IllustrationHARLEY REFUSED TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM YET MULTIPLE PERSONS HAVE SINCE CONFIRMED TO ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL HARLEY MECHANICS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
1997 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. 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 reportsCONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN JULY CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER HAS NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THEY ARE STILL ON BACK ORDER. RECALL NUMBER 98V15000. *AK *ML
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN JULY 1998. CONTACTED DEALER, NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DEALER HAS NOT YET RECEIVED PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. RECALL NUMBER 98V158000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED A PART FOR THEIR IGNITION SWITCH. HOWEVER THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE RECEIVING THE LETTER , WHICH WAS ON JULY 22ND. THE RECALL NO. IS 98V158000. *AK
MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK MOTORCYCLE TO DEALERSHIP & IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. NO CRASH OR INJURIES. 1997 FLHTCUI BROUGHT JAN 1997, READ IT IN MCN. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION CAUSED BY FAULTY SPEEDOMETER.
VEHICLE PULLS TO LEFT.
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.