RoadVitals

2006 Harley-Davidson Fxdbi 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.
13
Latest Aug 22, 2018
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
4
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

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.

5
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10909496 · filed Sep 24, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID 10864080 · filed May 10, 2016

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.

4
reports

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

NHTSA ID 11121572 · filed Aug 22, 2018

CHARGING SYSTEM COMPLETE FAILURE. STATOR BOLTS CAME OUT AND LED TO STATOR COMING FREE DESTROYING INNER PRIMARY. *TR

NHTSA ID 10287281 · filed Oct 13, 2009

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.

4
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10514520 · filed May 31, 2013

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

NHTSA ID 10461465 · filed Jun 13, 2012

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10167577 · filed Sep 7, 2006

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 .