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2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flhtcui

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

23 reports with mileage · 3 unknown

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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine complaints

3 reports
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48,700 miles · Nov 12, 2014
Engine

ENGINE FAILURE AT 30000 AND 48700 MILES. THE FIRST ENGINE FAILURE WAS PAID BY ME $5479.10. THE SECOND ENGINE FAILURE WAS PAID BY HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER RELATIONS, THANK YOU HARLEY DAVIDSON. THE CAM SHAFT TENSIONER IS A KNOWN HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CHANGED AT ABOUT 25000 MILES ON ALL TC 88 ENGINES. PLASTIC PIECES CAN BREAK OFF AN…

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ENGINE FAILURE AT 30000 AND 48700 MILES. THE FIRST ENGINE FAILURE WAS PAID BY ME $5479.10. THE SECOND ENGINE FAILURE WAS PAID BY HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER RELATIONS, THANK YOU HARLEY DAVIDSON. THE CAM SHAFT TENSIONER IS A KNOWN HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CHANGED AT ABOUT 25000 MILES ON ALL TC 88 ENGINES. PLASTIC PIECES CAN BREAK OFF AND GET IN THE OIL PUMP BREAKING THE OIL PUMP. HARLEY DAVIDSON SHOULD ADD CHANGING THE CAM SHAFT TENSIONER TO THEIR SERVICE SCHEDULE AT EVERY 25000 MILES. I WILL BUY A HARLEY DAVIDSON AGAIN BUT MAKE SURE TO SERVICE CAM TENSIONER EVERY 25000 MILES. I AM NOT SURE IF THE 2015 MOTORCYCLES HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM. IF YOU HAVE ENGINE FAILURE CONTACT HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TRY TO GET THEM TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. HARLEY JUST MIGHT HELP YOU OUT, LIKE THEY HELPED ME OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654304

29,705 miles · Oct 22, 2014
Engine

MY 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI ULTRA CLASSIC HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A CAM SHAFT TENSIONER AT 29,705 MILES.THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT FOR $5479.10 DOLLARS. MANY MOTORCYCLES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE. THIS WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. WHICH CAN LEAVE THE RIDER STRANDED IN THE MIDD…

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MY 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI ULTRA CLASSIC HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A CAM SHAFT TENSIONER AT 29,705 MILES.THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT FOR $5479.10 DOLLARS. MANY MOTORCYCLES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE. THIS WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. WHICH CAN LEAVE THE RIDER STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AT 48,700 MILES TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE, LESS THEN 20,000 MILES FROM THE 29,705 MILES ENGINE FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT INJURED BOTH TIMES. THE CAM SHIFT TENSIONER IS A KNOWN HAZARD AND SHOULD BE ON A RECALL LIST. SEARCH HARLEY DAVIDSON CAM SHAFT TENSIONER ON THE INTERNET AND IT IS EASY TO SEE WHY ALL TC 88 MOTORS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649238

3,000 miles · Jun 19, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC FLHTCUI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V134000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC FLHTCUI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V134000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

NHTSA ODI #10604620

Official recalls

1

04V134000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Mar 18, 2004

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.

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.