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Engine & cooling

Harley-Davidson Flstc Engine problems by year

11 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Harley-Davidson Flstc's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

YearEngine complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20074000
20051000
20005000
19901000

Latest Flstc engine complaints

2000 Harley-Davidson FlstcEngine & cooling

Cam bearing failure, cam bearing plate broken, cam replacement, oil pump replacement. Hd needs to make this right for all affected engines (88b). Numerous complaints and costly repair to owner. My cost for repair of this well documented problem...$1300.00. *Tr

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10576896
2005 Harley-Davidson FlstcEngine & cooling

Cam chain tensioner failure causing major damage to engine and possible loss of control of motorcycle if engine locks up. I was informed by a sales person named [[redacted]] at eagle harley davidson in lafayette in that I had a motorcycle with problem associated with the cam chain tensioner. The chain tensioner will fail causing engine damage and possible loss of control. I asked why there is not a recall notice and he said it was normal wear but was redesigned on newer motorcycles. I was trying to trade...

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my motorcycle in for a new one and that is when he said mine was not worth much because of this problem, it would always have to be repaired and that is why harley davidson went to a hydraulic tensioner on newer motorcycles. I know nothing about motorcycles and am concerned about the possibility of major repairs or injury to myself and others if failure occurs at highway speed. I phoned corporate harley davidson customer service and was told it was not on recall and not to worry, but I do. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6).*Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10428288
2007 Harley-Davidson FlstcEngine & cooling

I have a harley davidson 2007 heritage softtail classic. It has a dangerous heat problem. Harley davidson designed the bike with the oil pain right under the driver seat. I have a temperature oil gauge and the temperature reaches 250degrees right under your thigh. It is extremely painful, feels like you have a blow torch right under your thigh. It is quite distracting and when you are driving a motorcycle you must have your wits about you at all time. I contact hd customer services, they do not have any fixits...

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in mind. They need to, it is definitely a design flaw, however even if they redesign the motorcycle it does little good for me. I love the bike, but hate the heat. Harley needs to do a recall and design some sort of deflector part to put on these bikes. The bike is hot all of the time, a little cooler when you are going fast, but not much. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10235276
2007 Harley-Davidson FlstcEngine & cooling

Excessive engine heat makes motorcycle undrivable at slow speeds. Heat literally causes red skin on back side of upper thigh (first degree burns). Harley davidson is aware of this problem, yet does not even offer an aftermarket fix. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10235181
2007 Harley-Davidson FlstcEngine & cooling

'07 Harley davidson heritage softail -i was riding with a group and we accidentally ran into a parade during the 4th of july. We sat in traffic for about 10 minutes during which time I had turned my bike off and got off of it due to the heat. After 10 minutes of not running I restarted my bike to make a u-turn. However the motorcycle died during the u-turn across two lanes of traffic. I was unable to restart the motorcycle until it has cooled down. This could have caused me to be hit by a vehicle if the lane...

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was not being blocked by the lead rider. I later dropped the bike in a parking lot due to heat as well. If this bike ever falls on the right and lands with my leg under the pipe I will suffer massive burns due to the extreme heat this motor puts off. Nothing is being done to correct the heat issue. Harley davidson expects the customer to purchase expensive parts to repair an engineering failure they created. The bike is still running hot but I not longer feel safe on it. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10200223
2007 Harley-Davidson FlstcEngine & cooling

Excessive heat generated by motor makes '07 harley-davidson unrideable at low speed /in heavy traffic situations. Sometimes gets so bad as to necessitate pulling out of traffic to let it cool off. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10199368
2000 Harley-Davidson FlstcEngine & cooling

Rear cam bearings,cam support plates and oil pump failing harley -davidson sent letter's to the owner's sayying they will repair within 5 years or 50,000 miles if there is a failure time run out on all 99 this oct.2004 0N my 2000 time is up oct.12,2004 If the failure happens after that date it cost me $853.00 I only have 15,000 miles on my 2000 harley-davidson.Harley-davidson should make the recall and take care of there customer. *Ak

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10065774
2000 Harley-Davidson FlstcEngine & cooling

This engine type (tc-88) in earlier models (produced before roughly end of 1999) has harley-davidson (h-d) acknowdged known poor cam bearing design which can result in catastrophic engine failure. H-d has even sent letters to owners of such engines a five (5) year guarantee of total engine rebuild and repair at no expense to the owner if the owner can proove the engine failed for this reason. This is unacceptable. There should be a full unconditional recall of all such engines that fall under this category of...

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admission by h-d. Major motorcyle magazines have many, many documentations of such engine failures, many happening at highway speeds causing injury either directly from the failure or indirectly from accidents caused by the failure. These are large engines and to have one literally explode between the legs of the rider is no enviable situation. Even though h-d will replace after failure, all repairs are possibly not done as metal parts from the failure can get into engine parts causing secondary damage or secondary engine failure at a later date. The onus of proving in on the owner, that the first failure caused the second problem. Not likely to happen. The value of a motorcyle valued new at $16,000-20,000 is diminished greatly and possibly not very marketable for resale. I plead the nhtsa.Dot will review this and declare a total recall on all such affected h-d motorcycles.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 746486
2000 Harley-Davidson FlstcEngine & cooling

The rear cam bearings, cam support plates, and oil pump failed causing engine failure, the manufacturer knows of the malfunction but feels its too costly to correct the problem until it fails. Nlm

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 560313

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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