Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg, most frequently naming the engine and brakes categories. 25 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2013 | 3 | 3 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 4 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 5 |
| Mar 2019 | 1 | 6 |
| Jan 2023 | 1 | 7 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
When engine is hot, approximately 170F+ per oil temperature gauge, rear brake lights remain ON after only pressing the rear brake pedal. Seems to be more prevalent when motorcycle is stationary. Lights will only turn OFF after cooling and the engine is turned OFF and then ON again. This has happened multiple times. Has not happened with front brakes.
ON THREE OCCASIONS, AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT RIDDIN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, THE REAR BRAKES STOPPED WORKING AFTER THE FIRST DEPRESSION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER INTERNAL PISTON WOULD NOT RETURN TO ITS NORMAL POSITION AFTER RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL. FORTUNATLY I HAVE, ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS NEVER BEEN OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY BEFORE DISCOVERING THIS PROBLEM, AS I WAS ON EACH OCCASION JUST DONG A PRE TRIP CHECK OF THE MACHINE. THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM. I WAS TOLD BY THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY ONLY ADDED BRAKE FLUID. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY SIGNS OF LEAKAGES. I ALSO CHECKED FOR LEAKS BEFORE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. NONE WERE FOUND. IN THE FALL OF 2018 I WAS GOING TO TAKE THIS MOTORCYCLE FOR A RIDE. BEFORE I LEFT MY GARAGE, WHERE THE BIKE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS, I ENCOUNTERS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKES. THIS TIME I INSPECTED THE MASTER CYLINDER FLUID LEVEL MYSELF AND SAW THAT IT WAS FULL. I STRONGLY PUMPED THE REAR BRAKE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES UNTIL THE MASTER CYLINDER PISTON RETURNED TO ITS NORMAL POSITION AND I WAS ABLE TO FEEL THE BRAKES OPERATING PROPERLY. I RODE THE MOTORCYCLE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES THAT DAY. LATER THAT DAY I RETURNED THE MOTORCYCLE TO MY GARAGE WHERE I REMAIND UNTOUCHED UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO. WHILE DOING A GENERAL CHEC OF THE MOTORCYCLE I FOUND THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN THE BIKE BACK TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEMS TO THEM. THE MACHINE IS STILL UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I AM AWAITING THEIR DIAGNOSIS AT THIS TIME. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE AN ISSUE THAT MAY BE COMMON TO OTHER SIMILAR HARLEY DAVIDSON MODELS.
AFTER PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW 2013 HD TRI GLIDE I WAS SURPRISED TO FEEL THE HEAT THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BIKE. THE TEMPS OUTSIDE WERE ABOUT 80 DEGREES AND MY INNER RIGHT THIGH FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS ON FIRE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, BOWLING GREEN HARLEY DAVIDSON, THE SERVICE DEPT RECOMMENDED THAT I HAVE THEM REMOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AS THIS WOULD HELP WITH SOME OF THE HEAT ISSUE. I PAID CASH FOR THIS TO BE DONE TO THE EMPLOYEE AS THEY SAID THIS WAS NOT A COMPANY PROCEDURE. THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED HIGHWAY PEGS ATTACHED TO THE FARING WHICH I HAD DONE. THIS WOULD ELEVATE MY LEG AWAY FROM THE HEAT. THE TEMPERATURE WAS BETTER AT 80 DEGREES AND UNDER BUT HERE IN KY IT'S OVER THAT MOST OF JUNE THROUGH MID SEPTEMBER. LAST SUMMER I RODE FROM KY TO CT OVER 2 DAYS THAT WERE 95-100 DEGREES AND HAD TO WEAR MY CHAPS AS MY LEG WAS HOT AND RED. HD HAS JUST KEPT TELLING ME THIS IS NORMAL FOR THE TRIKE. I ONLY FOUND OUT TODAY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT OR I WOULD HAVE DONE IT SOONER. MY 8 YEAR OLD SON RIDES WITH ME AND EVEN THOUGH HIS FOOT PLACEMENT IS HIGHER HE COMPLAINS OF THE HEAT. *TR
AT SLOW SPEED OR STOPPED THERE IS ETREME HEAT COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. IT IS SO HOT IT FEELS LIKE MY LEG IS BEING BURNED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WITH A SYSTEM WITHOUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS AT A COST OF CLOSE TO $2,000 ON A VEHICLE ALREADY COSTING $30,000. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JS
EXTREME HEAT COMING FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH RUNS VERY CLOSE TO MY RIGHT LEG. NOT TOO NOTICEABLE WHILE RIDING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS BUT WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS IT BECOMES UNBEARABLE. WHEN I QUESTIONED THE DEALER ABOUT IT THEY SAID ITS NORMAL AND THIS IS THE WAY THEY RUN, BUT... I COULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IF I SPEND OVER $2000.00 TO CHANGE OVER THE EXHAUST TO TAKE OUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. ITS OVER $30,000.00 FOR THIS BIKE WHY DO I HAVE TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO MAKE IT SAFE TO RIDE??? HARLEY DAVIDSON KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WONT FIX IT. I HAD A 2011 MODEL ALSO WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
WHILE RIDING USUALLY ON BUMPY STREETS I WOULD HEAR A FUNNY SQUEAKING. AFTER STOPPING AT MY DESTINATION I FOUND THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE STABILIZER TO THE CYLINDER HEAD WERE LOOSE. AFTER TIGHTENING THEM FOR ABOUT 5 TIME I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE HOLES IN THE HEAD ARE STRIPPED AND THEY WILL REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY. WELL 2 WEEKS LATER THE SOUND WAS BACK AND BOTH BOLTS WERE AGAIN LOSE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUES SINCE IT SEEMS THAT THE ENGINE CAN SHIFT AND CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE IF THE STABILIZER ACCIDENTALLY CAME LOOSE. I HAVE READ ON A FEW FORUMS ON LINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
HARLEY DAVIDSON TRIKE RIGHT SIDE MANIFOLD PRODUCES EXTREME HEAT. WILL CAUSE BURNS AND HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY, IT IS AN AVERAGE OF $2,000 TO CORRECT THE DEFECT. MUST REPLACE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, EXHAUST PIPES, AIR CLEANER AND RE PROGRAM TO BRING THE HEAT LEVEL DOWN A NORMAL LEVEL.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SERVICE BULLETIN M1508 (REV D): 2009-2025 TRIKE PLATFORM - REVERSE MOTOR. PURPOSE: Revision C. To inform dealers of a running change for the new reverse motor (Part No. 83388-09C) for Trike models. As of January 28, 2020 all Trike platform vehicles will be manufactured using the new reverse motor. The new reverse motor will be used to replace reverse motor assemblies (Part No. 83388-09, 83388-09A,83388-09B) that have failed diagnostics. Refer to Table 3. This motor contains several improvements for better motor durability. A new procedure has been added, Refer to PINION EXTENDS BUT REVERSE MOTOR STALLS OR SPINS SLOWLY. REV D: Updated: Guide. Add link to: PINION EXTENDS BUT REVERSE MOTOR STALLS OR SPINS SLOWLY
STRUCTURE:BODY
GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1182: TRIKE SADDLEBAGS KIT INFORMATIONAL UPDATE. PURPOSE: Initial release. This bulletin informs dealers that the Trike Saddlebags kit (Part No. 84031-11) has an informational update: The drill template that is inside the kit, is only used for 2009-2025 Trike models. The electronic version of this instruction sheet which is located in Service Information Portal (SIP), will have the drill template as an attachment for 2026 and later Trike models (see service bulletin M1714). It will not be included inside the kit or directly attached to the instruction sheet.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN
SERVICE BULLETIN M1508 (REV C): 2009-2025 TRIKE PLATFORM - REVERSE MOTOR. PURPOSE: Revision C. To inform dealers of a running change for the new reverse motor (Part No. 83388-09C) for Trike models. As of January 28, 2020 all Trike platform vehicles will be manufactured using the new reverse motor. The new reverse motor will be used to replace reverse motor assemblies (Part No. 83388-09, 83388-09A,83388-09B) that have failed diagnostics. Refer to Table 3. This motor contains several improvements for better motor durability. A new procedure has been added, Refer to PINION EXTENDS BUT REVERSE MOTOR STALLS OR SPINS SLOWLY. REV C: Update Removal and Assembly (R&I) of the Solenoid. Updated: DISASSEMBLE, ASSEMBLE and Install Electrical Kit.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1391A (REVU): MIDTRONICS GRX-3110 AND DCA-8000 SOFTWARE. PURPORSE: Revision U. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the dealer network that a software update to the GRX-3110 and DCA-8000 is now available. DYNAMIC DIAGNOSTIC CHARGER SYSTEM (PART NUMBER: DCA-8000). [Rev U] Added: Description of improvements made to the testing algorithm for GRX software Version P and DCA-8000 software Version E.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1171 (REV B): SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR SCREAMIN EAGLE PRO STREET TUNER. PURPOSE: Revision B. Updated: Summary. The App has returned to the Apple App Store. This bulletin informs dealers that a recent software update to the Screamin' Eagle Pro Street Tuner application will require the use of a Personal Computer (PC) to complete a Bluetooth Communication Interface (BCI) firmware update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 25.8.9): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). New Software Update Version 25.8.9 Release Date: Week of September 2, 2025. Changes: LiveWire 2024 S2MH: Removal of incorrect Electro Hydraulic Control Unit (EHCU) reflash support; EHCU Module (Part No. 41100123): Addressed issue where module became unrecoverable after failed reflash attempted. NOTE: Digital Technician II (DT II) supports additional Harley-Davidson motorcycle models and model years outside of those listed.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.