RoadVitals

2013 Harley-Davidson Fxsb

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.
3
Latest Jul 29, 2016
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.
1
Latest Apr 8, 2014
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.
0
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Harley-Davidson Fxsb, most frequently naming the fuel system, other / unspecified and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 16 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

  • Fuel system133.3%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
14V185000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Apr 8, 2014
9,102 units potentially affected
The defect: Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Inc. (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 FXSB and FXSBSE motorcycles manufactured March 20, 2012, through March 10, 2014. Suspension variances may affect the gas tank mounting angle causing the fuel level sensor to read inaccurately.
The risk: The gauge inaccuracy may cause the motorcycle to run out of fuel unexpectedly, possibly even before the Low Fuel Warning lamp illuminates. The lack of fuel would cause the motorcycle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Harley-Davidson has notified owners, and dealers will update the software to recalibrate the fuel level sensor signal, free of charge. The recall began April 28, 2014. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson at 1-800-258-2464.
Harley-Davidson Motor CompanyView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 29, 2016

I HAVE HAD TWO D407 REAR TIRES FOR A HARLEY BREAKOUT 2013. MY DRIVING IS A T2 MILE STRETCH FROM OAKLAND TO RICHMOND CA TO WORK AND FROM RICHMOND TO HAYWARD 16 MILES TWICE A WEEK TO WORK PART TIME AS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE INSTRUCTOR. TRIPS TO LOS ANGELES ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR. NO OTHER TRIPS TO SURROUNDING AREAS JUST RIDING AROUND TOWN AT LOW SPEED EVERY WEEKEND. BOTH REAR TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF FAILURE AT ABOUT 3K WITH CRACKS SPANNING THE BREATH OF THE TIRE. THE FIRST HAD SEVERAL CRACKS, WHEN THE FRONT DID THE SAME THING I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE TREAD WAS BELOW 32. I DID NOT GO AT FIRST CAUSE I HAD ALREADY BEEN HAVING RUNAROUND WITH THEM SCAMMING WARRANTY REPAIRS. BUT WHEN THE FRONT CRACKED ABOUT 4K I WAS SURE IT WAS THE TIRES AND WENT IN. THE FIRST 1.5K WAS DONE AT OR BELOW 50 MPS CAUSE THE BIKE WAS NEW AND IT WAS MY FIRST MOTORCYCLE AFTER TAKING THE SAFETY COURSE IN 2008 BOUGHT BIKE 2013. I AM AN EXCELLENT BICYCLER. SWITCHED TO PERILLI AND A FINE TIRE THE NIGHT DRAGON, DROVE TILL SLICK AND RAINY SEASON APPROACH BEFORE CHANGE. I HAD BEEN CHECKING THESE AND JUST NOTICED A CRACK THAT LOOKS DEEPER AND THE START ON ONE SIDE AND SPANS THE TIME TO THINNER ON THE OTHER SIDE. WHEN I WENT IN TO CHANGE THE FIRST ONES THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE FRONT AND ASKED WHERE I HAD BEEN KEEPING THE BIKE. INSIDE AND IT IS 6 MONTHS OLD. I AM 68 SO REMEMBER THOSE RUBBER TIRES WE USED TO MAKE GO CARTS ETC, YOU COULD TELL WHEN IT WAS DRIED AND THEY REMINDED ME OF THAT BUT I SAID WHAT DO I KNOW ABOUT MOTOR CYCLE TIRES IN 2012. TALKED TO REVZILLA ABOUT CRACKS AND DO CHUNKS COME OFF AT SPEED. HE SAID HE HAS SEEN THAT AT TRACKS BUT IT IS MORE A MATTER OF TEMPERATURE THAN SPEED, WHICH MAKES SENSE. I WAS AT THE SHOP A FEW MONTHS AGO AND THE MACHANIC SAID HE STILL HAD THE TIRE. I WILL CHECK AND SEE. CANT SEEM TO FIND THE PICS I HAD.

NHTSA ID
10891574
Incident
Jul 18, 2016
Mileage
28,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 14, 2014

TIRES ON MY 2013 BREAKOUT ARE SHOWING SERIOUS SIGNS OF FRACTURING ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE TIRE. THIS HAS OCCURED ON BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK TIRES THAT COME STANDARD ON THE VEHICLE. THE CRACKS ON THE FRONT TIRE FIRST APPEARED SOMETIME BETWEEN THE 5K CHECKUP AND 7K. IT WAS NOT CLEAR IF THIS WAS A PEEL OR CRACK AND DID NOT APPEAR TO GET DEEPER. AFTER THE 10 CHECK I NOTICED THE CRACK LOOKED DEEPER AND INSPECTED AND FOUND THAT TO BE TRUE. THE BIKE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT WAS NORMAL AND TO CHANGE THE TIRES, HE HAD ALREADY RECOMMEDED THE BACK. TODAY I WAS INSPECTING THE TIRES AND NOTICED A HAIRLINE FRACTURE ACROSS THE LENGTH OF THE REAR TIRE. I INSPECT TIRES ALMOST DAILY AND THIS IS THE FIRST I HAVE SEEN OF THIS CRACK. BOTH TIRES ARE ABOVE THE 2 MARK ON THE DEPTH AND WARE MARKES ARE NOT SHOWING. *JS

NHTSA ID
10579679
Incident
Apr 14, 2014
Mileage
10,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 1, 2013

I WAS ON I-275 JUST EAST OF THE I-71 INTERSECTION IN CINCINNATI, OH. MY MOTORCYCLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I WAS IN THE SLOW LANE SO I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH AND COASTED TO A STOP IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. I HAD OVER A GALLON OF PREMIUM GAS STILL IN THE TANK. I WAS LESS THAN 1/4 MILE FROM THE MONTGOMERY ROAD EXIT AND KNEW I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PUSH MY MOTORCYCLE THAT FAR. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND SAT THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE WHEN I DECIDED TO SEE IF IT WOULD START. IT STARTED IMMEDIATELY AND I DROVE TO EXIT AND ADDED 3 GALLONS TO THE 5 GALLON TANK, IT RAN FINE FOR UNTIL I REACHED MY DESTINATION 15 MILES AWAY. ON MY RETURN TRIP IT STARTED BOGGING DOWN UPON ANY ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. IT HAS BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIPS AND NOW I AM TOLD IT IS A FAULTY FUEL LINE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT HARLEY CORPORATE WILL NOT MAKE AVAILABLE UNTIL 8/5/13. I COULD HAVE BEEN RUN OVER HAD I BEEN IN THE FAST OR MIDDLE LANES. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10533156
Incident
Jul 17, 2013
Mileage
580 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 Fxsb by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018100—
2017100—
2016200—
2015000—
2014010—
2013Viewing310—

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.