2016 Harley-Davidson Flhxs problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (2) · Fuel/Propulsion System (2) · Structure:body (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Harley-Davidson Flhxs 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 (53)
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 53 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-03-17 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i bought a 2016 harley street glide special in dec. of 2021. the 2nd time i rode it, i was driving to work on a busy highway and with no warning, i lost the throttle (it went into what appears to be called limp mode. when you're on the highway doing 70 with cars doing the same or more, it's not safe to instantly have no throttle. i've read that …”
2017-06-13 · Structure:body · 6,500 mi“prior to riding, i always tighten the saddlebags, as another friend lost their saddle bag on the highway months prior (same model). when exiting the interstate, the right saddlebag fell to the highway, causing damage to the saddlebag. the bolts automatically back themselves out, no matter how frequently you tighten them. i had only gone approx. 20 …”
2016-09-21 · Power Train · 400 mi“at times at a dead stop with the clutch pulled all the way in, the bike creeps forward. the clutch does not work correctly. this has a serious problem that can cause a injury or worse. sometimes the clutch works correctly, sometimes not.…”
2016-09-02 · Power Train · 30 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2016 harley-davidson flhxs. while the vehicle was being operated, it became stuck in second gear. in addition, when the engine was started, the vehicle lunged forward intermittently. the failure occurred after the vehicle was purchased new. the vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 16v471000 (power train). the vehicle wa…”
2016-08-10 · Unknown Or Other · 720 mi“harley davidson 2016 flhxs, motorcycle sat idle for 12 days, clutch failed to properly engage both at idle, while stopped and several times while i was in traffic attempting to change gears. i contacted dealership where vehicle was purchased and also checked nhtsa data base and was told that my vehicle was not part of current recall, but i have e…”
2016-08-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 1,100 mi“gas cap swells up to a point where it cannot be screwed back in. i had filed a complaint with harley davison and nothing was done about it. i understand that this is a nationwide problem but my problem is if i was involved in an accident there could either be an explosion or a fiery crash.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.