RoadVitals

2016 Harley-Davidson Fltru

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
8
Latest Nov 20, 2020
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jun 27, 2016
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Harley-Davidson Fltru, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 41 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance225.0%
  • Electrical225.0%
  • Engine225.0%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Visibility112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
16V471000

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

Jun 27, 2016
27,232 units potentially affected
The defect: Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2016 Electric Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Electra Glide Ultra Classic Low (FLHTCUL), Ultra Limited Low (FLHTKL), Ultra Limited (FLHTK), CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), Road Glide Special (FLTRXS), Road Glide (FLTRX), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), Road Glide Ultra (FLTRU), Fat Boy S (FLSTFBS), Softail Slim S (FLSS), and CVO Softail Pro Street Breakout (FXSE) motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, the clutch master cylinder may lose the ability to generate enough lift to disengage the clutch, especially if the motorcycle has been parked for an extended period of time.
The risk: When the engine is running and the motorcycle is in gear, if the clutch cannot be fully disengaged, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the clutch master cylinder for the presence of gas in the fluid, if so, the dealer will flush the clutch system and rebuild the clutch master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2016. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0169.
Harley-Davidson Motor CompanyManufacturer number 0169View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Nov 20, 2020

ON NOVEMBER 19, 2020, WHILE TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY THE ENGINE LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON MEANING THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT, ON AN EXPRESSWAY THE MOTORCYCLIST NEEDS TO PULL OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE WHICH PUTS THE OPERATOR IN DANGER. IT TURNS OUT THE WATER PUMP MALFUNCTIONED ON A 2016 MOTORCYCLE. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE WATER PUMPS STATING THE HARLEY HAS UPDATED THE WATER PUMPS SO OBVIOUSLY HARLEY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE WATER PUMPS ON 2014-2016 TOURING LIQUID COOLED MODELS. THIS SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED TO MY FATHER ON A 2015 TRI GLIDE IN 2018. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SITUATION IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHICH HARLEY IS AWARE OF YET NOT CORRECTING. THE WATER PUMP FAILURE PUTS THE OPERATOR AND PASSENGER IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION SHOULD THE WATER PUMP FAIL ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY OR HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
11375628
Incident
Nov 19, 2020
Mileage
5 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 25, 2020

I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE AND ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN WHEN MY SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, DASH LIGHTS, FUEL INDICATOR AND VOLTAGE GAUGE STARTED TURNING ON AND OFF, MY FUEL INDICATION STARTED GOING FROM EMPTY TO HALF TANK OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNTIL IT WENT DEAD, SAME WITH MY TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER. NOW THE TACHOMETER IS AT AROUND 1200 RPMS AND MY SPEEDOMETER IS AT 14 MPH. THERE'S ALSO SWELLING INSIDE THE GLASS DUE TO WATER FILTRATION I PRESUME WHICH HARLEY DAVIDSON DIDN'T SEAL THE SPEEDO AND TACH GAUGES REALLY WELL. I'M REALLY WORRIED DUE TO THIS AND ALSO WORRIED FOR MY FELLOW RIDERS LUCKILY I WAS GOING SLOW IN THE CITY BUT I'M AFRAID THIS COULD HAPPEN TO OTHER RIDERS GOING AT HIGH SPEEDS. I ALSO SEARCHED ONLINE AT MANY HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS AND SAW MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE. WHILE THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND IN A CITY STREET AROUND 3:40PM WHEN I LEFT WORK. I ATTACHED A PICTURE BELOW WHERE IF IS ZOOMED IN WATER CAN BE NOTICED INSIDE THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER.

NHTSA ID
11361061
Incident
Sep 24, 2020
Mileage
28,800 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 31, 2020

WATER PUMP FAILED AUGUST 2018 ON A TRIP AND WAS REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. THE 2ND PUMP FAILED AUGUST 2019 FOR THE SAME REASON AND WAS REPLACED WITH UPGRADED WATER PUMP BY DEALER IN SEPT 2019. JULY 2020 THE UPGRADE HAS FAILED. GOING TO DEALER 3RD TIME FOR REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID
11342505
Incident
Jul 12, 2020
Mileage
3,800 mi
Filed May 15, 2020

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WENT BAD WITH ONLY 131330MILES ON BIKE BEARINGS WERE MAKING A RUMBLING NOISE WHILE RIDING DOWN ROAD

NHTSA ID
11324715
Incident
May 6, 2020
Mileage
13,133 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 28, 2018

AFTER A HEAVY RAIN, ALL THE INSTRUMENTS STOPPED WORKING

NHTSA ID
11090783
Incident
Apr 28, 2018
Mileage
15,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE ULTRA (FLTRU). WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE SADDLEBAG MOUNTING RECEPTACLE FAILED AND THE CONTACT'S SADDLEBAG FELL ONTO THE ROAD. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (ROCK-N-ROLL CITY HARLEY-DAVIDSON 4985 W 150TH ST, CLEVELAND, OH 44135) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE MOTORCYCLE AND COVER THE COST OF THE SADDLEBAG. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF THE CONTENTS OF THE SADDLE BAG. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10992722
Incident
Mar 15, 2017
Mileage
4,800 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 23, 2016

I PURCHASED THIS MOTORCYCLE ON JULY 23, 2016 AND ACCORDING TO 16V-471 (ATTACHED), THE SUBMISSION DATE OF THE RECALL TO NHTSA WAS JUNE 24, 2016, THE PLANNED DEALER NOTIFICATION DATE WAS JULY 06, 2016 - JULY 08, 2016, THE PLANNED OWNER NOTIFICATION DATE WAS JULY 18, 2016 - JULY 22, 2016. THIS MEANS HARLEY DAVIDSON KNOWINGLY SOLD ME A POTENTIALLY DEADLY MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT NOTIFYING ME AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE (BECAUSE I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT IT OF COURSE). I JUST HAD A FRIEND DIE ON A MOTORCYCLE. MY WIFE AND I ARE DISAPPOINTED AND ANGRY WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR KNOWINGLY PUTTING OUR LIVES IN DANGER IN THE NAME OF PROFITABILITY. AT MINIMUM, THIS STILL-LIKE-NEW MOTORCYCLE NEEDS TO BE PICKED UP AND A REFUND ISSUED.

NHTSA ID
10909375
Incident
Jul 23, 2016
Mileage
50 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 15, 2016

BLINDING GLARE FROM SUN REFLECTING OFF THE SCREEN ON THE BOOM AUDIO INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. GLARE IS SO BAD THAT THE DRIVER IS BLINDED AND CANNOT SEE THE ROADWAY.

NHTSA ID
10859769
Incident
Apr 10, 2016
Mileage
1,200 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; POWER TRAIN; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL; WHEELS

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.8.3): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version Version 26.8.3, Release Date: Week of July 24, 2026. NOTE: Software version (26.4.3) will need to be manually installed only if current software version of DT II is (26.0.2). After (26.4.3) is manually installed, automatic updates will bring DT II to the latest software version. Refer to bulletin M1713 for instructions. New Features - Harley-Davidson: 2023-2024 Touring: Updated Electronic Control Module (ECM) calibration offerings. LiveWire: S2DM/MH/AP: Calibration bundle 10.2.28: Telematic Control Unit (TCU) reflash updates. Change: Vehicle Setup: Body Control Module (BCM) – Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Replacement: Correct issue where tire size selections were not available. System Info – Auxiliary Load Controller (ALC): Added Bike configuration field. Data Items – Trike ECM: Improved display of Gear Position when in reverse. Amp – Added support for (Part No. 76001619).

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; EXTERIOR LIGHTING; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.7.3): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version 26.7.3. Release Date:• Week of June 11, 2026. NOTE Software version (26.4.3) will need to be manually installed only if current software version of DT II is (26.0.2). After (26.4.3) is manually installed, automatic updates will bring DT II to the latest software version. Refer to bulletin M1713 for instructions.

M1727

ENGINE; POWER TRAIN

SERVICE BULLETIN M1727: BIG TWIN INNER PRIMARY SEAL CHANGES. PURPOSE: Initial release. This bulletin informs dealers of changes to the Inner Primary Seal (Part No. 12052). The seal part number was changed from (Part No. 12052A, black in color) to (Part No. 12052B, brown in color). A new Inner Primary Seal (Part No. 12052C) has been released and the color has been changed back to black.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.6.2): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version 26.6.2. Release Date: Week of April 22, 2026. NOTE: Software version (26.4.3) will need to be manually installed only if current software version of DT II is (26.0.2). After (26.4.3) is manually installed, automatic updates will bring DT II to the latest software version. Refer to bulletin M1713 for instructions. New Features: 2026 Police • Vehicle Setup: Civilianize; LiveWire • S2: Del Mar (S2DM), Mulholland (S2MH), Alpinista (S2AP) - Calibration bundle 10.2.20: Vehicle Supervisory Controller (VSC) and Onboard Charger (OBC) reflash updates. Changes: 2026 Trike • Update “Reverse Lockout Reason” resize column.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.5.2): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version 26.5.2 Release Date: Week of March 30, 2026. NOTE Software version (26.4.3) will need to be manually installed only if current software version of DT II is (26.0.2). After (26.4.3) is manually installed, automatic updates will bring DT II to the latest software version. Refer to bulletin M1713 for instructions. New Features. 2024: Pan America (RA1250), Pan America Special (RA1250S), CVO Pan America (RA1250SE) • Updated Body Control Module (BCM) reflash calibration. 2024-2026: CVO Road Glide ST (FLTRXSTSE) • Updated Electronic Control Module (ECM) reflash calibration. 2026: CVO Street Glide ST (FLHXSTSE) • Updated ECM reflash calibration. Changes. 2026 Trike • Update “Reverse Lockout Reason” to support new values, • “Vehicle setup: Gear Indicator Calibration” – improve operation. 2025-2026 Softail • Update reflash for Softail Speedometer (SPDO) – enable operation of auxiliary lamp telltale. LiveWire S2 • Provide reflash support for Vehicle Supervisory Controller (VSC) hardware (Part No. 41001756RE).

M1679

ENGINE

SERVICE BULLETIN M1679: AFTERMARKET EXHAUST HEADER DEBRIS. PURPOSE: Initial release. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has identified instances of premature engine failure due to abrasive particle wear, specifically from debris inside new aftermarket exhaust headers. Recent evaluations have identified that certain newly manufactured exhaust headers may contain residual hard particles that, if not removed prior to installation, can migrate through the engine system and cause accelerated component wear or severe mechanical damage.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Fltru by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019110—
2018020—
2017320—
2016Viewing810—
2013100044.0
2012610—
2011221031.0
2010010—
2009600—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.