IllustrationCONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 98V158000 CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. ON 28 JUL 98. ON ABOVE DATE CONTACTED DEALER TO HONOR RECALL. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN AUGUST OR OCTOBER 30 1998. HOWEVER, RECALL HAS STILL NOT HONORED AT THIS TIME. *AK
1996 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flht
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Flht years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reportsH-D REDESIGNED THE TAPPETS IN THE EVO BIG TWIN MOTOR. MY MOTOR HAD 3 OF THE NEW STYLE TAPPETS AND ONE OF THE OLD TAPPETS INSTALLED IN IT. THE ROLLERS IN THE OLD STYLE TAPPET DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING METAL SHAVINGS PUMPED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. A PIECE OF METAL GOT INTO THE OIL PUMP ,AND CAUSED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, WHICH THEN CA…
Read full complaint
H-D REDESIGNED THE TAPPETS IN THE EVO BIG TWIN MOTOR. MY MOTOR HAD 3 OF THE NEW STYLE TAPPETS AND ONE OF THE OLD TAPPETS INSTALLED IN IT. THE ROLLERS IN THE OLD STYLE TAPPET DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING METAL SHAVINGS PUMPED THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. A PIECE OF METAL GOT INTO THE OIL PUMP ,AND CAUSED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, WHICH THEN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO GET NOISY. IF A PIECE OF METAL MADE ITS WAY TO THE WRONG PLACE, THEN THE ENGINE FROZE UP AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENED ON MY 1989 H-D, FLHTC. VIN # [XXX]. IT HAD 74,800 MILES ON IT WHEN IT OCCURRED. THE SAMETHING HAPPENED. A TAPPET ROLLER DISINTEGRATED. THE SHOP THAT DID THE ENGINE OVERHAUL HAS ALSO SEEN IT HAPPEN ON OTHER MOTORCYCLES. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
OWNER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE JULY 22 1998. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN CARE OFF.
THE AMOUNT OF REPAIR KITS FOR IGNITION SWITCH THAT ARE BEING SHIPPED FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO THE DEALERS ARE GREATLY INSUFFICIENT. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED SEVEN TIMES, AND CANNOT OBTAIN THE KITS AND CANNOT DETERMINE WHEN THEY WILL BE IN. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT FAILURE, RECALL NOTICE SENT HOWEVER UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS.
IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE, WHILE OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO COME TO A SCHREECHING HALT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND WOULD REPLACE THE SWITCH , STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND MANY HAD BEEN REPLACED FOR A FEE. *AK
Official recalls
198V158000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch
Jul 14, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FL TOURING MOTORCYCLES. A LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH CAN OCCUR DUE TO EXCESSIVE CURRENT AND OTHER FACTORS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL TO START, OPERATE ERRATICALLY, OR STALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH/CIRCUIT BREAKER AND INSTALL A RELAY KIT.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.