RoadVitals

1997 Harley-Davidson Flht

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.
7
Latest Feb 23, 2000
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.
1
Latest Jul 14, 1998
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

Overview

Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Harley-Davidson Flht, most frequently naming the electrical, powertrain (other) and suspension 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical466.7%
  • Powertrain (other)116.7%
  • 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.

Safety recalls

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.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Jul 14, 1998
55,013 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FL TOURING MOTORCYCLES. A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN OCCUR DUE TO EXCESSIVE CURRENT AND OTHER FACTORS.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL TO START, OPERATE ERRATICALLY, OR STALL.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH/CIRCUIT BREAKER AND INSTALL A RELAY KIT.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Filed Feb 23, 2000

HARLEY REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM YET MULTIPLE PERSONS HAVE SINCE CONFIRMED TO ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL HARLEY MECHANICS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
719118
Incident
Feb 12, 2000
Electrical
Filed Feb 4, 1999

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN JULY CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER HAS NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THEY ARE STILL ON BACK ORDER. RECALL NUMBER 98V15000. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
834457
Electrical
Filed Dec 1, 1998

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN JULY 1998. CONTACTED DEALER, NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT YET RECEIVED PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. RECALL NUMBER 98V158000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
831529
Electrical
Filed Nov 3, 1998

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED A PART FOR THEIR IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE RECEIVING THE LETTER , WHICH WAS ON JULY 22ND. THE RECALL NO. IS 98V158000. *AK

NHTSA ID
830048
Incident
Jul 22, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jul 13, 1998

MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK MOTORCYCLE TO DEALERSHIP & IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. NO CRASH OR INJURIES. 1997 FLHTCUI BROUGHT JAN 1997, READ IT IN MCN. *AK

NHTSA ID
825344
Incident
Aug 10, 1996
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 26, 1997

CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION CAUSED BY FAULTY SPEEDOMETER.

NHTSA ID
521451
Incident
May 1, 1997
Suspension
Filed Jun 10, 1997

VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT.

NHTSA ID
518448

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Flht by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2022010
2021010
2020010
2019300
2010121
2009831
2008422
2007400
2006100
2005100
2004100
2003210
2002610
2001610
2000100
1999810
1998410
1997Viewing710
1996710
1995310
1994010

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.