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 2 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.
Exterior Lighting. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. 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
2 reports
3,600 miles · Oct 9, 2003
Exterior Lighting
RUNNING LIGHTS (HEADLIGHT, TAIL LIGHT, ETC.) FAIL DUE TO FRONT FENDER TIP LIGHT WIRING RUBBING ON FRONT TIRE, CAUSING FUSE TO BLOW BECAUSE OF BARE WIRES GROUNDING OUT. THERE WAS A RECALL DONE ON THIS BIKE BEFORE I PICKED IT UP AT THE DEALERS WHEN IT WAS NEW. THIS QUICK FIX THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS DONE FOR THEIR RECALL DOES NO…
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RUNNING LIGHTS (HEADLIGHT, TAIL LIGHT, ETC.) FAIL DUE TO FRONT FENDER TIP LIGHT WIRING RUBBING ON FRONT TIRE, CAUSING FUSE TO BLOW BECAUSE OF BARE WIRES GROUNDING OUT. THERE WAS A RECALL DONE ON THIS BIKE BEFORE I PICKED IT UP AT THE DEALERS WHEN IT WAS NEW. THIS QUICK FIX THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS DONE FOR THEIR RECALL DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS OF 2001 AND 2002 FLHT AND FLHTC MODELS WHO HAVE HAD THE RECALLS DONE AND HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TALKED WITH THE DEALER AND DECIDED NOT TO HAVE THEM FIX THIS PROBLEM. I INSTEAD DISCONNECTED THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THIS LIGHT AND HAVE REMOVED IT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AT NIGHT AND I REFUSE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN, SINCE THEY COULD NOT MAKE IT WORK WITH THE FIRST RECALL ATTEMPT. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041566
Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2002
SteeringVehicle Speed Control
COMPONENT 1 -CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATES UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT OPERATOR IMPUT.. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND CANNOT FIND CAUSE, PROBLEM CONTINUES. COMPONENT 2 - ENGINE COUGHS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEED AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL, COULD CAUSE MINOR TO MAJOR ACCIDENT DEPENDING ON SITUATION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND CANNOT FIND …
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COMPONENT 1 -CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATES UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT OPERATOR IMPUT.. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND CANNOT FIND CAUSE, PROBLEM CONTINUES. COMPONENT 2 - ENGINE COUGHS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEED AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL, COULD CAUSE MINOR TO MAJOR ACCIDENT DEPENDING ON SITUATION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND CANNOT FIND CAUSE, PROBLEM CONTINUES.*AK
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2002 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flhtc Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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