2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtk 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 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtk, 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
- Engine430.8%
- Body & structure323.1%
- Electrical215.4%
- Fuel system215.4%
- Brakes17.7%
- Powertrain (other)17.7%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN APPROX. 8 HOURS, WHILE IN MOTION, ENGINE DIED APPROX. 2 SECONDS WHEN STOPPING, TURNING OR ACCELERATING. 1 TIME ENGINE SPUTTERED WHEN IT DIED AT A STOP, THE OTHER TIMES ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. OK IF FUEL TANK AND PCM (SEAT) ARE COVERED OR BIKE IN GARAGE. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY. DIED SEVERAL TIMES FROM 3/18/17.
ON INTERSTATE WATER PUMP FAILURE AT 9000 MILES ON THE BIKE. HAD THE WATER PUMP REPLACED AT DENVER HARLEY COST $810.00
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
Saddlebag fell off while driving. Dealer inspected and did not find cause. Previous recall fix had been completed.
DECEMBER 23, 2016, WHILE RIDING MY HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTK ULTRA LIMITED MOTORCYCLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF INTERSTATE 295 IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE RIGHT SADDLEBAG MOUNTING PINS DETACHED FROM THE RECEPTACLES, ALLOWING THE SADDLEBAG TO DETACH FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS UNWANTED EVENT CAUSED A TRAFFIC HAZARD FOR OTHER MOTORISTS. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY AND RELATIVELY EVEN. THE SADDLEBAGS WERE CHECKED APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES BEFORE THE EVENT, PRIOR TO OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE, AND NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS OBSERVED. THIS EVENT OCCURRED AFTER RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PIN CONNECTORS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V427000). THE REPLACEMENT DESIGN OF THE PIN CONNECTORS HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO UNWANTED DETACHMENT OF THE SADDLEBAGS. AN INSURANCE CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED WITH GEICO MOTORCYCLE AND IS IN PROCESS. PHOTOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN.
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 SITTING IN THE SUN APPROX. 8 HOURS, WHILE IN MOTION, ENGINE DIED APPROX. 2 SECONDS WHEN STOPPING, TURNING OR ACCELERATING. 1 TIME ENGINE SPUTTERED WHEN IT DIED AT A STOP, THE OTHER TIMES ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. OK IF FUEL TANK AND PCM (SEAT) ARE COVERED OR BIKE IN GARAGE. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY. DIED SEVERAL TIMES FROM 3/18/17.
SPARK PLUG WIRE LEADING TO FRONT CYLINDER RUBS AGAINST THE FUEL TANK, LEADING TO ABRASION THROUGH THE INSULATION OF THE SPARK PLUG WIRE. REPLACEMENT OF PARK PLUG WIRE UNDER WARRANTY DENIED BY FORT BRAGG HARLEY DAVIDSON. ABRASION THROUGH THE INSULATION BY CONTACT OF THE FUEL TANK COULD LEAD TO FIRE OR EXPLOSION SHOULD THE WIRE ARC ON THE FUEL TANK OR IF FUEL LEAKS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH BECAME FROZEN IN GEAR REQUIRING TOWING. EVENT OCCURRED TWICE. DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO NEUTRAL. DEALER MADE REPAIRS AT MY EXPENSE. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THESE ISSUES FOR LATER MODELS!
AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN APPROX. 8 HOURS, WHILE IN MOTION, ENGINE DIED APPROX. 2 SECONDS WHEN STOPPING, TURNING OR ACCELERATING. 1 TIME ENGINE SPUTTERED WHEN IT DIED AT A STOP, THE OTHER TIMES ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. OK IF FUEL TANK AND PCM (SEAT) ARE COVERED OR BIKE IN GARAGE. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY. DIED SEVERAL TIMES FROM 3/18/17.
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
WHILE ON A TRIP THROUGH COLORADO I WAS DESCENDING A STEEP MOUNTAIN GRADE. I APPLIED LIGHT PRESSURE TO THE FRONT BRAKE AND FELT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. AS I INCREASED THE FRONT BRAKE PRESSURE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW FOR A TIGHT TURN, THE VIBRATION INCREASED UNTIL THE ENTIRE MOTORCYCLE SHOOK. THE VIBRATION CEASED ONCE THE SPEED WAS REDUCED BELOW ABOUT 30 MPH OR BRAKE PRESSURE WAS RELEASED. THIS SITUATION CAUSED ME SURPRISE AND DISTRACTION IN A CRITICAL STAGE OF OPERATION AND IT IS MY BELIEF THAT LOSS OF CONTROL IS POSSIBLE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR ADVICE THEY REPLACED THE TWO FRONT ROTORS THAT HAD BEEN CHECKED TWICE AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN "SPECS." VEHICLE NOW OPERATES NORMALLY.
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
CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING AT 14,000 MILES WHILE IN 6TH GEAR WHILE ON INTERSTATE. RESULTED IN EVASIVE MANEUVERS BEING TAKEN BY MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS TO AVOID COLLISION, AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE CLUTCH IS NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY.
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 .