2016 Harley-Davidson Flhx problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Wheels (1) · Power Train (1) · Exterior Lighting (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Harley-Davidson Flhx model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Power Train:clutch Assembly 2016-06-27 · campaign 16V471000 · 27,232 vehicles
Defect: Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2016 Electric Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Electra Glide Ultra Classic Low (FLHTCUL), Ultra Limited Low (FLHTKL), Ultra Limited (FLHTK), CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), Road Glide Special (FLTRXS), Road Glide (FLTRX), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), Road Glide Ultra (FLTRU), Fat Boy S (FLSTFBS), Softail Slim S (FLSS), and CVO Softail Pro Street Breakout (FXSE) motorcycles.
Risk: When the engine is running and the motorcycle is in gear, if the clutch cannot be fully disengaged, the motorcycle may move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the clutch master cylinder for the presence of gas in the fluid, if so, the dealer will flush the clutch system and rebuild the clutch master cylinder, free of charge. The recall began July 19, 2016. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0169.
Service bulletins (51)
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 2026-09-17 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 26.9.4): 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). new software update. note: the tech
Wheels 2026-07-25 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 26.8.3): 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 version 26.8.3, release dat
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-06-11 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 26.7.3): 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 26.7.3. release date:• week
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-25 · M1727 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1727: big twin inner primary seal changes. purpose: initial release. this bulletin informs dealers of changes to the inner primary seal (part no. 12052). the seal part number was changed from (part no. 12052a, black in color) to (part no. 12052b, brown in color). a new inner prima
Vehicle Speed Control 2026-04-24 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 26.6.2): 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 26.6.2. release date: week
Vehicle Speed Control 2026-03-31 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 26.5.2): 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 26.5.2 release date: week of
Showing the 6 most recent of 51 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2018-06-26 · Wheels · 13,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owned a 2016 harley-davidson flhx. while riding at an unknown speed, there was either a tire blowout or a brake failure that caused the contact to crash into a rock wall. as a result, the contact went airborne and landed on the pavement. the contact sustained lacerations and injuries to the lungs, head, elbows, fingers, and neck tha…”
2017-01-10 · Electrical System · 4,982 mi“after riding in rain, all gauges( speedometer, tachometer, etc) became intermittent. the problem still exists. water behind gauges, not just condensation.…”
2016-09-13 · Power Train · 300 mi“gail's harley davidson in grandview, mo. sold me a new motorcycle that has a very serious existing safety recall .......... hd # 0169 nhtsa #16v-471. this is a violation of federal law. per harley- davidson's own website, of which i have copies, the recall came out on 7/8/2016 and i purchased my motorcycle and took possession on 7/17/2016.....…”
2016-09-06 · Exterior Lighting · 1,000 mi“the electrical switches on the left side stopped working. it has left me without inportant safety features like high beams, left blinker, and horn. cruise control and volume control are also unusable. when i took it into the harley dealership in fairfax, va they told me they couldn't do anything at the shop b/c it wasn't currently "throwing a c…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.