2014 Harley-Davidson Flhtk Problems

TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OVERHEAT LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER CONSULTING WITH LOCAL HD DEALER BY PHONE WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE BIKE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR (PER HD MEMO). PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY WATER PUMP WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER STATED, AND CONFIRMED AT OTHER HD DEALERS, THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THESE WATER PUMPS IN STOCK DUE TO THE HIGH FAILURE RATE. NECESSITY TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSED AN UNSAFE CONDITION DUE TO REMAINING ALONGSIDE THE HIGHWAY UNTIL A TOW VEHICLE COULD MOVE BIKE. THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE ON 2014 HD MOTORCYCLES WITH "TWIN COOLING" ACCORDING TO SEVERAL DEALERS. ONCE REPLACED, THE NEW PUMP MOTORS FUNCTION PROPERLY.

WATER PUMP FAILURE, IN MOTION ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT SPEED.

The ABS module has failed on my HD FLHTK causing the rear brake to stop working with no warning. The dealer has my bike but said the module is out of stock and is back ordered until April of 2024. Doing an internet search reveals this is a known problem, sometimes causing both front and rear brakes to fail without warning. They said the brake fluid should have been replaced every two years to avoid this problem. I did not know this. The risk is obvious. The diagnosis was done by Henderson Harley-Davidson, in Henderson, Nevada. My bike remains there. There was no warning before the failure.

THE 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SERVICE MANUAL TOURING MODELS (99483-14) CONTAINS A PROCEDURE FOR BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER UNLESS AIR IS INTRODUCED INTO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. SUBSEQUENT TO THE PUBLICATION OF THIS MANUAL, SOME 2008-2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE MODELS WERE INVOLVED IN AN NHTSA RECALL FOR ABS BRAKE ISSUES. AFTER THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, HARLEY-DAVIDSON NOW REQUIRES THAT ALL YEAR MODEL MOTORCYCLES WITH ABS HAVE THE BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT PERFORMED USING THE DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (HD-48650), WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE TO OWNERS. THE DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II ACTIVATES THE ABS MODULE DURING A BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT TO ENSURE ALL CONTIMANATED BRAKE FLUID IS FLUSHED FROM THE ABS MODULE AND BRAKE LINES. AS I STATED, THE 2014 SERVICE MANUAL DOES NOT REQUIRE THIS STEP. HARLEY-DAVIDSON ALLOWS OWNERS TO PURCHASE SERVICE MANUALS IN ORDER FOR OWNERS TO PERFORM THEIR OWN SERVICE AND REPAIRS TO THEIR HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLES TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND REPAIRS. THEREFORE, OWNERS WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT A CRITICAL BRAKE SERVICE PROCEDURE HAS BEEN CHANGED WHICH, IF DONE AS OUTLINED IN THE OLDER SERVICE MANUAL, COULD END UP CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE THE RIDER AND/OR PASSENGER. I FEEL IT IS NEGLIGENT OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE THIS PROCEDURE WITHOUT NOTIFYING OWNERS.

WHILE I WAS RIDING MY 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTK MOTORCYCLE ON A 35 MPH TWO LANE CITY STREET, THE SHIFTER SHAFT LEVER BECAME STRIPPED. I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE MOTORCYCLE OUT OF FIRST GEAR AFTER A STOP AND TRAFFIC WAS BACKING UP BEHIND AND PASSING ME CREATING SOMEWHAT OF A HAZARD. FORTUNATELY FOR ME I WAS IN AN AREA WHERE I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXIT THE ROADWAY. HAD THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A ROADWAY WITH LIMITED ACCESS/SIGHT LINES AND HIGHER SPEEDS AN INJURY COULD HAVE RESULTED.

YESTERDAY (04/03/16), I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH NORTHERN VA (ON ROUTE #66), ON MY WAY HOME. TRYING TO TAKE AN EXIT TO GAS UP, I WASN'T ABLE TO SHIFT AT ALL. SO I'M TRYING TO PULL OVER (VERY WORRIED I MIGHT BE HIT BY AN ANOTHER COMMUTER IN A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY / 1ST SAFETY ISSUE), TO CHECK THE BIKE, I COULDN'T USE MY LEFT FLOOR BOARD (AFFECTING MY BALANCE / 2ND SAFETY ISSUE), BECAUSE THE SHIFTER AND SHIFTER SHAFT WERE OUT OF THEIR POSITION AND LAYING ON MY FLOOR BOARD (THESE PARTS COULD HAVE JUST FLEW AWAY AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD / 3RD SAFETY ISSUE). FINALLY, I STOPPED THE MOTORCYCLE, CHECKED THE BIKE, PUT IT ON 3RD GEAR, USING LINKAGE AND MADE IT TO LOCAL HD DEALERSHIP. AFTER THIS SCARY EXPERIENCE A GENTLEMEN AT THE DEALERSHIP (JUST A CUSTOMER WITH A SIMILAR MOTORCYCLE RUSHMORE TOURING), TOLD ME THAT HE HAD THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS WELL; THANKS!

AFTER DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM ON THE HIGHWAY MY INTERMENT CLUSTER HAS BEEN CUTTING OUT MY SPEEDOMETER RPM GAUGE STOPS WORKING LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON..VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM.

FRONT SPARK PLUG WIRE IS WEARING THROUGH RUBBING ON THE FUEL TANK. GONE UNCHECKED COULD POSSIBLY ARC DIRECTLY TO FUEL TANK OR ARC AFTER FUELING (COULD CAUSE A FIRE) I HAVE LOOKED AT SEVERAL OTHER BIKES SAME MODEL AND CONDITION EXISTS. WIRE NEEDS TO BE INSULATED OR REROUTED. IT IS NOT EASILY NOTICED BY CASUAL INSPECTION. *TR

WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AS I APPROACHED SLOWER MOVING VEHICLES I TAPPED THE FRONT BRAKE LIKE I HAVE DONE SO MANY TIMES BEFORE; BUT THIS TIME THE CRUISE DID NOT CANCEL. I TAPPED THE FRONT BRAKE SEVERAL MORE TIMES AND HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE THE FRONT END DIVE. BUT THE BIKE KEPT ACCELERATING. I TOOK QUICK ACTION TO SHUT THE CRUISE OFF. AFTER GETTING CLEAR OF OTHER TRAFFIC I TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO CANCEL CRUISE WITH THE REAR BRAKE BUT NOT THE FRONT. 24 HRS LATER I WENT FOR A RIDE AND THIS TIME EVERYTHING WORKED NORMALLY. I WAS ABLE TO CANCEL CRUISE CONTROL BUT JUST TAPPING THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER AT LEAST 6 TIMES. *TR

YESTERDAY (04/03/16), I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH NORTHERN VA (ON ROUTE #66), ON MY WAY HOME. TRYING TO TAKE AN EXIT TO GAS UP, I WASN'T ABLE TO SHIFT AT ALL. SO I'M TRYING TO PULL OVER (VERY WORRIED I MIGHT BE HIT BY AN ANOTHER COMMUTER IN A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY / 1ST SAFETY ISSUE), TO CHECK THE BIKE, I COULDN'T USE MY LEFT FLOOR BOARD (AFFECTING MY BALANCE / 2ND SAFETY ISSUE), BECAUSE THE SHIFTER AND SHIFTER SHAFT WERE OUT OF THEIR POSITION AND LAYING ON MY FLOOR BOARD (THESE PARTS COULD HAVE JUST FLEW AWAY AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE ROAD / 3RD SAFETY ISSUE). FINALLY, I STOPPED THE MOTORCYCLE, CHECKED THE BIKE, PUT IT ON 3RD GEAR, USING LINKAGE AND MADE IT TO LOCAL HD DEALERSHIP. AFTER THIS SCARY EXPERIENCE A GENTLEMEN AT THE DEALERSHIP (JUST A CUSTOMER WITH A SIMILAR MOTORCYCLE RUSHMORE TOURING), TOLD ME THAT HE HAD THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS WELL; THANKS!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V427000 (EQUIPMENT) AT THE ILLINOIS HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER LOCATED AT 9950 JOLIET RD, COUNTRYSIDE, IL 60525, (708) 387-8750). SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE SADDLE BAG DISCONNECTED WITH THE PIN LOOSENING WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 35 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT INFORMED THEM THAT THE RECALL REMEDY DID NOT PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM OCCURRING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/17/17*LJ *TR

NEW ENGINE OVERHEATING DUMPING COOLANT OUT OF OVERFLOW TUBE UNDERNEATH MOTORCYCLE AND ON TO REAR TIRE CREATING A SAFETY RISK. FOUR OVERHEATING INCIDENTS WITHIN THE FIRST 400 MILES OF ENGINE LIFE. ENGINE BREAK IN WITH MALFUNCTIONING COOLING SYSTEM CREATING EXCESSIVE ENGINE HEAT AND RISK OF IMPROPER BREAK IN OR ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR

MAKE TURNS AND GENERAL OPERATION OF MOTORCYCLE BECOMES A PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO USE CB CONTROL BUTTON AND MANEUVER THE MOTORCYCLE AND US CB-SQUELCH. POSSIBLY DROPPING MOTORCYCLE AND CAUSING AND ACCIDENT. SHOULD BE ON LEFT HANDLE BAR CONTROL NOT RIGHT. CRUISE SHOULD BE ON RIGHT SIDE WITH THROTTLE. ACCIDENTS ARE GOING TO BE CAUSED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING FROM COOLANT PUMP CASING. INSPECTED COOLANT RESERVOIR WHICH WAS PRESSURED UP AND FULL(NO AIR GAP). AFTER ENGINE COOLED, THEN COOLANT LEVEL BELOW COLD FULL LEVEL. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE EPISODE. AT 30 TO 33 MPH, THERE IS A WOBBLE/SHIMMY IN THE HANDLE BARS/FRONT END. MORE SO ON DECELERATION,BUT HAVE FELT WHEN TURNING. FIRST TIME DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE. PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. DEALER STATED THEY CAN REPRODUCE. THEY RODE OTHER BIKES OF THIS MODEL AND ALL BIKES HANDLE THIS WAY, SO THEY CALL THIS NORMAL. THE DEALER GM TOLD ME IF I BROUGHT IT BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, HE WOULD CLAIM THEY ALREADY INVESTIGATED AND WRITE IT OFF AS NORMAL. HD CORPORATE OFFICE WAS NO HELP AND ALSO SAID THIS IS NORMAL. *TR

THE FRONT SPARK PLUG WIRE ON 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON TOURING MOTORCYCLES IS ROUTED ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRAME UNDER THE FUEL TANK. AT THE POINT WHERE THE FRONT SPARK PLUG WIRE EMERGES FROM BENEATH THE FUEL TANK, THE SPARK PLUG WIRE TOUCHES AND RUBS AGAINST THE FUEL TANK. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS FROM OWNERS OF THESE MOTORCYCLES OF THE INSULATION BEING DAMAGED OVER TIME BY THE CONTINUOUS RUBBING ON THE TANK CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT AND FIRE AT THE FUEL TANK. THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE IS FURTHER SUPPORTED BY THE FACT THAT THE MOTORCYCLE LEANS TO THE LEFT WHEN ON THE KICK STAND. THIS POSITIONING CAUSES ANY FUEL SPILL DURING RE-FUELING TO FLOW TO THE AREA OF THE POTENTIAL SHORT CIRCUIT INCREASING THE CHANCE FOR A FIRE WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS STARTED AFTER THE SPILL. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA (FLHTK). WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE SADDLE BAG FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE SADDLE BAG AND DROVE HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

WHEN APPLYING THE FRONT BRAKES, UNDER LIGHT BRAKING SITUATIONS, BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT TURN ON. I BROUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER WITH MY CONCERN AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. SINCE I FIRST NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT NOT COMING ON WHEN THE FRONT BRAKE WAS APPLIED, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE EVENT WITH CONSISTENT RESULTS. I HAVE A STRONG CONCERN THAT WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE AT A FULL STOP AND WITH NO BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVE, THAT I AM SUSCEPTIBLE TO A REAR END COLLISION.