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: 5 of 8 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 2 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.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
8 reports
1,500 miles · Nov 12, 2010
TiresCrashInjury
ON SEPTEMBER 23RD 2010 MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING WEST ON INTERSTATE 40 IN TENNESSEE ON A 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC.. AT MILE MARKER 356 THE REAR TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED CAUSING THE BIKE TO FISHTAIL VIOLENTLY. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. I ATTEMPTED TO EASE THE BIKE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID POSSIBLE COLLI…
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ON SEPTEMBER 23RD 2010 MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING WEST ON INTERSTATE 40 IN TENNESSEE ON A 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC.. AT MILE MARKER 356 THE REAR TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATED CAUSING THE BIKE TO FISHTAIL VIOLENTLY. I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. I ATTEMPTED TO EASE THE BIKE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID POSSIBLE COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. I LOST CONTROL AND MY WIFE AND I WERE THROWN FROM THE BIKE. THE BIKE FLIPPED AND WAS DAMAGED HEAVILY. MY WIFE RECEIVED MULTIPLE SCRAPES, BRUISES, AND A SPRAINED WRIST. I RECEIVED 6 BROKEN RIBS, SEVERE BRUISING, AND SEVERAL DEEP SCRAPES RESULTING IN SCARING OF MY RIGHT ARM AND HAND. THE REAR TIRE WAS A DUNLOP D-402 WIDE WHITEWALL. THE TIRE HAD LESS THAN 1500 MILES ON IT. IT APPEARED TO HAVE SEPARATED. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED A FEW HOURS EARLIER BEFORE WE LEFT HOME. THE BIKE WAS NOT OVERLOADED. THE BIKE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SETTLED ON THE BIKE BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL MEDICAL BILLS THAT INSURANCE DID NOT COVER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10365526
40,000 miles · Feb 9, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF MASTER CYLINDER MOUNTED TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST ALONG WITH DOT 5 BRAKE FLUID WHICH GENERATES AIR IN SYSTEM AT ALTITUDES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10149875
27,000 miles · Jun 7, 2004
Power Train
I OWN A 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI. AT APPROXIMATELY 27,000 MILES THE MAIN DRIVE BELT BROKE. FORTUNATELY IT BROKE AS I ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE THE PARKING GARAGE, BUT HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT THE BELT AND SAID THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS CAUSE FOR THE BREAKAGE. I ASKED THE MANUFACTURE…
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I OWN A 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI. AT APPROXIMATELY 27,000 MILES THE MAIN DRIVE BELT BROKE. FORTUNATELY IT BROKE AS I ATTEMPTED TO LEAVE THE PARKING GARAGE, BUT HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT THE BELT AND SAID THERE WAS NO OBVIOUS CAUSE FOR THE BREAKAGE. I ASKED THE MANUFACTURER IF THEY WANTED TO LOOK AT THE BELT, BUT THEY DECLINED AND SAID IT WAS LIKELY CAUSED BY DAMAGE OR IMPROPER SERVICE. ALL MANUFACTERER RECOMMENDED SERVICE HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS VEHICAL, AND IT WAS DONE AT THE DEALERSHIPS, SO I DON'T BUY THE LATER CAUSE OF FAILURE. THIS HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AGO, BUT I HAVE RECORDS I CAN RETRIEVE THAT WILL SHOW A MORE EXACT DATE AND MILEAGE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10074929
50,000 miles · Oct 29, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
MOTORCYCLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. CONDITION FORCED DRIVER TO PULL THE MOTORCYCLE OFF THE ROAD. WAS UNABLE TO RESTART MOTORCYCLE UNTIL 30-60 -SECONDS LATER. DEALER INSPECTED MOTORCYCLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10044986
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2003
Electrical System
2001 FLHTCUI HARLEY DAVIDSON:VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AT ANY TIME.HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE NEW AND AFTER TWO YEARS AND TOO MANY TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM I'M FRUSTRATED.THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBELM.U*AK
NHTSA ODI #10043876
11,500 miles · Oct 13, 2003
Electrical System
MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER ON MOTORCYCLE CUTS OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, LEAVING BIKE WITH NO POWER. HAD TO DRIFT TO SIDE OF ROAD. WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND IT RESET ITSELF. BIKE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER THAT. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041728
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2002
Power TrainCrashInjury
REAR WHEEL DRIVE BELT BROKE AND LOCKED UP REAR WHEEL--MOTORCYCLE SLID SIDEWAYS IN A STEEP TURN AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL. MOTORCYLE THEN BOUNCED BACK INTO THE ROAD AND WRECKED AND INJURED MOTORCYCLE AND RIDER FOLLOWING. OVER $150,000 IN PERSONAL INJURY EXPENSE. SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THIRTEEN OTHER SIMI…
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REAR WHEEL DRIVE BELT BROKE AND LOCKED UP REAR WHEEL--MOTORCYCLE SLID SIDEWAYS IN A STEEP TURN AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL. MOTORCYLE THEN BOUNCED BACK INTO THE ROAD AND WRECKED AND INJURED MOTORCYCLE AND RIDER FOLLOWING. OVER $150,000 IN PERSONAL INJURY EXPENSE. SINCE THE ACCIDENT I HAVE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THIRTEEN OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH 2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSONS HAVING THE BELTS BREAK, SOME OF WHICH HAVE CAUSED PERSONAL INJURIES.
NHTSA ODI #762165
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2002
Exterior Lighting
MOTORCYCLE WAS AFFECTED BY A RECALL, CONSUMER IS REQUESTONG A COPY OF RECALL NOTICE TO CORRECT ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR LIGHT ON FENDER TIP, DEALERSHIP WAS CHARGING CONSUMER FOR PARTIAL LABOR, $32.00 BECAUSE THEY HAD TO REMOVE A CHROME BRAKE ROTOR COVER, AN AFTER-MARKET PRODUCT, TO SERVICE RECALLED COMPONENT.*AK *SLC
ON CERTAIN TOURING AND POLICE MODEL MOTORCYCLES, THE 40 AMP MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER CAN "OPEN" FOR REASONS OTHER THAN WHICH IT WAS DESIGNED, CAUSING AN UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE MOTORCYCLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
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.
2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flhtcui Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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