RoadVitals

2017 Harley-Davidson Flde

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Feb 3, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2017 Harley-Davidson Flde, most frequently naming the brakes and engine categories. 36 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes150.0%
  • Engine150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Feb 3, 2019
1 injury reported

IF I CAN WRITE THIS MAIL, IT'S BECAUSE I'M STILL ALIVE. I'M GIUSEPPE AND I'M LIVING IN BRUSSELS BELGIUM. I HAVE A HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET ROD 750 SINCE SEPTEMBER 2017 BUT I RIDE SINCE MARCH 2018. I BOUGHT MY STREET ROD AT HARLEY-DAVIDSON BRUSSELS. IN APRIL 2018, MY DEALER MADE THE FIRST SERVICE AT 5000KM. THIS SATURDAY THE FIFTH OF THIS MONTH JANUARY AT 05:45 AM, I WAS RIDING HOME AFTER WORK. I WAS ALONE ON THE ROAD AND FORTUNATLY, I WAS RIDDING ONLY AT 50 KM/H ( 31 MILES. SUDANLY, THE PISTON OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE FRONT WHEEL WAS ACTIVATED WITHOUT REASON AND BLOCKED THE WHEEL. I FELL AND I FINISH MY WORK DAY IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A BROKEN THUMB, AN INJURED SHOULDER AND A BROKEN KNEE. TO RIDE WITH A HARLEY-DAVIDSON, IT'S A DREAM SINCE I WAS CHILD. NOW, I'M 53 AND I WANT TO STILL TRUST IN H-D BIKE AND H-D SERVICES. NOW, MY BIKE IS IN THE GARAGE OF THE H-D BRUSSEL, I'M VERRY ANGRY AND ANRAGED BECAUSE I RISKED MY LIFE. NOT BECAUSE OF AN OTHER DRIVER WHO WAS ON THE PHONE AND HE DOENS'T SAW ME, NOT BECAUSE OF THE GROUND WAS WET. BUT BECAUSE THE H-D MECANISME ARE NOT RELIABLE. I REMINDER YOU THAT IF I WAS RIDING AT 120 KM/H, I WAS DEAD. I WANT TO COMPLAINT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT. WE ARE THE 10 OF JANUARY, 5 DAYS AFTER MY ACCIDENT AND I'M ALWAYS THINKING, '' WTF!!!! I RISKED MY LIFE BECAUSE I WAS RIDING???!!!'' I'M SORRY GUYS, BUT I WILL NEVER GIVE UP.

NHTSA ID
11173798
Incident
Jan 5, 2019
Mileage
4,100 mi
Filed Nov 28, 2018

VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNDER A RECALL SINCE NOVEMBER 4, 2018. TODAY IS NOVEMBER 28, 2018 AND IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED, THE DEALER SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL GET TO IT. THEY HAVE A PARTS ISSUE. I THINK THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WAITING, AND NOT KNOWING WHEN IT WILL BE FIXED. THE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 18V734. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID
11154648
Incident
Nov 4, 2018
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 2018

MY ENGINE WOULD STALL OUT INTERMITTENTLY. TYPICALLY WOULD OCCUR WHEN STOPPING OR GOING. WOULD NOT RESTART WITH CLUTCH IN. HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL TO RESTART. A FAULTY CLUTCH MODULE WAS THE CAUSE. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES BY MY DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ID
11099563
Incident
Mar 3, 2018
Mileage
10,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; POWER TRAIN; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL; WHEELS

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.8.3): 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-48650). Version Version 26.8.3, Release Date: Week of July 24, 2026. NOTE: Software version (26.4.3) will need to be manually installed only if current software version of DT II is (26.0.2). After (26.4.3) is manually installed, automatic updates will bring DT II to the latest software version. Refer to bulletin M1713 for instructions. New Features - Harley-Davidson: 2023-2024 Touring: Updated Electronic Control Module (ECM) calibration offerings. LiveWire: S2DM/MH/AP: Calibration bundle 10.2.28: Telematic Control Unit (TCU) reflash updates. Change: Vehicle Setup: Body Control Module (BCM) – Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Replacement: Correct issue where tire size selections were not available. System Info – Auxiliary Load Controller (ALC): Added Bike configuration field. Data Items – Trike ECM: Improved display of Gear Position when in reverse. Amp – Added support for (Part No. 76001619).

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; EXTERIOR LIGHTING; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.7.3): 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-48650). Version 26.7.3. Release Date:• Week of June 11, 2026. NOTE Software version (26.4.3) will need to be manually installed only if current software version of DT II is (26.0.2). After (26.4.3) is manually installed, automatic updates will bring DT II to the latest software version. Refer to bulletin M1713 for instructions.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.6.2): 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-48650). Version 26.6.2. Release Date: Week of April 22, 2026. NOTE: Software version (26.4.3) will need to be manually installed only if current software version of DT II is (26.0.2). After (26.4.3) is manually installed, automatic updates will bring DT II to the latest software version. Refer to bulletin M1713 for instructions. New Features: 2026 Police • Vehicle Setup: Civilianize; LiveWire • S2: Del Mar (S2DM), Mulholland (S2MH), Alpinista (S2AP) - Calibration bundle 10.2.20: Vehicle Supervisory Controller (VSC) and Onboard Charger (OBC) reflash updates. Changes: 2026 Trike • Update “Reverse Lockout Reason” resize column.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.5.2): 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-48650). Version 26.5.2 Release Date: Week of March 30, 2026. NOTE Software version (26.4.3) will need to be manually installed only if current software version of DT II is (26.0.2). After (26.4.3) is manually installed, automatic updates will bring DT II to the latest software version. Refer to bulletin M1713 for instructions. New Features. 2024: Pan America (RA1250), Pan America Special (RA1250S), CVO Pan America (RA1250SE) • Updated Body Control Module (BCM) reflash calibration. 2024-2026: CVO Road Glide ST (FLTRXSTSE) • Updated Electronic Control Module (ECM) reflash calibration. 2026: CVO Street Glide ST (FLHXSTSE) • Updated ECM reflash calibration. Changes. 2026 Trike • Update “Reverse Lockout Reason” to support new values, • “Vehicle setup: Gear Indicator Calibration” – improve operation. 2025-2026 Softail • Update reflash for Softail Speedometer (SPDO) – enable operation of auxiliary lamp telltale. LiveWire S2 • Provide reflash support for Vehicle Supervisory Controller (VSC) hardware (Part No. 41001756RE).

M1679

ENGINE

SERVICE BULLETIN M1679: AFTERMARKET EXHAUST HEADER DEBRIS. PURPOSE: Initial release. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has identified instances of premature engine failure due to abrasive particle wear, specifically from debris inside new aftermarket exhaust headers. Recent evaluations have identified that certain newly manufactured exhaust headers may contain residual hard particles that, if not removed prior to installation, can migrate through the engine system and cause accelerated component wear or severe mechanical damage.

M1713

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1713 (REV C): DTII UPDATE PROCEDURE FOR SOFTWARE VERSION (26.4.3). PURPOSE: Revision C. This bulletin informs dealers that an issue was discovered in the Digital Technician II (DT II) software version (26.0.2), released on November 18, 2025. The issue prevents automatic software updates to be installed on your DT II computer. A manual installation of the latest DT II software version (26.4.3) will need to be performed if current DT II software version is (26.0.2), to allow future automatic updates. If a manual update to (26.1.5) or (26.3.2) has previously been completed, DT II will automatically update to (26.4.3) and no additional action is needed.. Revision C. Updated: Purpose for Service Bulletin and Required Dealer Action. Updated to Software Version (26.4.3).

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Flde by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2020100—
2019120—
2018520—
2017Viewing300—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.