AutoDefect IQ

2003 Harley-Davidson Flhtcui problems, complaints & recalls

Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers (8) · Electrical System (6) · Engine (3)

🧭 Reliability snapshot

76 /100
⚠ Buy with caution

Compared against other Harley-Davidson Flhtcui model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →

🛣️ Complaints by mileage

<25k miles: 16 complaints 16 <25k 25–50k miles: 5 complaints 25–50k 50–75k miles: 2 complaints 50–75k 75–100k miles: 0 complaints 75–100k 100–125k miles: 0 complaints 100–125k 125–150k miles: 0 complaints 125–150k 150k+ miles: 0 complaints 150k+

23 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.

26
Complaints
0
Recalls
6
Service bulletins
3
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Deaths

Safety recalls (0)

No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).

Service bulletins (6)

Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.

Unknown Or Other 2025-08-16 · M1684 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

service bulletin m1684: market specific battery introduction. purpose: initial release. this bulletin informs dealers of the availability of new batteries for new original equipment (oe) vehicle production and in the parts and accessories (p&a) catalog. availability of the new absorbed glass mat (ag

Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · M1555 · Warranty Program/Extension

service bulletin m1555 (rev e): battery warranty guidelines. purpose: revision e. added: added procedures for the dca-8000 e battery tester.* updated: all sections. this bulletin informs the dealership network that harley-davidson has provided guidelines for battery warranty.

Unknown Or Other 2024-08-08 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

service bulletin m1490 (v 24.8.8): digital technician ii - updates and release notes. purpose: this bulletin informs dealers that harley-davidson has made a software update to digital technician ii (dt ii). digital technician ii (part number: hd-48650). version 24.8.8. release date: week of august 5

Unknown Or Other 2024-07-10 · PAB1158 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

genuine motor parts and motor accessories bulletin pab1158: oil filter packaging and case quantity update. purpose: to inform dealerships that harley-davidson has made updates to oil filters including new part numbers, packaging design, and bulk case quantity changes.

Unknown Or Other 2024-05-01 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

service bulletin m1490 (v 24.6.4): digital technician ii - updates and release notes. purpose: revision. this bulletin informs dealers that harley-davidson has made a software update to digital technician ii (dt ii). digital technician ii (part number: hd-48650). version 24.6.4. release date: week

Exterior Lighting 2023-12-21 · PAB1146 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions

genuine motor parts and motor accessories bulletin pab1146: 68193-95 bulb wedge, fender tip lamp. purpose: to inform dealers of an issue with the bulb wire terminals not being to specification. the light bulbs were used in numerous front and rear fender tip light assemblies for domestic and internat

What owners report

2021-01-09 · Electrical System · 58,000 mi

“i i was on the fwy and power went off , was able to restart , noe at home i can start the bike but power shuts down with in a couple minutes , can't ride have checked stator,valtage reg is new ? can't find the problum hepl…”

2016-05-01 · Electrical System

“bike shuts down no power no lights everything shuts down …”

2014-11-12 · Engine · 48,700 mi

“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 pum…”

2014-10-22 · Engine · 29,705 mi

“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. t…”

2014-06-19 · Engine · 3,000 mi

“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…”

2012-07-15 · Electrical System · 10,889 mi

“quit while riding, total loss of power. forced to coast to side of road while dealing with traffic conditions. event has happened on 4 separate occasions. recall #0113 was issued by harley davidson on april 15, 2004. recall has been performed on this vehicle. in addition the circuit breaker has been replaced twice since the recall. total loss of po…”

2010-10-04 · Wheels:rim · 52,000 mi

“tl* the contact owns a 2003 harley davidson ultra classic motorcycle. while traveling 70 mph, the contact noticed that the vehicle had suddenly began to wobble abnormally. the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the rear rim was found fractured and was replaced. there were no prior warnings of the failure. the failure mileage was 52,000 and the c…”

2010-10-01 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 40,079 mi

“i have a 2003 harley electra glide classic. i had 2957 miles on a rebuilt motor done by a harley certified mechanic. this is a touring bike and is not abused, i am 59 years old and drive it like a mature adult. the crank shaft on my bike broke on the right side of the motor at 78 miles an hour. i was lucky that the bike did not wreck or a pisto…”

2009-09-03 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers · 47,856 mi

“ tl*. the contact owns a 2003 harley davidson flhtcu. the contact stated that intermittently while driving he experiences unexpected interruption of all electrical power to the motorcycle. this condition causes the motorcycle to stall, which could result in a crash. in 2004 he had his vehicle repaired according to recall# 04v134000 (electrical sys…”

2008-09-16 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 11,400 mi

“on july 24, 2008 i was riding my 2003 harley davidson ultra classic. as i slowed to enter a parking lot, gas began spewing from under the gas tank onto the hot engine and exhaust headers. white smoke fumes began coming off the engine. i was able to get stopped, get off the bike and turn it off. i was an instant away from a fire. i had gasoline…”

Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.

Other Harley-Davidson Flhtcui years