IllustrationThere is a crack in the rear swing arm from top to bottom. Have been reading on line forums. Apparently this has been going on for years. Why no recall ?
2001 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
All reported categories
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: 1 of 6 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 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 reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
6 reportsI OWN A HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THE HORNS ON THESE BIKES ARE A HAZARD. MY BIKES HORN SOUNDS LIKE A DEAD DUCK WHEN IT DOES MAKE NOISE, AND THERE ARE 1000'S OF OTHERS WHO MAKE THIS SAME COMPLAINT ON NUMEROUS INTERNET HARLEY FORUMS. THESE HORNS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND HARLEY DAVIDSON KNOWS THAT THESE HORN QUIT WORKING ON EVEN THEIR NE…
Read full complaint
I OWN A HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THE HORNS ON THESE BIKES ARE A HAZARD. MY BIKES HORN SOUNDS LIKE A DEAD DUCK WHEN IT DOES MAKE NOISE, AND THERE ARE 1000'S OF OTHERS WHO MAKE THIS SAME COMPLAINT ON NUMEROUS INTERNET HARLEY FORUMS. THESE HORNS ARE A SAFETY ISSUE AND HARLEY DAVIDSON KNOWS THAT THESE HORN QUIT WORKING ON EVEN THEIR NEW BIKES. MY BIKE IS A 2001 ELECTRA GLIDE. HARLEY DAVIDSON SHOULD BE FORCED INTO A RECALL ON THEIR CHEAP HORNS, OR COME UP WITH A BETTER PRODUCT THAT WORKS. *JB
FRONT BRAKES MAKING A SWOOSH TYPE NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE NOT APPLIED. FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN 15000 MILES. REAR TIRE HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 15000 MILES DUE TO WEAR. WAS TOLD BY 3 HARLEY DAVIDON DEALERS THIS WAS COMMON DUE TO WEIGHT OF MOTORCYCLE. *AK
MANUFACTURER'S POWDER COATING FLAKING AWAY AND FRAME SEVERELY RUSTING. DT
WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE AT 70 MPH IT STARTED TO BLOW OUT OIL THROUGH CARBURETOR ONTO CONSUMER'S LEGS. WHILE OIL WAS BURNING, CONSUMER HAD TO KEEP FOCUS ON ROAD TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *AK CONSUMER WAS BURNED DUE TO INCIDENT AND THERE WAS SOME PROPERTY DAMAGE. *SLC
FRONT BRAKES STARTED SQUELLING AT THE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP. HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH NO RESPONSE. RETURNED TO DEALER TWO TIMES. REFUSED TO REPAIR SAID THEY HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR IN PAST WITH NO SUCCESS.
Official recalls
102V002000 · Exterior Lighting
Jan 4, 2002
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE CLIPS THAT RETAIN THE WIRING FOR THE FRONT FENDER TIP LIGHT CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE FENDER, CAUSING THE WIRES TO FRAY AND SHORT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE LIGHTING SYSTEM FUSE TO BLOW, LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT AN OPERATIONAL FRONT FENDER TIP LIGHT, HEADLIGHT, TAILLIGHT, RUNNING LIGHTS, AND PASSING LAMPS (IF EQUIPPED).
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FENDER TIP LIGHT WIRING HARNESS RETENTION CLIPS, AND INSPECT AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, ANY DAMAGED WIRING HARNESSES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 9, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.
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.