2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The contact owns a 2015 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Motorcycle equipped with a Power Belt, Part line: Replacement Drive Belt, Part Number: 40024-09 HTD 1960-14M-140. The contact indicated that after installing the replacement drive belt and test riding the motorcycle, it was discovered that the replacement drive belt became unsecured causing the motorcycle to shake, vibrate and shudder and the motorcycle would not properly accelerate. The contact indicated that the failure was caused by the faulty replacement drive belt. The manufacturer and seller were not contacted regarding the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2014 Harley-Davidson Tri Glide Ultra. The contact stated that while riding at an undisclosed speed, the clutch was unable to disengage, preventing a shift to the intended gear. The contact added DOT 4 fluid into the clutch reservoir however, the failure recurred with the clutch fluid leaking. The motorcycle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,300. The consumer stated the issue was addressed and repaired at the local Harley Davidson Service Center.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH UPHILL, THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO FAIL AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO PERFORM CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED A SECOND TIME WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE UPHILL AGAIN. WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TURNED OFF, THE CLUTCH PERFORMED CORRECTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO COX'S HARLEY-DAVIDSON (LOCATED AT 1178 GALLERIA BLVD, ROCK HILL, SC 29730, 803-327-1183), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V471000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE MATTER WAS NOT RESOLVED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

MY MOTORCYCLE IN TERMS OF MOTORCYCLES ALTHOUGH FIVE YEARS OLD, IS RELATIVELY NEW, METICULOUSLY KEPT, AND ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 16,600 MILES ON THE ODOMETER.ON TUESDAY MAY 28TH, I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE INTERSTATE EXIT THAT TAKES ME TO MY HOME. AS I APPROACHED THE STOPLIGHT I WAS BRAKING AND DOWNSHIFTING, BRINGING THE BIKE TO FULL STOP. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WENT TO PUT MY BIKE INTO FIRST FROM FROM NEUTRAL, AND AS I DID SO THE BACK PORTION OF MY HEEL-TOE SHIFTER SHOT UP, AFTER WHICH IT WAS LOOSE AND FLOPPY AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE - AS A RESULT, I COULD NOT GET THE BIKE OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THANKFULLY, MY HOUSE IS RIGHT OFF THE EXIT, SO I SUMMARILY LIMPED HOME. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE SHIFTER, WHICH IS MADE OF CHROMIUM STEEL, IS ATTACHED TO A SPLINED ALUMINUM SHAFT- THE ALUMINUM SHAFT STRIPED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS, I FOUND IT TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON ISSUE. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS IN SO MANY WAYS AND HOW IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

AFTER USING THE USB AS A MEDIA SOURCE, THE NEXT TIME THE MOTORCYCLE IS POWER CYCLED THE STEREO DEFAULTS TO FM AND RESETS THE FADE CONTROL. HARLEY INITIALLY SAID THIS WAS DUE TO SOFTWARE, BUT THEN CHANGED TO SAYING IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION. ON NOVEMBER 16TH, I SPOKE WITH CASE MANAGER (JOHN), WHO ADVISED THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE SYSTEM SENSING A VOLTAGE CHANGE WHEN SHUTTING DOWN. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD UNIT TWICE; ONCE WITH A FACTORY REFURBISHED DEVICE, AND THEN WITH A 2015 MODEL. I MUST NOTE THAT I DID NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE FOR THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. SINCE HARLEY HAS CHANGED THEIR CAUSE ANALYSIS TWICE, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. JOHN STATED THAT HARLEY HAS NOT ISOLATED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOW PRESENTING THIS THE "THE WAY THE UNIT SHOULD WORK". MY CONCERN IS THAT I RODE FOR 2 YEARS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, AND NOW HAVE ONE THAT THE COMPANY CANNOT RESOLVE. SINCE THIS OCCURS APPROXIMATELY 60 - 65% OF THE TIME, I WORRY THAT THIS IS NOT REALLY A STEREO PROBLEM, BUT IS SYMPTOMATIC OF A LARGER PROBLEM WITHIN THE CENTRAL ELECTRICAL/WIRING SYSTEM OF THE MOTORCYCLE. SINCE AUGUST I HAVE WORKED WITH 3 SEPARATE DEALERS, AND WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. I FEEL THAT THIS MAY BECOME A DEGRADING ISSUE THAT COULD CREATE MORE SERIOUS ELECTRICAL TROUBLES THAT MAY LEAD TO MAJOR FAILURES.