REAR FORK. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
1998 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLH REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE MOTORCYCLE OVERTURNED WHILE PULLING OVER ONTO THE BERM. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE EJECTED OFF OF THE MOTORCYCLE WHICH THEN STRUCK A SIGN. *NM UPDATED 07/20/06
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
CURVED WINDSHIELD DISTORTS VISION, ALSO MOTORCYCLE REFLECTS IN WINDSHIELD. QCAW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .