RoadVitals

2007 Harley-Davidson Flhtc Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
14
Latest Dec 29, 2016
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
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.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2007 Harley-Davidson Flhtc, 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

  • Engine637.5%
  • Transmission318.8%
  • Powertrain (other)212.5%
  • Brakes212.5%
  • Exterior lighting16.3%
  • Electrical16.3%
  • Tires & wheels16.3%

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

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED HIS EXHAUST PIPE TURNED RED AFTER OVERHEATING. THE OVER HEATING IS CAUSED BY THE EXHAUST PIPE AND CYLINDER HEAD. THE DEALER IS WAITING FOR APPROVAL FROM THE REGIONAL MANAGER TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.

NHTSA ID 10266988 · filed Apr 27, 2009

MY 2007 FLHTC HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS BEEN A LEMON SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2007. THE BIKE ALWAYS RUNS HOT DUE TO THE FACT THERE IS NO OIL PRESSURE AT TIMES. THE CPK UNIT WENT OUT AND LEAKED OIL EVERYWHERE AFTER ONE MONTH. THE FRONT PART OF THIS UNIT, WHICH WAS INSIDE THE MOTOR, WAS DAMAGED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID SOMETHING HAD TO HAVE HIT IT. INSTEAD OF TEARING DOWN THE MOTOR TO FIND OUT WHAT HIT IT THEY JUST REPLACED IT. OIL PRESSURE CONSTANTLY DROPS AFTER RIDING FOR AWHILE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT WAS NORMAL. NOW THE BIKE HAS NO OIL PRESSURE AND IS LEAKING OIL FROM SOMEWHERE. IT IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING WORKED ON AGAIN. I DO NOT TRUST THIS BIKE TO GO ANYWHERE FAR FROM HOME. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH EITHER THE OIL PUMP OR THE WAY OIL IS CIRCULATED. YOU HAVE TO LOOK WHILE RIDING TO SEE IF OIL IS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE. IF THE MOTOR LOCKS UP FROM LACK OF OIL THE BIKE WILL BE PAST DANGEROUS. OIL PUMP ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN MENTIONED ON WEB SITES AS THE PROBLEM. HARLEY WILL NOT STAND BEHIND FIXING THIS BIKE CORRECTLY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID 10230014 · filed Jun 5, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE. THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF NOISE AND VIBRATION THAT COMES FROM THE TRANSMISSION IN 5TH AND 6TH GEAR. I PUT IN HEAVY 75-90 GEAR OIL AND IT GOT A LITTLE QUIETER. NOW IT SEEMS HD HAS PUT IN AN ISOLATED DRIVE SYSTEM IN THERE 08 TOURING MODELS AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. YOU CAN PURCHASE THE UNIT FOR $305.00 PLUS LABOR TO PUT ON THE 07 TOURING MODELS. HARLEY DAVIDSON KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE 07 TRANSMISSION, FIXED IT ON THE 08 BUT WANT THE CONSUMER OF AN 07 TO PAY FOR THE PART AND THERE MISTAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10218206 · filed Feb 16, 2008

MOTOR RUNS HOT; FOUND BY USING 89 GRADE, RUNS COOLER AND BETTER. ALSO DEALER UPLOADED NEW IGNITION PROGRAM - HARLEY ISSUED A FIX. GETTING IT DONE UNDER WARRENTY. *JB GEARBOX NOISE: HARLEY USES MOTOR OIL 20-50. CHANGE IT TO FULL SYNTHETIC GEAR OIL 85-120 (OR SOMETHING NEAR). THIS QUIETENS GEAR WHINE AND MAKES IT SHIFT BETTER. AS A MECHANICAL PROFESSOR AND ON MY 16TH HARLEY; NEVER USE 20-50 MOTOR OIL IN ANY GEARBOX! THATS WRONG IN SO MANY LEVELS.

NHTSA ID 10182055 · filed Feb 9, 2007

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTC. WHILE RIDING 75-80 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 04/06/17 LJ *TR

NHTSA ID 10938565 · filed Dec 29, 2016

AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN IN MY DRIVEWAY THE ENGINE, WITH OUT WARNING, MADE A LOUD METALLIC NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE AND LOCKED UP ALONG WITH THE REAR WHEEL. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT A GREATER SPEED, OR IN TRAFFIC, THE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN DIRE. I REMOVED THE PRIMARY COVER AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICE A LARGE PIECE OF STEEL HAD GOTTEN JAMMED BETWEEN THE CLUTCH SPROCKET AND PRIMARY DRIVE CHAIN. THIS LARGE PIECE OF STEEL HAD BROKEN OFF A PRESSED STEEL CAGE THAT ENCLOSED A SET OF DIAPHRAGM SPRINGS FROM THE CRANKSHAFT COMPENSATOR ASSEMBLY. THE OUTER EDGE OF THE SPRINGS, OVER TIME, HAD WORN THEIR WAY THROUGH THE CAGE THAT CONTAINS THEM IN PLACE CAUSING A SECTION OF THE CAGE TO SEPARATE. THIS SEPARATED PIECE IS WHAT CAUSED THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN TO LOCK UP. I HAVE AN ENGINEERING BACK GROUND AND CAN SAY THAT THIS COMPENSATING SPROCKET ASSEMBLY WAS POORLY ENGINEERED AND CAN ALSO SAY WITH GREAT AMOUNT OF CERTAINTY THAT THEY WILL ALL FAIL EVENTUALLY. I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT THIS WAS NEVER A SAFETY RECALL CONSIDERING ALL THE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS ASSEMBLY. ALL ONE HAS TO DO IS GOOGLE "HARLEY COMPENSATOR PROBLEMS" AND IT FINDS A HUGE AMOUNT OF INFO ON THIS! *TR

NHTSA ID 10615937 · filed Jul 24, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE REAR BRAKE LINE (PN 40971-00A) RUBBED THE FRAME AND CLUTCH CABLE, CAUSING A HOLE TO BE CREATED. THIS IS IN THE AREA BELOW THE CAM CHEST, BEHIND THE MASTER CYLINDER, INSIDE THE FRAME ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE BRAKE LINE BLEW OUT WHEN THE REAR BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THERE WAS NO WARNING. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID 10639602 · filed Sep 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 9 MPH, THE BRAKE LAMP FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V506000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ID 10631075 · filed Sep 5, 2014

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN SWITCH TO HIGH BEAM ALL LIGHTS GO OUT BECAUSE THE 15 AMP FUSE WILL BLOW. *TR

NHTSA ID 10283312 · filed Sep 8, 2009

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN SWITCH TO HIGH BEAM ALL LIGHTS GO OUT BECAUSE THE 15 AMP FUSE WILL BLOW. *TR

NHTSA ID 10283312 · filed Sep 8, 2009

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE (2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON HERITAGE SOFTAIL CLASSIC) AT 57 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT WITH NO ADVERSE ROAD CONDITIONS, THE REAR TIRE BLEW, THE RIDER FOUGHT TO KEEP THE BIKE UPRIGHT TO SLOW DOWN FOR 3-5 SECONDS, THEN LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED TO PROPER INFLATION 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE BLOWOUT AND ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE RIDER SUFFERED A BRAIN CONCLUSION WITH MINOR HEMORRHAGING, A BROKEN COLLARBONE, AND BROKEN BONES IN THE RIGHT FOOT. THE TIRE, WHICH WAS NEW ON THE BIKE AND PURCHASED TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, HAD ONLY BEEN RIDDEN FOR 1400 MILES. THE TIRE, BRIDGESTONE EXEDRA G702, APPEARS TO BE DEFECTIVE, HAVING COME APART AT WHERE IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN MOLDED TOGETHER BETWEEN THE WHITE SIDEWALL AND THE TREAD. NO PUNCTURES OR ROAD HAZARD CUTS OR BLEMISHES COULD BE FOUND ON THE TIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY, PROGRESSIVE, PLANS TO HIRE AN INDEPENDENT TIRE SAFETY EXPERT TO EVALUATE THE TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10503573 · filed Mar 19, 2013

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

Data on this page last refreshed .