2014 Harley-Davidson Flhxs 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 Flhxs, 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
- Brakes423.5%
- Driver assistance211.8%
- Powertrain (other)211.8%
- Engine211.8%
- Exterior lighting211.8%
- Other / unspecified211.8%
- Electrical15.9%
- Body & structure15.9%
- Fuel system15.9%
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
WAS RIDING AND WHEN I WAS COMING TO A STOP THE FRONT BRAKES COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS COMPLETLY IMMOVABLE
I JUST GOT ON TO MY BIKE AND COMMING UP TO A CURVE AT THE END OF MY STREET I GRABBED MY FRONT BRAKE AND HAD NO BRAKE RESPONSE AT ALL. IT RESULTED IN ME CRASHING INTO A FENCE AT LOW SPEED. HARLEY HAS RECALLED THE ABS ON OLDER MODEL BIKES BUT MINE HAS THE SAME MODULE AS THOSE BIKES RECALLED. NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE ON 2014 BIKES YET.
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
WHILE RIDING THE BIKE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN APPLYING FRONT BRAKE. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND DEALS WITH THE SWITCH HOUSING ON THE HANDLEBARS WHERE THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER IS ATTACHED. WHEN GOOGLED OTHER BIKE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND HARLEY DOES NOT WANT TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE AT THE TIME IT IS BROUGHT TO SHOP. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR THIS POSE A SERIOUS RISK TO RIDER AND OTHERS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND NOTICED THAT THE GPS SPEED AND THE SPEED ON THE SPEEDOMETER WERE DIFFERENT. THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAYED A READING 5 MPH HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL SPEED BEING TRAVELED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED IN RED SHOWING THAT THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING OVER THE SPEED LIMIT BY 5 MPH. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER COULD BE ADJUSTED IF WERE INACCURATELY REGISTERING 5 MPH UNDER, BUT NOT OVER THE ACTUAL SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED TO BE INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3400.
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
DURING A RIDE ON JANUARY 9, 2016, I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE SHIFTING MECHANISM ON MY 2014 HARLEY STREET GLIDE. THE SHIFTER WOULD MOVE FREELY AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS UNABLE TO DOWNSHIFT OR UPSHIFT AND WAS STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE HOUSE OF THUNDER HARLEY DAVIDSON MORGAN HILL, CA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SHIFTER SHAFT SPLINES HAD STRIPPED AND THUS THEY REPLACED THE SHAFT UNDER WARRANTY AT 7,849 MILES. ON JANUARY 14, 2017, I WAS RIDING AND EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE SHIFTING MECHANISM. THIS TIME THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR AND UNABLE TO BE MOVED INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WITH 9,581 MILES. I DISASSEMBLED THE SHIFTING MECHANISM AND FOUND THAT THE SPLINES ON THE SHIFTER SHAFT HAD STRIPPED AGAIN. I CALLED THE HOUSE OF THUNDER HARLEY DAVIDSON MORGAN HILL, CA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS ISSUES WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURE'S WARRANTY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY DAVISON FLHXS STREET GLIDE SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VIBRATION WOULD OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE'S RPM'S WERE BETWEEN 2000 AND 1500 DURING DECELERATION. THE VIBRATION WOULD STOP WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DISENGAGED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THE DEFECT WAS CAUSED BY A LOOSE DRIVE BELT AND AN UNSECURED FLOORBOARD. THE DRIVE BELT AND THE FLOOR BOARD WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.
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
I RIDE 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE. COMING HOME FROM WEEKEND RIDE. I STOPPED TO PUT ON WARMER CLOTHES, WHEN I GOT OFF FREEWAY, WENT TO DOWN SHIFT AND MY SHIFTER SHAFT AND SHIFTER ARM WERE STRIPPED OFF. I HADN"T TOUCHED MY SHIFTER FOR 200 MILES. I WAS LEFT STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW. I WENT ON HARLEY WEBSITE THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM 2013 AND UP OF FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. HARLEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL WITCH I FILL IS THERE PROBLEM. BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IS DANGEROUS AND IRRESPONSIBLE ON HARLEYS PART. I HAVE HAD 4 OTHER HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES IN 35 YEARS RIDING AND HAVE NEVER BROKE DOWN. THIS IS CLEARLY BAD MANUFACTURING ON HARLEYS PART. AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH SOME KIND OFF RECALL TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHER RIDERS. WE RELY ON OUR BIKE TO GET US FROM POINT A TO POINT B. I FILL IT IS SOFT METAL OR HARDENING OF THE METAL USED. ARE WE SUPPOSE TO CARRY 2 EXTRA PARTS EVERY TIME WE GO RIDING I ONLY HAVE 8000 MILE ON MY BIKE IT COST ME 25,000 DOLLARS. I HOPE THIS CAN BE USED TO HELP US RIDERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
THE SPARK PLUG WIRE IN WEARING BY RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING. I'VE SEEN THIS ON EVERY 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON TOURING BIKE I'VE SEEN INCLUDING MINE. IT HASN'T WORN THROUGH YET BUT IT WILL SOONER OR LATER AND WHEN IT DOES IT WILL ARCH TO THE GAS TANK. I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL MY BIKE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HD IS REPLACING THOSE THAT ARE UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHXS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAIL LIGHT LENS DETACHED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPAIRED THE MOTORCYCLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. ...UPDATED 09/22/15 *BF
I THOUGHT I WAS FLASHING MY BRAKE LIGHTS TO WARN DRIVERS BEHIND ME THAT I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN..I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER BEHIND ME WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN!! I DECIDED TO NOT MAKE THAT TURN AND KEPT GOING TO PREVENT ME FROM GETTING HIT. PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY BRAKE LIGHTS. I FOUND THAT THEY DO NOT ACTIVATE UNTIL THERE IS SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER. THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD BE ILLUMINATED AS SOON AS THE BRAKE LEVER IS PULLED BEFORE THE BRAKE PADS CONTACT THE ROTOR! WHEN COMING TO A NORMAL STOP, I STOP AND LOOK TO SEE IF MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE LIT UP. MOST ALL OF THE TIME, THEY ARE NOT! I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE CYLINDER. THAT DID NOT WORK TO FIX THE BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK SOME OF THE SAME MODEL BIKES IN THE SHOWROOM TO SEE IF THEY DID THE SAME THING. THEY ALL DID! WITH THE BRAKE LEVER PULLED, THE FRONT BRAKES MAKING CONTACT AND THE BIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT ON! THEY DO COME ON AFTER YOU APPLY SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE LEVER, THEREFORE YOU HAVE TO CONCENTRATE ON SQUEEZING THE LEVER HARDER AFTER YOU ARE ALREADY STOPPED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU ARE STOPPED. THE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP VERIFIED THIS AND IS WORKING WITH ME TO GET THIS RESOLVED. HOWEVER, SINCE THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MORE THAN JUST MY STREET GLIDE, THIS VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR
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
2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FACTORY INSTALLATION OF BOOM BOX 6.5 INFOTAINMENT/ THE "REPEAT" FUNCTION OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE DOWNLOADED THE MOST RECENT SOFTWARE VERSION OF THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. AFTER RIDING, AND USING THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH THE NEW SOFTWARE, IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT IT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AS IT WAS DESIGNED. THE REPEAT FUNCTION OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM NO LONGER WORKED. THE REPEAT FUNCTION ENABLED THE RIDER TO RE-HEAR A VOICE PROMPT FROM THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM. ONCE THE VOICE PROMPT WAS COMMANDED, THE USER COULD DEPRESS THE REPEAT IN THE UPPER RIGHT OF THE DISPLAY TO HEAR THE GIVEN COMMAND AGAIN. CUSTOMER SUPPORT ACKNOWLEDGED THEY WERE GETTING CALLS REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEW MODEL YEAR FOR ANY NEW SOFTWARE CHANGES. *JB
REGARDING NHTSA RECALL NO. 15V-427: LOCAL HD DEALER REPLACED MY ORIGINAL ATTACHMENT SPRINGS TO MY 2024 HD STREET GLIDE SADDLEBAGS AS REQUIRED BY THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, ONE OF MY BAGS RECENTLY FELL OFF WHILE RIDING AFTER THE NEW REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WERE INSTALLED. A LOCAL DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND ORIGINALLY STATED HARLEY SENT THEM THE WRONG REPLACEMENT SPRINGS. THAT WAS THE REASON MY BAG FELL OFF. AFTER THEY SPOKE WITH HARLEY THEY CHANGED THEIR STORY AND STATED THAT INDEED THEY DID REPLACE MY FAULTY SPRINGS WITH THE CORRECT REPLACEMENT SPRINGS. IT IS CLEAR THE SPRINGS THEY PROVIDED DO NOT WORK. MY REMAINING BAG WAS NOT SECURE AFTER I INSPECTED IT RECENTLY AS WELL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS AGREED TO REPLACE MY LOST BAG BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE LOST ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE BAG. APPARENTLY IN MY CASE THE REPLACEMENT KIT IS NOT WORKING. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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
2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHXS FRONT SPARK WIRE RUBBING ON GAS TANK AND WEARING OFF THE INSULATION OF THE WIRE. PROBABLE CAUSE OF ERRATIC BEHAVIOR AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING.
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
REGARDING NHTSA RECALL NO. 15V-427: LOCAL HD DEALER REPLACED MY ORIGINAL ATTACHMENT SPRINGS TO MY 2024 HD STREET GLIDE SADDLEBAGS AS REQUIRED BY THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, ONE OF MY BAGS RECENTLY FELL OFF WHILE RIDING AFTER THE NEW REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WERE INSTALLED. A LOCAL DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND ORIGINALLY STATED HARLEY SENT THEM THE WRONG REPLACEMENT SPRINGS. THAT WAS THE REASON MY BAG FELL OFF. AFTER THEY SPOKE WITH HARLEY THEY CHANGED THEIR STORY AND STATED THAT INDEED THEY DID REPLACE MY FAULTY SPRINGS WITH THE CORRECT REPLACEMENT SPRINGS. IT IS CLEAR THE SPRINGS THEY PROVIDED DO NOT WORK. MY REMAINING BAG WAS NOT SECURE AFTER I INSPECTED IT RECENTLY AS WELL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS AGREED TO REPLACE MY LOST BAG BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE LOST ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE BAG. APPARENTLY IN MY CASE THE REPLACEMENT KIT IS NOT WORKING. PLEASE ADVISE. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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
I FILLED THE GAS TANK AND RETURNED HOME. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE WIFE NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE GARAGE. I WENT OUTSIDE AND NOTICED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GASOLINE WAS ON THE FLOOR. I STARTED INVESTIGATING AS TO WHY THIS OCCURRED. I WASN'T ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM, BUT NOTICED THAT WHEN I LIFTED THE FRONT OF THE TANK, THE LEAK WOULD STOP. I TOOK THE BIKE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND BETWEEN US WE DETERMINED A WELD ON THE FRONT OF THE TANK WAS THE LEAK. WE DRAINED APPROXIMATELY A GALLON AND A HALF OF FUEL OUT AND THE LEAK STOPPED. I CONTACTED TWO DEALERSHIPS AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE BIKE DOWN AND THEY WOULD CHECK IT, BUT DO TO THE AGE IT WOULD LIKELY NOT BE COVERED. I REMOVED THE TANK AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK WAS NOT SEALED (BARE SHEET METAL) AND IT WAS OBVIOUS THERE WAS GAP IN THE SHEET METAL INSIDE THE TANK, WHERE IT WAS LEAKING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TANK. I OBTAINED A TANK FROM A 2017 HD TOURING AND INSTALLED IT ON MY 2014. THE 2017 TANK WAS SEALED ENTIRELY ON THE INSIDE AND ONCE INSTALLED THERE WERE NO ISSUES. I DON'T KNOW WHY THE ORIGINAL TANK TOOK SO LONG TO LEAK NOR WHY IT JUST OCCURRED OUT OF THE BLUE. I HAVE FILLED THE TANK MANY TIMES AND NEVER HAD AN ISSUE.
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 .