2014 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse 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 2014 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse, 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
- Engine250.0%
- Body & structure125.0%
- Fuel system125.0%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2014 HARLEY HAS HAD TWO COMPENSATORS REPLACED AND NOW THEY ARE REPLACING A 3RD ONE IN LESS THAN TWO TEARS. THANKFULLY NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURRED BUT FROM WHAT I READ THIS IS HAPPENING ON A LOT OF HARLEYS AND COULD BE DANGEROUST IF IT FAILED IN TRANSIT.
ENGINE COOLANT LEAK STARTED AT ABOUT 700 TOTAL MILES. THE LEAK APPEARS FROM THE COOLANT PUMP HOUSING. IF IT IS LEAKING WHILE RIDING THE SLIPPERY COOLANT SPLASHES ONTO THE REAR TIRE AFFECTING TRACTION. THE LEAK CAN POSSIBLY BE SPLASHING ON THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS AFFECTING BRAKING. NOW WITH ONLY 1,450 TOTAL MILES THE LEAK BECAME A FULL BLOWN GUSHER. IT'S IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. I HAVE READ OVER 60 PAGES ON THE HD FORUM ABOUT OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
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
RIGHT REAR SADDLE BAG DEPARTED THE MOTORCYCLE ON I-90 JUST EAST OF WALLACE AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS WAS 8 DAYS AFTER HAVING THE HARLEY DAVIDSON RECALL INCORPORATED AT A QUALIFIED DEALER IN ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. THE BAG DEPARTED WITHOUT WARNING AND I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SAFE STOP IN THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE BAG SKIDDED ON THE PAVEMENT AND CAME TO A STOP IN THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE I-90 EASTBOUND LANE. THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND THE SITUATION OCCURRED WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAVE GREAT CONCERN THAT HAD THERE BEEN TRAFFIC BEHIND ME THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT/ACCIDENT CAUSING INJURY OR LOSS OF PROPERTY I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LIABILITY EXPOSURE I HAVE PERSONALLY IF AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS IS THE CAUSE OF INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR DEATH. HARLEY DAVIDSON DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GIVING THIS THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES AS THE RECALL WAS ONLY A HARDWARE CHANGE AND DID NOT INCORPORATE ANY FAILSAFE MECHANISM SHOULD THE HARDWARE FAIL, AS IS DID IN THIS CASE. CLEARLY THE RECALL DESIGN IS FLAWED AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE SAME FAILURE MODE AS THE ORIGINAL HARDWARE AND MUST BE CHANGED YET AGAIN. READING THROUGH SOME QUICK INTERNET SEARCHES THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING AS FAR BACK AS 2011 FROM MY BRIEF SEARCH. I URGE NHTSA TO REVIEW THIS ISSUE WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON AND TAKE SWIFT ACTION TO REMEDY.
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 COMPENSATOR FAILED AT 12,500 MILES ON A 6500 MILE TRIP THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS TO CALIFORNIA. BIKE WAS KNOCKING FROM THE PRIMARY COVER AND COST $750.00 TO REPAIR. HARLEY DENIED CLAIM TO REPLACE PART ON A $40,000 MOTORCYCLE.
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 .