RoadVitals

2013 Harley-Davidson Fxdf

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.
2
Latest Jan 24, 2017
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.
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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.
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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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Harley-Davidson Fxdf, most frequently naming the brakes, exterior lighting and other / unspecified categories. 15 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

  • Brakes133.3%
  • Exterior lighting133.3%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecified
Filed Jan 24, 2017

CPSC: HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE SADDLE BAGS, SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MY MOTORCYCLE, AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS; I RODE OVER A POT HOLE ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE FIRST INCIDENT, AND AN EXPANSION JOINT ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE SUSPENSION COMPRESSED, THE LEFT SADDLEBAG BRACKET CAUGHT BENEATH THE UPPER BELT GUARD AND BENT THE UPPER BELT GUARD INTO THE PRIMARY DRIVE BELT AND PULLEY. *BF

NHTSA ID
10948211
Incident
Apr 21, 2016
BrakesExterior lighting
Filed Jul 1, 2015

WHILE DRIVING MY MOTORCYCLE DURING A MULTI BIKE RIDE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ON MY MOTORCYCLE WAS STAYING BRIGHTLY LIT, AS THOUGH I WAS BRAKING, FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE LIGHT WAS STAYING LIT AFTER I HAD RELEASED PRESSURE ON THE MASTER CYLINDER LEVER, ON A SPORADIC BASIS. I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT, ON HARLEY DAVIDSON OWNER FORUMS, THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT CAN SOMETIMES BE FIXED ON A TEMPORARY BASIS BY SPRAYING LUBRICANT ON THE BRAKE PISTON THAT CONTACTS THE BRAKE LEVER. THE UNIT CAN BE REBUILT WHICH IS ALSO A TEMPORARY FIX SINCE THE REAL PROBLEM IS THAT THE PISTON RETURN SPRING IS MARGINALLY TOO WEAK. THIS CAUSES THE PISTON NOT TO RETURN THE LEVER FAR ENOUGH FORWARD TO RELEASE PRESSURE ON THE MECHANICAL STOPLIGHT SWITCH. I SUBMIT THAT THIS WEAK RETURN SPRING IS A WIDESPREAD DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT ALLOWS THE BRAKE LIGHT TO CONTINUE TO STAY ON AND, THEN, WHEN THE RIDER DOES GRAB THE LEVER TO STOP, THERE IS NO INDICATION OF A CHANGE IN THE STOPLIGHT INTENSITY WHICH ENDANGERS THE RIDER FROM A POSSIBLE REAR END COLLISION. DEALERS, KNOWING THAT THE SPRING IS A PROBLEM, HAVE STRETCHED THE RETURN SPRING WHEN REBUILDING THE MASTER CYLINDER TO TRY TO PREVENT THIS BUT THAT IS NOT A SATISFACTORY LONG TERM RESOLUTION. THE RETURN SPRINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH A STRONGER SPRING, NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, TO ENSURE THAT THE LEVER IS RETURNED FAR ENOUGH FORWARD TO TURN OFF THE STOPLIGHT SWITCH. I WONDER HOW MANY HD BIKES HAVE BEEN STRUCK FROM THE REAR BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
10731549
Incident
Jun 15, 2015
Mileage
4,800 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

M1391A

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1391A (REVU): MIDTRONICS GRX-3110 AND DCA-8000 SOFTWARE. PURPORSE: Revision U. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the dealer network that a software update to the GRX-3110 and DCA-8000 is now available. DYNAMIC DIAGNOSTIC CHARGER SYSTEM (PART NUMBER: DCA-8000). [Rev U] Added: Description of improvements made to the testing algorithm for GRX software Version P and DCA-8000 software Version E.

PAB1171

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1171 (REV B): SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR SCREAMIN EAGLE PRO STREET TUNER. PURPOSE: Revision B. Updated: Summary. The App has returned to the Apple App Store. This bulletin informs dealers that a recent software update to the Screamin' Eagle Pro Street Tuner application will require the use of a Personal Computer (PC) to complete a Bluetooth Communication Interface (BCI) firmware update.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 25.8.9): 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). New Software Update Version 25.8.9 Release Date: Week of September 2, 2025. Changes: LiveWire 2024 S2MH: Removal of incorrect Electro Hydraulic Control Unit (EHCU) reflash support; EHCU Module (Part No. 41100123): Addressed issue where module became unrecoverable after failed reflash attempted. NOTE: Digital Technician II (DT II) supports additional Harley-Davidson motorcycle models and model years outside of those listed.

M1391A

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1391A (REV T): MIDTRONICS GRX-3110 AND DCA-8000 SOFTWARE. PURPORSE: Revision T. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the dealer network that a software update to the GRX-3110 and DCA-8000 is now available. DYNAMIC DIAGNOSTIC CHARGER SYSTEM (PART NUMBER: DCA-8000). [Rev T] Updated: New Software Update, Previous Software Updates and DCA-8000. Added: 192-210335P. Software update 192-210335P for GRX-3110 and DCA-800 to add new battery part numbers.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 25.8.7): 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). New Software Update Version 25.6.4, Release Date: Week of August 19, 2025. Includes New Features and Changes for the Models & Model Years listed. NOTE: Digital Technician II (DT II) supports additional Harley-Davidson motorcycle models and model years outside of those listed.

M1684

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1684: MARKET SPECIFIC BATTERY INTRODUCTION. PURPOSE: Initial Release. This bulletin informs dealers of the availability of new batteries for new Original Equipment (OE) vehicle production and in the Parts and Accessories (P&A) catalog. Availability of the new Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries will vary by market and will be transitioning over the next few months. NOTE: The ring terminal screws are not compatible between Leoch and East Penn batteries. The new batteries will include new ring terminal screws, which must be used. The ring terminal screws from the old battery need to be discarded.

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 Fxdf by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017000
2016000
2015100
2014100
2013Viewing200
2012200
2011000
2010210
2009320
2008101

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.