2017 Harley-Davidson Flhxse Owner Complaints

At the 25K service no mention was made by the service tech. At the 30K service I was informed that oil is migrating form the transmission to the primary case. I was told to operate for 1000 miles bring it back to be verified. Brought it back on 10/22/2022. It was verified that oil is in fact migrating from the transmission to the primary case. This is a known problem with the M8 motorcycles. A service bulletin (M1492) has been made and the dealer stocks the repair kit. Part number 26500027. My concern is that the transmission (gearbox) will run low on lubricant and lock up while in use. This applies to 2017 - 2019 touring motorcycles. The dealer said this may or may not correct the issue. Also it is only covered if the vehicle is still under the factory warranty. No extended warranty will cover this. My cost for this was $283.29 . I do not agree that consumers should need to pay for known issues like this. Corrective action would be greatly appreciated. Thank you,

NHTSA ID

11490510

Incident

Oct 22, 2022

EVERY TIME I RIDE, AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL IS DISCHARGED FROM THE CRANKCASE BREAKERS ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, SATURATE THE AIR FILTER, AND EVENTUALLY DRIP ONTO THE TIMING COVER

NHTSA ID

11140703

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

I PURCHASED THIS BIKE IN JAN. 2018 AND FOUND OUT THAT WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS AT NIGHT ON A DARK ROAD I AM NOT ABLE TO SEE THROUGH A TURN. NOT EVEN ABLE TO SEE THE LINE ON THE INSIDE OF TURN DUE TO THE LEAN ANGLE A BIKE HAS COMPARED TO A CAR WHERE THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY 2 TIMES AND THEY NOTED THE CONCERN WITH NO RESOLUTION. I HAVE HAD THE BIKE TO 2 SEPERATE DEALERSHIPS MULTIPLE TIMES AND NO RESOLUTION FOR THE CONCERN. BOTH DEALERSHIPS MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE HAD MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CONCERN AND RECOMMENDED BUYING MORE LIGHTS FOR THE BIKE. SPENDING MORE MONEY ON SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED UNDER WARRANTY AND IS A SAFETY CONCERN IS NOT A SOLUTION TO ME. MY CONCERN HAS NOT BECOME AN ACCIDENT AT THIS TIME BUT WHEN RIDING A BIKE I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTACT YOU AFTERWARDS.

NHTSA ID

11128766

Incident

Jan 13, 2018

Mileage

5,600 mi

TRANSMISSION FLUID TRANSFERRING TO THE PRIMARY CASE, DEPLETING THE FLUID REQUIRED FOR THE TRANSMISSION. HAPPENS PERIODICALLY WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11122249

Incident

Jul 14, 2018

Mileage

9,000 mi

TRANSMISSION FLUID MIGRATES TO PRIMARY WHILE IN MOTION DEPLETING FLUID IN TRANSMISSION AND OVERFILLING PRIMARY. MIGRATION OCCURS WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND AFTER SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES FLUID IS NO LONGER MEASURABLE ON THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK. LOW FLUID RISKS DAMAGE/LOCKUP OF TRANSMISSION AND OR MALFUNCTION OF CLUTCH DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL THAT HAS MIGRATED INTO PRIMARY. HD HAS KNOWN ABOUT PROBLEM SINCE INTRODUCTION OF M8 MOTOR AND/OR HYDRAULIC CLUTCH ON CERTAIN BIKES AND HAS NOT COME UP WITH A REPAIR NOR ARE THEY WILLING TO REPLACE COMPONENTS RELATED TO THE ISSUE ON AFFECTED BIKES. HD'S SOLUTION VIA (TA0022) IS TO HAVE LOCAL DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENTS DRAIN PRIMARY AND FILL TRANSMISSION AS NEEDED WITCH IS EVERY FEW HUNDRED MILES. A LUDICROUS RESPONSE THAT PREVENTS USE OF MOTORCYCLE FOR INTENDED PURPOSE. *TT *JS

NHTSA ID

11104938

Incident

Mar 6, 2018

Mileage

1,309 mi

MOTORCYCLE BOOM! AUDIO SYSTEM PRESENTS DISTORTED, CLIPPED, AND INTERMITTENT AUDIO WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING ABOVE IDLE RPM. ISSUE IS PRESENT FOR ALL AUDIO INPUTS (FM, USB/IPOD, SIRIUS XM, BLUETOOTH AUDIO, ETC.). ISSUE REGULARLY OCCURS AT MIDRANGE VOLUMES (5-10 BARS) WHEN BIKE IS MOVING AND ENGINE RPM >1500. THE STEREO SHOULD BE CLEARLY AUDIBLE, BUT INSTEAD CUTS OUT. IF THE RPM IS LOWERED, SUCH AS WHEN PULLING IN THE CLUTCH AND LETTING OFF THE THROTTLE, THE AUDIO WILL RETURN. THE SYMPTOMS ARE PRESENT AT ALL AUTOMATIC VOLUME CONTROL (AVC) SETTINGS (OFF AND 1-4). AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, ISSUE CAN BE PARTIALLY OVERCOME BY INCREASING THE VOLUME UP TO 13 BARS OR ABOVE, AT WHICH POINT THE STEREO WILL BE QUITE LOUD, BUT MUCH (NOT ALL) OF THE CLIPPING IS REDUCED. THIS WORKAROUND IS NOT APPROPRIATE AT LOW TO MIDRANGE SPEEDS BECAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE VOLUME. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WITH THIS BOOM! AUDIO FAILURE, I OFTEN FIND MYSELF FIDDLING WITH THE AUDIO WHEN I SHOULD BE CONCENTRATING ON THE ROAD. RIDER SAFETY IS PARTICULARLY COMPROMISED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS AT LOW TO MIDRANGE SPEEDS IN CITY TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF THE DISTRACTIONS IT PRODUCES AND THE NEED TO CONTINUALLY FIDDLE WITH THE AUDIO. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP (SUMMERVILLE HARLEY-DAVIDSON) ON OR ABOUT 08 AUG 2017. DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS INDICATED THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE SYMPTOMS. DEALERSHIP DID UPGRADE THE AMPLIFIER SOFTWARE. UPON DEPARTING THE DEALERSHIP ON THE MOTORCYCLE, THE SYMPTOMS RETURNED.

NHTSA ID

11022617

Incident

Jul 27, 2017

Mileage

11,000 mi