RoadVitals

2017 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu 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.
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Latest Jul 14, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 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

  • Brakes125.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Exterior lighting125.0%
  • Powertrain (other)125.0%

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

Brakes

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

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

ABS module failure resulting in front brake locking up. ABS module failed resulting in brake failure. While I was not involved in any incident the failed part showed no signs of beginning to fail. One day I I got onto the motorcycle and when I went to squeeze the front brake it was hard as a rock and it locked up my front wheel. This particular failure happened in my driveway so nobody was in danger but it also had no warning lights on or gave any signs of failure prior to this incident. If this were to happen while riding the motorcycle it could potentially be deadly for the rider and passenger depending on riding conditions. The part failure has been verified by a Harley Davidson dealership. Parts to correct this are currently back ordered over a month. I do not have the part in my possession as the bike is at a local dealership. I do plan on asking for the failed part once it is repaired. I did have brake work done on this bike in June of 2022, (pad replacement and system flush), and rode this bike on several occasions since the service but prior to failure. The bike had sat for about a month with no activity (covered) prior to this failure. The service was not preformed at a Harley Davidson dealership. There was a prior recall on this system for earlier model bikes for this same type of failure. But my specific year/model was not included. I have read several complaints from other owners in the same date range as mine having the same failure. This is a potentially deadly situation that needs to be corrected as Harley Davidson simply wants to replace the parts and make money off of their poorly engineered design. This type of failure does not occur in a passenger vehicle ABS system.

NHTSA ID 11494224 · filed Nov 19, 2022

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

HEAD GASKET LETS LOOSE AND OIL ALL OVER REAR TIRE! VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY IN MOTION, NOT GOOD.

NHTSA ID 11242859 · filed Aug 9, 2019

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

THE "DAY MAKER HEADLIGHT " FOUND ON THE HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC IS COMPLETELY UNUSABLE.IN USING THE LED BULBS ON THIS SYSTEM THE REFRACTORY NATURE OF THE LENS DICTATES THAT A HORIZONTAL LINE WITH LIGHT BELOW THE LINE AND DARKNESS ABOVE IT A DISTANCE KEEPS THE LIGHT FROM SHINING INTO THE ONCOMING DRIVERS. THIS WORKS FINE IN AN AUTOMOBILE, BUT ON A MOTORCYCLE, IT BECOMES UNRIDEABLE .THE REASON BEING IS THAT WHEN YOU LEAN INTO A CORNER THE HORIZONTAL LINE DIPS TO THE SAME DEGREE AS THE MOTORCYCLE, AND THE DARKNESS ABOVE DIPS DOWN WITH THE BIKE SO THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SEE INTO OR THRU THE CORNER (IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS SITUATION PLEASE PASS IT ON TO SOMEONE WHO DOES). I AM NOT A NEWBIE TO RIDING AS I HAVE 30 YEARS AND ALMOST A QUARTER MILLION MILES UNDER MY BELT ALL ON HARLEYS I CAN ALMOST GUARANTEE THAT THIS HAS CAUSED NOT ONLY INJURIES BUT ALSO DEATHS. THIS LIGHTING SYSTEM HAS BEEN CHECKED AND CHECKED AGAIN AND IS IN SPECS ACCORDING TO HARLEY DAVIDSON I WOULD INVITE ANY SPECIALIST OR OFFICIAL TO RIDE THE DARK COUNTRY ROADS THAT I RIDE AND TELL ME THIS LIGHTING SYSTEM IS SAFE PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS IT IS UNSAFE AND WILL INJURE OR KILL PEOPLE

NHTSA ID 10992776 · filed Jun 1, 2017

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

The contact owns a 2017 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU. The contact stated that while riding at 5 MPH, the motorcycle failed to shift out of gear or stop as needed. The motorcycle fell over on the contact’s right leg, causing the leg to become swollen. The contact used a bag of ice to help with the swelling. The motorcycle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V734000 (Power Train); however, the failure persisted. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,490.

NHTSA ID 11750346 · filed Jul 14, 2026

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 .