Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Harley-Davidson Flht, most frequently naming the electrical and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 1998 | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 1998 | 2 | 3 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 4 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 5 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 6 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 7 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 98V158000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. ON 28 JUL 98. ON ABOVE DATE CONTACTED DEALER TO HONOR RECALL. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN AUGUST OR OCTOBER 30 1998. HOWEVER, RECALL HAS STILL NOT HONORED AT THIS TIME. *AK
H-D REDESIGNED THE TAPPETS IN THE EVO BIG TWIN MOTOR. MY MOTOR HAD 3 OF THE NEW STYLE TAPPETS AND ONE OF THE OLD TAPPETS INSTALLED IN IT. THE ROLLERS IN THE OLD STYLE TAPPET DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING METAL SHAVINGS PUMPED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. A PIECE OF METAL GOT INTO THE OIL PUMP ,AND CAUSED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO GET NOISY. IF A PIECE OF METAL MADE ITS WAY TO THE WRONG PLACE, THEN THE ENGINE FROZE UP AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENED ON MY 1989 H-D, FLHTC. VIN # [XXX]. IT HAD 74,800 MILES ON IT WHEN IT OCCURRED. THE SAMETHING HAPPENED. A TAPPET ROLLER DISINTEGRATED. THE SHOP THAT DID THE ENGINE OVERHAUL HAS ALSO SEEN IT HAPPEN ON OTHER MOTORCYCLES. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
OWNER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE JULY 22 1998. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OFF.
THE AMOUNT OF REPAIR KITS FOR IGNITION SWITCH THAT ARE BEING SHIPPED FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO THE DEALERS ARE GREATLY INSUFFICIENT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED SEVEN TIMES, AND CANNOT OBTAIN THE KITS AND CANNOT DETERMINE WHEN THEY WILL BE IN. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT FAILURE, RECALL NOTICE SENT HOWEVER UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE, WHILE OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO COME TO A SCHREECHING HALT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WOULD REPLACE THE SWITCH , STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND MANY HAD BEEN REPLACED FOR A FEE. *AK
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.