RoadVitals

2007 Harley-Davidson Flstf Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jul 25, 2011
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2007 Harley-Davidson Flstf, 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

  • Suspension640.0%
  • Body & structure320.0%
  • Other / unspecified320.0%
  • Electrical16.7%
  • Engine16.7%
  • Steering16.7%

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

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY HARLEY DAVIDSON FLSTF ON MY 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FATBOY, THE FRONT AXLE TILTS/LEANS TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BIKE. THIS HAS DONE TWO THINGS. FIRST, IT HAS REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF TREAD THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. SECONDLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT IS WEARING ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE WEAR TO ONE SIDE COMBINED WITH LESS TREAD AVAILABLE DUE TO THIS FLAWED DESIGN HAS PRESENTED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH REGARD TO GRIP GOING AROUND CORNERS. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED IN 2008 AND 2009 BUT HARLEY HAS YET TO FIX THE 2007 BIKES. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMETHING FATAL HAPPENS BECAUSE OF THIS DESIGN FLAW. *TR

NHTSA ID 10279790 · filed Aug 8, 2009

2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FATBOY FLSTF MOTORCYCLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH MISALIGNED FRONT WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ID 10258586 · filed Feb 13, 2009

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

ON MY 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FATBOY, THE FRONT AXLE TILTS/LEANS TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BIKE. THIS HAS DONE TWO THINGS. FIRST, IT HAS REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF TREAD THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. SECONDLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT IS WEARING ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE WEAR TO ONE SIDE COMBINED WITH LESS TREAD AVAILABLE DUE TO THIS FLAWED DESIGN HAS PRESENTED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH REGARD TO GRIP GOING AROUND CORNERS. IT FIRST BEGAN WITH A MINOR CRASH THAT INVOLVED MYSELF, THIS BIKE, AND THE PAVEMENT. A CAR PULLED INTO MY INTENDED PATH OF TRAVEL. I HIT BOTH BRAKES AND SUDDENLY MY FRONT TIRE LOCKED UP AND KICKED MY BARS TO THE RIGHT. NEXT THING I KNOW IS THAT IM ON THE GROUND WITH MY BIKE. I THOUGHT IT WAS UNFORTUNATE LUCK AT THE TIME BUT SEEING THE WEAR OF MY TIRE IN THE FRONT, IT CANT BE A COINCIDENCE. ADDITIONALLY IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT MY BIKE WAS PRODUCED IN JULY OF 2006 AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 2007 MODEL PRODUCTION RUN. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WHAT EVER ISSUE THAT CAUSED HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO ENGINEER MY MOTORCYCLE YEAR MODEL WITH EXTREME AMOUNTS OF CAMBER IN THE FRONT STEERING AXLE WAS RESOLVED WITH EITHER THE 2008 OR 2009 MODEL YEAR. THE FACT THAT THE CURRENT MODEL YEAR OF THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS HAD THIS FRONT AXLE ISSUE CORRECTED IS ABOUT AS LOUD A STATEMENT AS ANY THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS FIRST YEAR ISSUE OF THE SECOND GENERATION OF THE FATBOY MODEL. SO FAR, THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED TO TRY AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE WERE THE FRONT AXLE BEARINGS AS WELL AS READJUSTING THE STEERING NECK BEARINGS. HOWEVER THIS WILL NOT FIX AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN PHYSICALLY MACHINED INTO THE FRONT FORK ASSEMBLY. THE MOUNTING BOSSES FOR THE FRONT FENDER ARE THICKER ON THE LEFT SIDE THAN THE RIGHT. NO AMOUNT OF ADJUSTING OR PARTS WILL CHANGE THIS INTENTIONALLY ENGINEERED BANDAID! THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE THAT SO FAR HAS GENERATED NO RESPONSE FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON OTHER THAN A REFERENCE NUMBER REQUEST TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID 10253131 · filed Dec 29, 2008

MY 2007 HARLEYDAVIDSON FLSTF (FAT BOY) WAS ENGINEERED WITH A DEFECT (FRONT WHEEL IS DESIGNED 3/4" OFF CENTER BETWEEN THE FORK TUBES) WHICH LEAVES THE MOTORCYCLE PRONE TO "HIGH SPEED WOBBLE" AND TO DRIFT OFF CENTER AT MODERATE SPEEDS. A HIGH SPEED WOBBLE CAN BE DEADLY ON A MOTORCYCLE. I ALMOST CRASHED. *TR

NHTSA ID 10243057 · filed Sep 22, 2008

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.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLSTF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FRONT AND REAR TIRES WOULD SCRAPE AGAINST THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE SINCE THE TIRE LOST TREAD. THE TIRE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,032.

NHTSA ID 10415049 · filed Jul 25, 2011

WHEN LOOSING MY GRIP ON THE HANDLE BAR, AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT END WOBBLES. IF I TAKE ONE HAND OFF THE GRIP AT A STEADY SPEED THE FRONT END WOBBLES MORE. I ALSO NOTICE THE WOBBLE IS WORSE ON DECELERATION. I CAN FEEL THE FRONT END AT 30 - 55 MPH AND THE LONGER I LET LOOSE MY GRIP THE QUICKER AND MORE DRASTIC THE WOBBLE BECOMES. I HAVE CHECKED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE STEERING HEAD BEARINGS ARE TIGHT. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT TIRE WITH ANOTHER DUNLOP TIRE. THE WOBBLE ISN'T VERY NOTICEABLE WITH BOTH HANDS TIGHTLY ON THE HANDLE BAR GRIPS.

NHTSA ID 10381929 · filed Feb 6, 2011

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE IGNITION SWITCH BEGAN TO SMOKE ALONG WITH SPARKS. THE SWITCH WAS LOCATED ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE ENGINE STALLED AND THEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE THEN TURNED THE CONSOLE OFF. HOWEVER, THE MOTORCYCLE AND THE ON-SWITCH HAD COMPLETELY BURNED. HE CHANGED THE WIRING AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO HIS HOME. HE HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,009

NHTSA ID 10295758 · filed Dec 15, 2009

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MY MOTORCYCLE RUNS SO HOT, IT PINGS, KNOCKS AND BURNS MY LEGS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10200083 · filed Aug 20, 2007

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN LOOSING MY GRIP ON THE HANDLE BAR, AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT END WOBBLES. IF I TAKE ONE HAND OFF THE GRIP AT A STEADY SPEED THE FRONT END WOBBLES MORE. I ALSO NOTICE THE WOBBLE IS WORSE ON DECELERATION. I CAN FEEL THE FRONT END AT 30 - 55 MPH AND THE LONGER I LET LOOSE MY GRIP THE QUICKER AND MORE DRASTIC THE WOBBLE BECOMES. I HAVE CHECKED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE STEERING HEAD BEARINGS ARE TIGHT. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT TIRE WITH ANOTHER DUNLOP TIRE. THE WOBBLE ISN'T VERY NOTICEABLE WITH BOTH HANDS TIGHTLY ON THE HANDLE BAR GRIPS.

NHTSA ID 10381929 · filed Feb 6, 2011

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

Data on this page last refreshed .