2017 Harley-Davidson Flhxse 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 2017 Harley-Davidson Flhxse, 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
- Powertrain (other)350.0%
- Electrical116.7%
- Engine116.7%
- Exterior lighting116.7%
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
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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,
TRANSMISSION FLUID TRANSFERRING TO THE PRIMARY CASE, DEPLETING THE FLUID REQUIRED FOR THE TRANSMISSION. HAPPENS PERIODICALLY WHILE IN MOTION.
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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 .