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: 10 of 13 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.
Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Wheels. Review the 4 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
13 reports
18,000 miles · Aug 22, 2018
Electrical System
THE ROTOR CUP WHICH IS SECURED IS COMING APART TEARING UP THE STATER FOR THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING PARTICLES OF THE TWO UNITS FLYING AROUND IN THE PRIMARY CASE POSSIBLY CAUSING THE CHAIN TO JAM OR BREAK THE CLUTCH PACK TO JAM OR BREAK WHICH COULD SEIZE THE BIKES REAR WHEEL THE WORST CASE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND AT FREEWAY SPEED COU…
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THE ROTOR CUP WHICH IS SECURED IS COMING APART TEARING UP THE STATER FOR THE ALTERNATOR CAUSING PARTICLES OF THE TWO UNITS FLYING AROUND IN THE PRIMARY CASE POSSIBLY CAUSING THE CHAIN TO JAM OR BREAK THE CLUTCH PACK TO JAM OR BREAK WHICH COULD SEIZE THE BIKES REAR WHEEL THE WORST CASE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND AT FREEWAY SPEED COULD BE CATASTROPHIC
NHTSA ODI #11121572
Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2016
Power Train
OF AND ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS THERE IS A KNOCKING COMING FROM THE PRIMARY CARE WHICH HOUSES THE CLUTCH AND STRIDER STADER, THE DEALERS IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO GIVE THE BUYER A ADDENDUM TO THEIR OWNERS MANUAL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INNER CASE BEARING AND IT NEEDS REPLACED EVERY 5000 MILES NUT 15000 LIKE THE M…
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OF AND ON FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS THERE IS A KNOCKING COMING FROM THE PRIMARY CARE WHICH HOUSES THE CLUTCH AND STRIDER STADER, THE DEALERS IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO GIVE THE BUYER A ADDENDUM TO THEIR OWNERS MANUAL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE INNER CASE BEARING AND IT NEEDS REPLACED EVERY 5000 MILES NUT 15000 LIKE THE MAINTAINCE SCHEDULE RECOMMENDS, I NEVER RECEIVED THAT PAPER WHEN TAKING DELIVERY GETTING IT BRAND NEW, I WAS DING RESEARCH ON MY MOUSE (PROBLEM) AND DISCOVERED A COPY OF THE PAPER, IT STATES THAT HARLEY (DEALER ) WILL AT NO CHARGE REPLACE THAT ITEM (BEARING)FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (MOTORCYCLE) I'M TRYING TO GET THE PROBLEM RESOLVED BEFORE IT COMES APART OUT. OR EVEN WORSE LOCKS UP THE DRIVE TRAIN AND CAUSES AND ACCUSTOMED
NHTSA ODI #10909496
15,040 miles · May 10, 2016
Power Train
THE 5 BOLTS HOLDING THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE SPROCKET BACKED OUT AND LOCKED THE WHEEL UP WHEN THE BOLTS HIT THE SWING ARM. THIS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY, ABOUT 3 YEARS PRIOR, BUT ONLY ONE BOLT BACKED OUT AT THAT TIME. AFTER PERFORMING A GOOGLE SEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE ON HARLEY MOTORCYCLES FROM M…
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THE 5 BOLTS HOLDING THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE SPROCKET BACKED OUT AND LOCKED THE WHEEL UP WHEN THE BOLTS HIT THE SWING ARM. THIS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY, ABOUT 3 YEARS PRIOR, BUT ONLY ONE BOLT BACKED OUT AT THAT TIME. AFTER PERFORMING A GOOGLE SEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE ON HARLEY MOTORCYCLES FROM MID-1990 MODELS TO CURRENT MODELS.
NHTSA ODI #10864080
7,659 miles · May 31, 2013
Power TrainWheels
ON 5/27/13 WHILE RIDING HOME FROM WORK I HEARD A BANG FROM THE REAR OF MY BIKE. I THEN HEARD RATTLING. I STOPPED AND FOUND THAT 3 OF THE 5 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR SPROCKET ON THE HUB WERE SHEARED OFF AT THE THREADS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME. I HAD TO REMOVED THE SHEARED BO…
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ON 5/27/13 WHILE RIDING HOME FROM WORK I HEARD A BANG FROM THE REAR OF MY BIKE. I THEN HEARD RATTLING. I STOPPED AND FOUND THAT 3 OF THE 5 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR SPROCKET ON THE HUB WERE SHEARED OFF AT THE THREADS. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME. I HAD TO REMOVED THE SHEARED BOLTS FROM INSIDE THE HUB AND REPLACED THEM WITH '6' MARK GRADE 'A' BOLTS. THESE BOLTS FAILED ON 5/27/13. I NOTICED THAT THERE IS A LITTLE 'PLAY' BETWEEN THE SPACING BETWEEN THE SPROKET HOLE AND BOLT. THIS MAY BE CAUSING THE BOLTS TO SHEAR IF STRESS OR TORQUE IS PLACED ON THE REAR WHEEL/SPROCKET. HARLEY DENIES THAT THIS IS THEIR EQUIPMENT ISSUE BUT TO HAVE IT HAPPEN TWICE IS KIND OF ODD ESPECIALLY IF I REPLACED THE STOCK BOLTS WITH BETTER ONES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10514520
5,125 miles · Jun 13, 2012
Power TrainWheels
ON SUNDAY 10 JUNE 2012, I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON US ROUTE 301 APPROXIMATELY .5 MILES SOUTH OF RT 4 IN MARYLAND. I WAS RIDING SOLO ON A 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET BOB AT 50 MPH. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR DRIVE SPROCKET DETACHED FROM THE REAR WHEEL CAUSING MOMENTARY LOCK-UP OF THE REAR WHEEL AND LOSS OF CONTROL. UP…
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ON SUNDAY 10 JUNE 2012, I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON US ROUTE 301 APPROXIMATELY .5 MILES SOUTH OF RT 4 IN MARYLAND. I WAS RIDING SOLO ON A 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET BOB AT 50 MPH. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE REAR DRIVE SPROCKET DETACHED FROM THE REAR WHEEL CAUSING MOMENTARY LOCK-UP OF THE REAR WHEEL AND LOSS OF CONTROL. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE FAILURE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE REAR SPROCKET TO THE REAR WHEEL HAD BACKED OUT AND CAUGHT ON THE SWING ARM CAUSING ALL BOLTS TO SHEER AWAY FROM THE REAR TIRE HUB. THIS HAPPENED ONLY TWO WEEKS AFTER A 5000 MILE SERVICE PERFORMED BY THE HARLEY DISTRIBUTOR IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET INDICATES THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO NUMEROUS OTHER HD OWNERS WITH VARYING RESULTS (SOME LIFE THREATENING). HD DISTRIBUTOR AND HD FACTORY WERE CONTACTED AND BOTH DENIED ANY PREEXISTING PROBLEMS OR CHANGE IN MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES TO HELP ALLEVIATE THIS POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10461465
13,000 miles · Oct 13, 2009
Power Train
INNER PRIMARY BEARING FAILURE. HARLEY DAVIDSON DID A VOLUNTARY RECALL BACK IN 2006 AND PULLED IT BACK THE SAME YEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10287282
13,000 miles · Oct 13, 2009
Electrical System
CHARGING SYSTEM COMPLETE FAILURE. STATOR BOLTS CAME OUT AND LED TO STATOR COMING FREE DESTROYING INNER PRIMARY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10287281
10,000 miles · Aug 7, 2009
Wheels
THE BOLTS ON THE REAR SPROCKET OF MY 2006 FXDB HARLEY STREET BOB CAME LOOSE AND SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK. THERE WAS NO RESIDUE INDICATING ANY TYPE OF THREADLOCKER HAD BEEN USED. I BOUGHT THE BIKE NEW AND HAVE NEVER HAD THESE PARTS REMOVED. THIS MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE VERY EASILY RESULTED IN MY DEATH AT A H…
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THE BOLTS ON THE REAR SPROCKET OF MY 2006 FXDB HARLEY STREET BOB CAME LOOSE AND SHEARED OFF, CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK. THERE WAS NO RESIDUE INDICATING ANY TYPE OF THREADLOCKER HAD BEEN USED. I BOUGHT THE BIKE NEW AND HAVE NEVER HAD THESE PARTS REMOVED. THIS MALFUNCTION COULD HAVE VERY EASILY RESULTED IN MY DEATH AT A HIGHER SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10279655
12,015 miles · Jul 30, 2009
Wheels
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXD MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NEW RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE MOTORCYCLE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE MOTORCYCLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT BOTH WHEELS LOCKED UP. SHE MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND LOOSEN UP THE FOOT BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXD MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NEW RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE MOTORCYCLE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE MOTORCYCLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT BOTH WHEELS LOCKED UP. SHE MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND LOOSEN UP THE FOOT BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE WHEELS WERE STILL LOCKED UP. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE LOOSE BOLTS IN THE TIRE, WHICH CAUSED THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS KNOWN TO HAVE THAT DEFECT AND A RECALL WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE MOTORCYCLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE SHOP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,015. UPDATED 09/16/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10278784
Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2009
Electrical System
2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON WITH BOLTS THAT COME OUT OF THE ROTOR AND LOCK UP THE STATOR AND STOP BIKE -HARLEY IS AWARE OF PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX- ONLY 11, 000 MILES ON BIKE. *TR
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE TRANSMISSION MAY GO INTO A FALSE NEUTRAL POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE NEUTRAL INDICATOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE MOTORCYCLE COULD DROP INTO GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY AND CREATE THE RISK OF A CRASH AND INJURIES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHIFTER CAM (DRUM), THE DETENT ARM, AND THE NEUTRAL SWITCH WITH NEWLY DESIGNED COMPONENTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 12, 2005. OWNER MAY CONTACT RLEY 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.
2006 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Fxdbi Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year