RoadVitals

1997 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu

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.
2
Latest Jun 3, 2013
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu, most frequently naming the body & structure and electrical 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

  • Body & structure150.0%
  • Electrical150.0%

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
98V158000

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

Body & structure
Filed Jun 3, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE AS THE FRAME FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FRAME WAS FOUND TO BE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ID
10514793
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
Mileage
90,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 20, 2000

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER, AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE POWER WILL RESUME. NLM

NHTSA ID
556783

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Flhtcu by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019110—
2018120—
2017430—
2016610—
2015220—
2014950—
2013700—
2011621—
2010313147.4
2009703152.2
2008812254.4
2007480045.9
1998010—
1997Viewing210—
1996110—
1995510—
1994210—

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.