2022 Harley-Davidson Fxlrst 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 2022 Harley-Davidson Fxlrst, 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)225.0%
- Suspension225.0%
- Brakes112.5%
- Electrical112.5%
- Engine112.5%
- Other / unspecified112.5%
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
On August 12, 2026, at 5,826 miles, my 2022 Harley-Davidson FXLRST M8 117 suffered catastrophic engine failure while traveling 65 mph on the freeway. I lost motive power and had to reach the shoulder, creating a serious crash hazard. About five miles into the ride, severe metallic clanging/pinging began. The engine shut down, locked completely and would not restart. No oil-pressure or other warning light illuminated. No engine/oil DTC was stored; only a battery fault was found. Harley-Davidson of Sacramento performed the 1,000-mile service at 1,004 miles and returned the bike at 1,007. Its invoice documents an oil/filter change and five quarts of oil. The engine failed 4,819 miles later. Afterward, I found the oil extremely low. Less than one quart was recovered from a roughly 5-quart system, with no external leak observed. Two independent mechanics, including a former Harley-Davidson technician, disassembled the engine. A rear-cylinder exhaust-valve head had separated from its stem, causing extensive piston, cylinder/liner, spark-plug and internal engine damage. The springs and keepers remained intact. The failed parts are preserved for inspection. NHTSA data I reviewed shows about 244 M8-era complaints involving stalls, power loss or engine/powertrain issues; about 81 hard mechanical/oiling failures, including about 15 sumping/oil-pump complaints. Harley has made numerous M8 engineering changes, including exhaust-valve and valve-spring changes for 2023 and later cylinder-head revisions. In 2026, approximately 88,000 M8-family motorcycles were recalled for an oil/breather defect. Given the freeway power loss, seizure, dangerously low oil without warning, confirmed exhaust-valve separation and broader M8 failure history, I believe this warrants a formal safety investigation.
motorcycle continuous to turn off, has happened in turns, while on the freeway and loosing full control of the motorcycle and having to pull off while cars are behind me at fast speeds. Issue continuous to occur has happened continuously even after being taken to a Harley dealership where they have assured me it’s fine.
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
PRESENT RECALLS HAVE NOT BEEN REMEDIED BY MANUFACTURER.
UNKNOWN 35+ MPH noticeable bounce in front end also 70+ left then front end sometimes begins to wobble and becomes unstable. Dealer 1 checked and found wheels not balanced properly front the factory. Both front and rear wheel had three weights added for balance. Advised bunch is still present and is “normal”. Issue persists. Dealer 2 inspected. Found no issue with wheel or tire with measurements. Only issue observed was tire over inflated to 41 PSI by Dealer 1. Departed to 36 PSI and tech took in 21 mile test ride. Unable to replicate bunch issue. Picked bike up rode home on city roads and observed issue to sill he occurring. Contacted Harley Corporate as found proof / invoice of another having same issue where tire was replaced under warranty due to a casting issue. Harley corporate refused to check.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
PRESENT RECALLS HAVE NOT BEEN REMEDIED BY MANUFACTURER.
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
motorcycle continuous to turn off, has happened in turns, while on the freeway and loosing full control of the motorcycle and having to pull off while cars are behind me at fast speeds. Issue continuous to occur has happened continuously even after being taken to a Harley dealership where they have assured me it’s fine.
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
motorcycle continuous to turn off, has happened in turns, while on the freeway and loosing full control of the motorcycle and having to pull off while cars are behind me at fast speeds. Issue continuous to occur has happened continuously even after being taken to a Harley dealership where they have assured me it’s fine.
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
UNKNOWN 35+ MPH noticeable bounce in front end also 70+ left then front end sometimes begins to wobble and becomes unstable. Dealer 1 checked and found wheels not balanced properly front the factory. Both front and rear wheel had three weights added for balance. Advised bunch is still present and is “normal”. Issue persists. Dealer 2 inspected. Found no issue with wheel or tire with measurements. Only issue observed was tire over inflated to 41 PSI by Dealer 1. Departed to 36 PSI and tech took in 21 mile test ride. Unable to replicate bunch issue. Picked bike up rode home on city roads and observed issue to sill he occurring. Contacted Harley Corporate as found proof / invoice of another having same issue where tire was replaced under warranty due to a casting issue. Harley corporate refused to check.
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 .