2013 Harley-Davidson Fltrx 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 2013 Harley-Davidson Fltrx, 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
- Brakes444.4%
- Electrical222.2%
- Driver assistance111.1%
- Engine111.1%
- Exterior lighting111.1%
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
I was driving my 2013 Harley Road Glide Custom FLTRX As I was attempting to stop the front brake was impossible to operate I had to use just the rear brakes. I was able to squeeze it very hard and it functioned a little then the brake went all the way to the handle bar. I just barely avoided a collision. I then bled the brakes and checked the calipers and replaced pads and brake lines but further diagnosis revealed the ABS module is blocking the braking pressure. This is dangerous and needs to be recallled.
I could not pull my front brake and almost crashed. My front brake lever is so stiff you can’t pull it at all. I searched on the internet and seen they only recalled motorcycles till 2011 and there are so many people with the same problems with 2012 and up. This is a very serious situation especially when it comes to brake failure.
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
FRIEND OF MINE SENT THIS TO ME: I MYSELF RIDE A HD 2013 ROADGLIDE CLASSIC: CURRENTLY THIS IS JUST INFO WE KNOW ABOUT AND MAY BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO: I WAS TALKING WITH A GUY LAST NIGHT WITH A 13 ULTRA CLASSIC AND HE WAS TELLING ME ON HIS WAY TO DC (RIDE TO THE WALL) HIS BIKE STARTED LURCHING, DROPPED TO 1500 RPM AND HE BARELY MADE IT OF THE INTERSTATE. THE HARLEY DEALER IN VIRGINIA FOUND THE ISSUE AND PULLED THE SAME PART OFF A 14 AFTER HD GAVE BOTH OF THEM THE RUN AROUND. ON THE WAY HOME, IT DID IT TO HIM AGAIN OUTSIDE OF COMMERCE, GA. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE 2 BIKES IN THE SHOP AT ROSWELL THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THEY'VE BEEN IN PIECES FOR 6 WEEKS WAITING ON PARTS. HD SAYS THEY ARE A NON-STOCKABLE PART WHICH TRANSLATES INTO WE HAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE OUR BIKES AND NONE TO SELL TO YOU.' ACCORDING TO HD THERE ISN'T ENOUGH REPORTS TO WARRANT A RECALL. WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS HD IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUES AND IS SPACING OUT THE RECALLS SO THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE GM. THE LAST RECALL WAS A CLUTCH ISSUE AND THE CURRENT ONE IS THE BRAKE LINE PINCHING. ACTUALLY, THE BRAKE LINE ISN'T PINCHING, IT'S WEARING THROUGH. AND THE DEALERSHIP IN VIRGINIA JUST REPLACED THE MODULE, BUT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE MODULE TO FAIL SOMEHOW. THE GENTLEMAN SAID IT WASN'T A COMPLETE DEAD SHUT DOWN, BUT THE RPMS DROPPED AND THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I NOTICED MY VOLTAGE METER AT 11 VOLTS. I HAD THE BIKE TOWED TO THE HARLEY DEALER AND THEY REPLACED MY VOLTAGE REGULATOR. THIS WAS A BIG RECALL IN 2012 AND MANY OWNERS OF 2013 ARE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. I'M AFRAID ONCE MY WARRANTY RUNS OUT, ILL BE LIABLE FOR REPLACING IT AGAIN. *TR
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
FRIEND OF MINE SENT THIS TO ME: I MYSELF RIDE A HD 2013 ROADGLIDE CLASSIC: CURRENTLY THIS IS JUST INFO WE KNOW ABOUT AND MAY BE SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO: I WAS TALKING WITH A GUY LAST NIGHT WITH A 13 ULTRA CLASSIC AND HE WAS TELLING ME ON HIS WAY TO DC (RIDE TO THE WALL) HIS BIKE STARTED LURCHING, DROPPED TO 1500 RPM AND HE BARELY MADE IT OF THE INTERSTATE. THE HARLEY DEALER IN VIRGINIA FOUND THE ISSUE AND PULLED THE SAME PART OFF A 14 AFTER HD GAVE BOTH OF THEM THE RUN AROUND. ON THE WAY HOME, IT DID IT TO HIM AGAIN OUTSIDE OF COMMERCE, GA. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE 2 BIKES IN THE SHOP AT ROSWELL THAT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THEY'VE BEEN IN PIECES FOR 6 WEEKS WAITING ON PARTS. HD SAYS THEY ARE A NON-STOCKABLE PART WHICH TRANSLATES INTO WE HAVE ENOUGH TO MAKE OUR BIKES AND NONE TO SELL TO YOU.' ACCORDING TO HD THERE ISN'T ENOUGH REPORTS TO WARRANT A RECALL. WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS HD IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUES AND IS SPACING OUT THE RECALLS SO THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE GM. THE LAST RECALL WAS A CLUTCH ISSUE AND THE CURRENT ONE IS THE BRAKE LINE PINCHING. ACTUALLY, THE BRAKE LINE ISN'T PINCHING, IT'S WEARING THROUGH. AND THE DEALERSHIP IN VIRGINIA JUST REPLACED THE MODULE, BUT THE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE MODULE TO FAIL SOMEHOW. THE GENTLEMAN SAID IT WASN'T A COMPLETE DEAD SHUT DOWN, BUT THE RPMS DROPPED AND THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. *TR
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
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I NOTICED MY VOLTAGE METER AT 11 VOLTS. I HAD THE BIKE TOWED TO THE HARLEY DEALER AND THEY REPLACED MY VOLTAGE REGULATOR. THIS WAS A BIG RECALL IN 2012 AND MANY OWNERS OF 2013 ARE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. I'M AFRAID ONCE MY WARRANTY RUNS OUT, ILL BE LIABLE FOR REPLACING IT AGAIN. *TR
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
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, MY CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I NOTICED MY VOLTAGE METER AT 11 VOLTS. I HAD THE BIKE TOWED TO THE HARLEY DEALER AND THEY REPLACED MY VOLTAGE REGULATOR. THIS WAS A BIG RECALL IN 2012 AND MANY OWNERS OF 2013 ARE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. I'M AFRAID ONCE MY WARRANTY RUNS OUT, ILL BE LIABLE FOR REPLACING IT AGAIN. *TR
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 .