RoadVitals

2018 Harley-Davidson Fltrx 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.
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Latest Jul 8, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 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

  • Engine1100.0%

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

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

Vehicle Information: 2018 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special Safety Complaint: I am filing this complaint because the excessive engine heat from my 2018 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special has caused repeated burns to my right inner thigh while riding. This is not simply an issue of rider discomfort—it is a safety concern that has resulted in physical injury. During normal riding, particularly in stop-and-go traffic, at traffic lights, or in warm weather, the engine produces an excessive amount of heat that is directed toward my right inner thigh. Despite wearing jeans, I have suffered multiple burns over time. The most recent burn blistered and has now left permanent scarring on my leg. I have owned this motorcycle since it was new and have noticed the excessive heat issue repeatedly. I have also experienced what appears to be increasing heat over time. I believe riders should not be exposed to temperatures capable of causing burns during normal operation of a motorcycle. This condition creates a safety hazard because it can distract the rider, cause sudden pain while operating the motorcycle, and lead to loss of concentration or control. In my case, it has resulted in repeated burns and permanent scars. I respectfully request that the NHTSA investigate this issue to determine whether excessive engine heat on this model presents an unreasonable safety risk to riders.

NHTSA ID 11748998 · filed Jul 8, 2026

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 .