2006 Harley-Davidson Fxdbi 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 2006 Harley-Davidson Fxdbi, 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)535.7%
- Electrical428.6%
- Other / unspecified428.6%
- Suspension17.1%
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
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
OF AND ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS THERE IS A KNOCKING COMING FROM THE PRIMARY CARE WHICH HOUSES THE CLUTCH AND STRIDER STADER, THE DEALERS IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO GIVE THE BUYER A ADDENDUM TO THEIR OWNERS MANUAL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INNER CASE BEARING AND IT NEEDS REPLACED EVERY 5000 MILES NUT 15000 LIKE THE MAINTAINCE SCHEDULE RECOMMENDS, I NEVER RECEIVED THAT PAPER WHEN TAKING DELIVERY GETTING IT BRAND NEW, I WAS DING RESEARCH ON MY MOUSE (PROBLEM) AND DISCOVERED A COPY OF THE PAPER, IT STATES THAT HARLEY (DEALER ) WILL AT NO CHARGE REPLACE THAT ITEM (BEARING)FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (MOTORCYCLE) I'M TRYING TO GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED BEFORE IT COMES APART OUT. OR EVEN WORSE LOCKS UP THE DRIVE TRAIN AND CAUSES AND ACCUSTOMED
THE 5 BOLTS HOLDING THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE SPROCKET BACKED OUT AND LOCKED THE WHEEL UP WHEN THE BOLTS HIT THE SWING ARM. THIS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY, ABOUT 3 YEARS PRIOR, BUT ONLY ONE BOLT BACKED OUT AT THAT TIME. AFTER PERFORMING A GOOGLE SEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE ON HARLEY MOTORCYCLES FROM MID-1990 MODELS TO CURRENT MODELS.
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
THE ROTOR CUP WHICH IS SECURED IS COMING APART TEARING UP THE STATER FOR THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING PARTICLES OF THE TWO UNITS FLYING AROUND IN THE PRIMARY CASE POSSIBLY CAUSING THE CHAIN TO JAM OR BREAK THE CLUTCH PACK TO JAM OR BREAK WHICH COULD SEIZE THE BIKES REAR WHEEL THE WORST CASE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND AT FREEWAY SPEED COULD BE CATASTROPHIC
CHARGING SYSTEM COMPLETE FAILURE. STATOR BOLTS CAME OUT AND LED TO STATOR COMING FREE DESTROYING INNER PRIMARY. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON 5/27/13 WHILE RIDING HOME FROM WORK I HEARD A BANG FROM THE REAR OF MY BIKE. I THEN HEARD RATTLING. I STOPPED AND FOUND THAT 3 OF THE 5 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR SPROCKET ON THE HUB WERE SHEARED OFF AT THE THREADS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME. I HAD TO REMOVED THE SHEARED BOLTS FROM INSIDE THE HUB AND REPLACED THEM WITH '6' MARK GRADE 'A' BOLTS. THESE BOLTS FAILED ON 5/27/13. I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A LITTLE 'PLAY' BETWEEN THE SPACING BETWEEN THE SPROKET HOLE AND BOLT. THIS MAY BE CAUSING THE BOLTS TO SHEAR IF STRESS OR TORQUE IS PLACED ON THE REAR WHEEL/SPROCKET. HARLEY DENIES THAT THIS IS THEIR EQUIPMENT ISSUE BUT TO HAVE IT HAPPEN TWICE IS KIND OF ODD ESPECIALLY IF I REPLACED THE STOCK BOLTS WITH BETTER ONES. *TR
ON SUNDAY 10 JUNE 2012, I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON US ROUTE 301 APPROXIMATELY .5 MILES SOUTH OF RT 4 IN MARYLAND. I WAS RIDING SOLO ON A 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET BOB AT 50 MPH. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR DRIVE SPROCKET DETACHED FROM THE REAR WHEEL CAUSING MOMENTARY LOCK-UP OF THE REAR WHEEL AND LOSS OF CONTROL. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE FAILURE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE REAR SPROCKET TO THE REAR WHEEL HAD BACKED OUT AND CAUGHT ON THE SWING ARM CAUSING ALL BOLTS TO SHEER AWAY FROM THE REAR TIRE HUB. THIS HAPPENED ONLY TWO WEEKS AFTER A 5000 MILE SERVICE PERFORMED BY THE HARLEY DISTRIBUTOR IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS OTHER HD OWNERS WITH VARYING RESULTS (SOME LIFE THREATENING). HD DISTRIBUTOR AND HD FACTORY WERE CONTACTED AND BOTH DENIED ANY PREEXISTING PROBLEMS OR CHANGE IN MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES TO HELP ALLEVIATE THIS POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
RODE MOST OF THE DAY ON A FAIRLY DESCENT HIGHWAY WITH SOME DIPS AND SOME SMALL BUMPS IN THE HIGHWAY. AFTER FINAL DESTINATION TO A RESTAURANT, NOTICED UPON INSPECTION THE UPPER PART OF THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK WAS INVERTED. CLOSER INSPECTION REVEALED THE UPPER SHOCK BOLT JUST BELOW THE SEAT WAS SEPARATED IN HALF AND HANGING ON BY THE SLEEVE OF THE BOLT INSIDE THE THREADED HOLE OF THE FRAME. THIS HAD TO HAVE HAPPEN DURING MY RIDE SINCE THE SEAT HAD SOME WEAR FROM RUBBING ON THE SHOCK FASTENER SLEEVE. THE SHOCK WAS ALSO BENT AT THE TOP INDICATING IMPACT DURING THE RIDE TO FORCE A BEND IN THE SHOCK. I WAS THE ONLY RIDER ON THE BIKE FOR THIS TRIP, HYPOTHETICALLY THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF I WOULD HAVE HAD ANOTHER RIDER ON BOARD. THE MANAGER OF HARLEY DAVIDSON NEW ORLEANS WILL HAVE MY BIKE TOWED IN TO REPLACE BOTH SHOCKS, ALL FOUR BOLTS AND MY SEAT. *JB
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 .