2014 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu 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 2014 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu, 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
- Powertrain (other)440.0%
- Brakes220.0%
- Driver assistance220.0%
- Electrical110.0%
- Other / unspecified110.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2014 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra. The contact stated that while riding at an undisclosed speed, the clutch was unable to disengage, preventing a shift to the intended gear. The contact added DOT 4 fluid into the clutch reservoir however, the failure recurred with the clutch fluid leaking. The motorcycle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,300. The consumer stated the issue was addressed and repaired at the local Harley Davidson Service Center.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH UPHILL, THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO FAIL AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO PERFORM CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE UPHILL AGAIN. WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TURNED OFF, THE CLUTCH PERFORMED CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO COX'S HARLEY-DAVIDSON (LOCATED AT 1178 GALLERIA BLVD, ROCK HILL, SC 29730, 803-327-1183), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V471000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE MATTER WAS NOT RESOLVED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
UPON GETTING READY TO RIDE BIKE AT NIGHT, PULLED BACK ON HAND BRAKE LEVER AND NOTICED NO BRAKE LIGHT REFLECTION ON GROUND. THEREFORE DID AN INSPECTION AND NOTICED THAT WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON FOOT BRAKE PEDAL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND THEN WHEN PULLING BACK ON HAND BRAKE LEVER, LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON. CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT BE A WEEK BEFORE THEY COULD LOOK AT IT. . I ONLY WONDER SINCE HOW LONG HAS THIS LIGHT NOT BEEN WORKING WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEREFORE NOT PRESSING THE FOOT PEDAL ONLY TO GIVE THE CAR BEHIND ME THE FALSE SENSE I HAVE STOPPED BRAKING. COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BEING HIT FROM BEHIND .
PURCHASED THE 2014 H-D ELECTRAGLIDE ULTRA CLASSIS THE DAY BEFORE REALIZING THE EXISTENCE OF THE DEFECT DESCRIBED HEREIN. WHILE RIDING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TO DISENGAGE UPON APPLICATION OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: FRONT BRAKE/BACK BRAKE/CLUTCH/ROLLING THE THROTTLE FORWARD. UPON NEARING A VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME, I 'TAPPED' THE FRONT BRAKE; THIS ACTION, HOWEVER DID NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I TRIED AGAIN, USING MORE FORCE ON THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER...AGAIN, THE CRUISE CONTROL REMAINED ENGAGED. I THEN DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD DISENGAGE USING THE THREE OTHER METHODS (BACK BRAKE/ROLLING THROTTLE FORWARD/CLUTCH). THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE SELLING DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SOME ELECTRONIC COMPONENT HAD FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED AT NO COST. I AM SUBMITTING THIS REPORT BECAUSE THE FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE UPON APPLICATION OF THE FRONT BRAKE CREATED A SITUATION IN WHICH I WAS APPROACHING A VEHICLE AHEAD AT HIGH SPEED, WHEN MY BIKE SHOULD HAVE THEN BEEN 'COASTING', WHICH NECESSITATED TRYING ALTERNATE METHODS TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM. HAD I NOT FOUND AN ALTERNATE WAY TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, A COLLISION WOULD LIKELY HAVE RESULTED. *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRIC RIDE FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN THE FRONT BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED A SENSOR FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
PURCHASED THE 2014 H-D ELECTRAGLIDE ULTRA CLASSIS THE DAY BEFORE REALIZING THE EXISTENCE OF THE DEFECT DESCRIBED HEREIN. WHILE RIDING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TO DISENGAGE UPON APPLICATION OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: FRONT BRAKE/BACK BRAKE/CLUTCH/ROLLING THE THROTTLE FORWARD. UPON NEARING A VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME, I 'TAPPED' THE FRONT BRAKE; THIS ACTION, HOWEVER DID NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I TRIED AGAIN, USING MORE FORCE ON THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER...AGAIN, THE CRUISE CONTROL REMAINED ENGAGED. I THEN DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD DISENGAGE USING THE THREE OTHER METHODS (BACK BRAKE/ROLLING THROTTLE FORWARD/CLUTCH). THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE SELLING DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SOME ELECTRONIC COMPONENT HAD FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED AT NO COST. I AM SUBMITTING THIS REPORT BECAUSE THE FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE UPON APPLICATION OF THE FRONT BRAKE CREATED A SITUATION IN WHICH I WAS APPROACHING A VEHICLE AHEAD AT HIGH SPEED, WHEN MY BIKE SHOULD HAVE THEN BEEN 'COASTING', WHICH NECESSITATED TRYING ALTERNATE METHODS TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM. HAD I NOT FOUND AN ALTERNATE WAY TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, A COLLISION WOULD LIKELY HAVE RESULTED. *JS
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
AFTER USING THE USB AS A MEDIA SOURCE, THE NEXT TIME THE MOTORCYCLE IS POWER CYCLED THE STEREO DEFAULTS TO FM AND RESETS THE FADE CONTROL. HARLEY INITIALLY SAID THIS WAS DUE TO SOFTWARE, BUT THEN CHANGED TO SAYING IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION. ON NOVEMBER 16TH, I SPOKE WITH CASE MANAGER (JOHN), WHO ADVISED THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE SYSTEM SENSING A VOLTAGE CHANGE WHEN SHUTTING DOWN. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD UNIT TWICE; ONCE WITH A FACTORY REFURBISHED DEVICE, AND THEN WITH A 2015 MODEL. I MUST NOTE THAT I DID NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE FOR THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. SINCE HARLEY HAS CHANGED THEIR CAUSE ANALYSIS TWICE, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. JOHN STATED THAT HARLEY HAS NOT ISOLATED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOW PRESENTING THIS THE "THE WAY THE UNIT SHOULD WORK". MY CONCERN IS THAT I RODE FOR 2 YEARS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, AND NOW HAVE ONE THAT THE COMPANY CANNOT RESOLVE. SINCE THIS OCCURS APPROXIMATELY 60 - 65% OF THE TIME, I WORRY THAT THIS IS NOT REALLY A STEREO PROBLEM, BUT IS SYMPTOMATIC OF A LARGER PROBLEM WITHIN THE CENTRAL ELECTRICAL/WIRING SYSTEM OF THE MOTORCYCLE. SINCE AUGUST I HAVE WORKED WITH 3 SEPARATE DEALERS, AND WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. I FEEL THAT THIS MAY BECOME A DEGRADING ISSUE THAT COULD CREATE MORE SERIOUS ELECTRICAL TROUBLES THAT MAY LEAD TO MAJOR FAILURES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2015 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Motorcycle equipped with a Power Belt, Part line: Replacement Drive Belt, Part Number: 40024-09 HTD 1960-14M-140. The contact indicated that after installing the replacement drive belt and test riding the motorcycle, it was discovered that the replacement drive belt became unsecured causing the motorcycle to shake, vibrate and shudder and the motorcycle would not properly accelerate. The contact indicated that the failure was caused by the faulty replacement drive belt. The manufacturer and seller were not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
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 .