2001 Harley-Davidson Flhtci 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 2001 Harley-Davidson Flhtci, 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
- Suspension233.3%
- Electrical116.7%
- Engine116.7%
- Steering116.7%
- Tires & wheels116.7%
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
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAD A FRAME FAILURE ON THE SWING ARM (REAR FORK) WHERE THE AXLE BOLT GOES THROUGH THE SWING ARM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE TOURING MODELS 1997-2001. HARLEY-DAVIDSON DID A RECALL IN 2000 FOR THE SWING ARM, THEY NEVER CHANGED THE DESIGN UNTIL 2002. HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS DISCONTINUED THE SWING ARM FOR THE 2001 TOURING BIKES. THE DEALERS I SPOKE TO HAVE TOLD ME THAT HARLEY-DAVIDSON WANTS YOU UPGRADE TO A 2002-2008 SWING ARM BECAUSE THE CHANGED THE DESIGN TO PREVENT THE SWING ARM FAILURE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, TO UPGRADE THE CONSUMER MUST UPGRADE TO A NEWER REAR WHEEL,BRAKE CALIPER,AXLE WHEEL BEARINGS , AND SPECIAL BUSHINGS TO ACCEPT THE LARGER PIVOT SHAFT. AT A COST OF APROX. $2900.00 JUST FOR THE PARTS.WHEN THE SWING ARM FAILS THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE REAR WHEEL ON THE BIKE IS THE DRIVE BELT AND SHOCK, IF YOU LOSE A REAR WHEEL ON A MOTORCYCLE IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH! I SPOKE WITH HARLEY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SEEM IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE FRAME FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES, WHEN I ASKED HOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO REPAIR MY BIKE WITH OUT THE PARTS I WAS TOLD TO JUST WELD IT BACK TOGETHER. HOWEVER IN MY RESEARCH I FOUND PEOPLE WITH FAILURES AT 30,000 MILES. THIS IS A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE ON 1997-2001 TOURING BIKES. .
THE REAR SWING ARM HAS FAILED ABOVE THE WHEEL AXLE. TRYING TO ORDER A NEW ONE FROM HARLEY AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT ONE. I WAS TOLD IT'S OBSOLETE. I LOOKED THIS UP ON GOOGLE AND FOUND OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY BIKE SHOP WANTS TO GET A USED ONE AND REINFORCE IT BY WELDING A PLATE ABOVE THE AXLE SHAFT. I WOULD FEEL BETTER WITH A FIX FROM HARLEY. THIS MAY BE MY LAST HARLEY. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HORN ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON, SOUNDS LIKE A HALF DEAD DUCK. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR AND I WAS BEHIND HER ON MY 2001 FLHTCI AND I WAS BLOWING MY HORN AND SHE COULD NOT HEAR IT IN THE CAR WITH THE WINDOWS UP. THESE HORNS ARE NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND AT HIGH TEMPERATURES OIL SPRAYED FROM THE AIR CLEANER. THE HOT OIL SPRAYED BACKWARDS ONTO THE LOWER PANTS LEG OF THE CONSUMER. ALSO, THE OIL SPRAYED ON THE REAR TIRE AND THE REAR BRAKE PAD. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TEN TIMES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN RELEASING HANDLE BAR IT CAUSES MOTORCYCLE TO MOVE TO THE LEFT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *TT
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
SCPD PURCHASED 4, 2001 FLHPI, 3 OF WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED BELT SEPARATIONS. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER FLHPI SINCE 1998 - 2002, WITHOUT A SINGLE FAILURE. ALL THREE ARE LOW SPEED SEPARATIONS. DEALER ADMITTED A "PROBLEM" WITH BELTS IN STORAGE BEING DEFECTIVE, BUT "DID NOT MAKE IT ONTO MOTORCYCLES". HARLEY SAID THEY WILL EXAMIN EACH CASE INDIVIDUALLY!*AK
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 .