2016 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 2016 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
- Brakes116.7%
- Electrical116.7%
- Exterior lighting116.7%
- Powertrain (other)116.7%
- Suspension116.7%
- 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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
SCENARIO: 2016 ULTRA 4200 MILES THAT I PURCHASED WITH ZERO MILES FROM THE DEALER. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER AS WELL. THE BRAKES WERE FINE. I PARKED AT A RESTAURANT AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUTSIDE I PULLED UP TO THE STREET AND HAD BRAKES. I PULLED OUT ONTO THE STREET AND I HAD NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER ON MY BACK BRAKES AND MY FRONT BRAKES WERE DOING SOME KIND OF GRABBY ON OFF THING AT 10MPH. IT WAS SCARY AS HELL, NO BACK BRAKES AND ALMOST NO FRONT BRAKES. THE BACK BRAKES JUST WENT DOWN ALL OF THE WAY. I HAD TO TRAILER THE BIKE 90 MILES BACK TO TULSA. MY BIKE IS IN THE SHOP AND THEY ARE SAYING IT IS THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT A FAILURE OF THE ABS IN THIS FASHION COULD RESULT IN BASICALLY A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. ABS LIGHT WAS OFF AS WELL, BUT THERE WAS A CODE ON THE BIKE. HONESTLY I'M PISSED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING MY RIDE AND IT WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN ANOTHER BIKER WHO RUNS OFF THE ROAD AND KILLED HIMSELF, ETC AND NOBODY WOULD BE THE WISER. THERE IS NO REASON FOR KIND OF TOTAL FAILURE. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. FAILING BACK TO STANDARD BRAKES IMMEDIATELY IS MUCH BETTER THAN NO BRAKES. ---HARLEY FIXED THE BRAKES AT NO CHARGE, BUT I FEEL THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AS I'VE READ OF OTHERS WITH SIMILAR ACCOUNTS. THEY REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL UNIT, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND WHEEL BALL BEARING.
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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. SCREEN FOR GPS AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT ONLY LIGHTS UP THE ROAD ABOUT 15 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU GOING AROUND TURNS IN THE ROAD AND CURVES. YOU ARE DRIVING IN TOTAL DARKNESS UNTIL THE MOTORCYCLE IS STRAIGHTEN OUT. AND THE HIGH BEAM ONLY LIGHTS UP A SMALL CIRCLE IN FRONT OF YOU GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. YOU CAN'T SEE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN CASE AN ANIMAL IS COMING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE LIGHTING SYSTEM HARLY HAS INSTALLED ON THE MOTORCYCLE IN 2016. THEY ARE CALLED DAY MAKERS. BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY DESIGNED TO DRIVE IN THE DAYTIME.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
PURCHASED A NEW 2016 ULTRA CLASSIC HARLEY DAVIDSON NOW HAS 9200 MILE THE COMPENSATOR STARTED TO RATTLE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME THE COMPENSATOR WENT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2016 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU Electra Glide Ultra. The contact stated while riding at various speeds, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the motorcycle. In addition, the contact stated that an abnormal vibration was coming from the handlebars while riding. The contact used a trailer to tow the motorcycle to the dealer where it was discovered that the front and rear wheel bearings were defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,800.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE FLHTCU EQUIPPED WITH SHINKO 77HD (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 180/65/B16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 70-80 MPH, THE REAR TIRE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION AND WOBBLING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPANY WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THE TIRES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO RETURN ALL REMAINING INVENTORY TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED ON TIRES WITH THE SAFETY SIDEWALLS. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 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 .