IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA FLHTCUI. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR SWING ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
1998 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flhtcui
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 Flhtcui 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: 3 of 10 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 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. 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.
2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
10 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA FLHTCUI EQUIPPED WITH METZELER ME 888 MARATHON ULTRA TIRES, SIZE: 130/90/R16. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR TIRE SEIZED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. BOTH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE S…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA FLHTCUI EQUIPPED WITH METZELER ME 888 MARATHON ULTRA TIRES, SIZE: 130/90/R16. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR TIRE SEIZED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. BOTH THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SIDEWALL SEPARATED FROM THE REAR TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
BROKEN SWING ARM CAUSING A HIGH SPEED WOBBLE. SWING ARM CRACKED OVER TOP OF AXLE ALLOWING THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER TO PUSH OPEN THE END OF THE SWING ARM EXPOSING THE REAR AXEL SHAFT. ONLY THE BELT WAS HOLDING REAR WHEEL ON. *TR
THIS IS A FAILURE IN A CUSTOM WHEEL MODEL #4163080BP MANUFACTURED BY HALLCRAFT'S INDUSTRIES CORP. TEN SPOKES ON THE REAR WHEEL BROKE CAUSING INSTABILITY AND LOSS OF CONTROL. THESE TEN SPOKES BROKE OVER 5 MONTS AND W/I 4000 MILES OF INSTALLATION.
MOTORCYCLE QUIT WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC, IT WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START.
CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL CONCERNING IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER WAS CONTACTED ON FIVE OCCASIONS, REPAIRS STILL NOT COMPLETED. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK
CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR MOTORCYCLE. OWNER HAS CONTATCED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ON 03-AUG-98 . RECALL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
WHEN RIDING IN EVERY GEAR , FROM TIME TO TIME, THERE IS A MISS. AT TIMES IT'S IN 2, 3, AND 5TH GEARS. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED IN CONSUMER'S 97 MODEL. A RECALL NOTICE HAS BEEN RECEIVED ON THE IGNITION . OWNER HAS NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
CIRCUIT BREAKER HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED TWO TIMES, THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED, AND DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES BECAUSE WHEN RIDING AT ANY SPEED THE RADIO WILL FLASH ON OR GOES OFF. THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND THE ENGINE CUTS OFF. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON, AND THE MOTORCYCLE WILL RESTART BY ITSELF OR IT WON'T START AT ALL. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *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.