2016 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 2016 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
- Brakes541.7%
- Other / unspecified433.3%
- Driver assistance18.3%
- Engine18.3%
- Tires & wheels18.3%
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
The coolant pump failed causing the engine to over heat which I was informed is a known issue with this year model. Plus my ABS system failed which makes the bike unable to operate.
WE WERE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES INSTANTLY LOCKED UP. WE WENT FROM 70 TO 0 IN SECONDS. WE BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER AS WE NEEDED TO CLEAR OTHER BIKES. PEOPLE BEHIND US CLAIM THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEVER CAME ON NOR DID THE ABS LIGHT TO INDICATE AN ISSUE. THE BRAKES REMAINED LOCKED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE WE COULD EVEN MOVE THE BIKE. THE BIKE WAS TRAILER TO HD IN FREDERICK WHERE THEY CLAIM IT'S A FAULTY ABS MODULE. NOW HD IS FIGHTING THE REPAIR. SEARCHING ONLINE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ABS MODULES. THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY AND A LESSER EXPERIENCED RIDER WOULD HAVE DROPPED THE BIKE WHEN IT BIT DOWN HARD, THE FRONT END OF THE BIKE DROPPED DOWN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The Dunlop back tire cracked in center while less than half worn. Thread depth new is 8/32 inch and tire check 5/32 inch.
LAST YEAR AT APROX 20K MILES ON A LONG STRETCH OF HIGHWAY THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE, HAD TO HAVE IT HAULED IN ON WRECKER TO GET FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY DID NOT PAY FOR THAT , WELL HERE IT IS APROX 13K MILES SINCE THEN AND IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK LIMITED. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, IT DISENGAGED AUTOMATICALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. ALSO, THE THROTTLE WOULD DECREASE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. ON JULY 30, 2019, WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE THROTTLE COMPLETELY FAILED IN TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LA CROSSE AREA HARLEY-DAVIDSON (1116 OAK FOREST DR, ONALASKA, WI 54650, (608) 783-6112) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SIX TERMINAL SOCKET CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER PERFORMED WIRING REPAIRS AND REPLACED THE TERMINAL SOCKET TO THE THROTTLE. THE DEALER DID NOT COVER THE REPAIRS SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD RECENTLY EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,960.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK LIMITED. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, IT DISENGAGED AUTOMATICALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. ALSO, THE THROTTLE WOULD DECREASE AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. ON JULY 30, 2019, WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE THROTTLE COMPLETELY FAILED IN TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LA CROSSE AREA HARLEY-DAVIDSON (1116 OAK FOREST DR, ONALASKA, WI 54650, (608) 783-6112) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SIX TERMINAL SOCKET CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER PERFORMED WIRING REPAIRS AND REPLACED THE TERMINAL SOCKET TO THE THROTTLE. THE DEALER DID NOT COVER THE REPAIRS SINCE THE WARRANTY HAD RECENTLY EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,960.
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
TIRE IS 4 MONTHS OLD WITH APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES ON IT. TREAD APPARENTLY DE-LAMINATED FROM THE CORE CAUSING A BUBBLE ON THE TREAD APPROXIMATELY 5" LONG BY 4" WIDE BY 1.5" DEEP.
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 .