2018 Harley-Davidson Flde 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 2018 Harley-Davidson Flde, 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
- Brakes233.3%
- Powertrain (other)233.3%
- Exterior lighting116.7%
- Suspension116.7%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Faulty front brake light switch causes the brake light to remain on all the time. Comon failure and the part is on back order for two months. Issue has been confirmed by dealer.
2018 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL DELUXE 2400 MILES. WAS RIDING AT LUNCH HEADING BACK TO WORK, ON A CITY STREET CAME TO A INTERSECTION THE LIGHTS WERE TURNING RED WENT TO APPLY MY FRONT BRAKES AND THEY WENT FROM WORKING WITH NO ISSUES OR SIGNS OF ISSUES TO COMPLETE FAIL OF THE FRONT BRAKES PULLED OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH WHILE APPLYING MY REAR BRAKES TO AVOID FROM GOING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. NOTE: BIKE WAS MANUFACTURED IN NOVEMBER OF 2018 FROM HARLEY THEY TRIED TO CLAIM THE ISSUE WAS MY FAULT THAT THE BRAKES FAILED DUE TO IMPROPER CARE OF THE UNIT. HARLEY SAID I SHOULD HAVE BLEED MY BRAKES THAT IT IS RECOMMENDED EVERY TWO YEARS... THE BIKE IS 15 MONTHS OLD WELL UNDER THE 24 MONTH RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BRAKE FLUSH AND IS NEVER LEFT OUTSIDE OR DRIVEN IN THE RAIN AND IS ALWAYS IN A GARAGE OR WARE HOUSE WHILE AT HOME OR WORK. THEY WILL COVER UNDER WARRANTY BUT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE ON THIS BIKE!
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
MY MOTORCYCLE WAS RECALLED FOR A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING CONDITION. FLUID COULD LEAK PAST THE CLUTCH RESERVOIR AND CAUSE THE DRIVE TRAIN TO STAY ENGAGED AND YOU CANT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR CAUSING YOU TO CRASH. THIS IS MARCH 21, 2019 AND I AM 123 CUSTOMERS AWAY FROM THE HARLEY DEALERSHIP FROM HAVING PARTS TO FIX MY BIKE.
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON NOVEMBER 5TH 2018 AND STILL CANNOT GET THE DEALER TO FIX THE RECALL ISSUE, IT IS NOW JANUARY 9TH 2019
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
Faulty front brake light switch causes the brake light to remain on all the time. Comon failure and the part is on back order for two months. Issue has been confirmed by dealer.
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
My 2018 Harley Softail was repaired .The rear shock adjuster bolt was broken 11/1/2018 at 1500 mile this was before the recalls.Then it was repaired again with the recall 2/6/24 it was broken again.My bike was then repaired again on 7/29/25 for the recall .It was broken at the time again. On 8/25/25 I was riding home I felt a large bang to the rear and thought I had been hit.I was going slow I was able to handle the bike.I pulled to the shoulder and realized it was the shock adjuster again.I took my bike to Harley 8/30 with all my paperwork.Where it is now.I can visibly see my rear fender is pushed it to the tire.This is 4X the same defect.I could have been killed.Wondering how many have been killed or hurt for this very defect??? That is why I'm filing this report and calling Harley.
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 .