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1997 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flhtcu

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 5

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19945
19951
19962
19970
1998
Compare all Flhtcu years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
1Structure
1

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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. 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

Structure complaints

1 reports
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90,000 miles · Jun 3, 2013
Structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE AS THE FRAME FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FRAME WAS FOUND TO BE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE AS THE FRAME FAILED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FRAME WAS FOUND TO BE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED FOR A SIMILAR FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

NHTSA ODI #10514793

Official recalls

1

98V158000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.