2001 Harley-Davidson FLHR recalls & problems

The 2001 Harley-Davidson FLHR has 1 safety recall and 4 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (2 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints4filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lighting

NHTSA recall 02V002000 · Jan 4, 2002 · 28,949 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE CLIPS THAT RETAIN THE WIRING FOR THE FRONT FENDER TIP LIGHT CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE FENDER, CAUSING THE WIRES TO FRAY AND SHORT.

Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE LIGHTING SYSTEM FUSE TO BLOW, LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT AN OPERATIONAL FRONT FENDER TIP LIGHT, HEADLIGHT, TAILLIGHT, RUNNING LIGHTS, AND PASSING LAMPS (IF EQUIPPED).

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FENDER TIP LIGHT WIRING HARNESS RETENTION CLIPS, AND INSPECT AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, ANY DAMAGED WIRING HARNESSES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 9, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys	2	—
Electrical system	1	—
Steering Steering wheel/handle bar	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Dec 17, 2008 · 15,500 milesEngine and engine cooling
2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHR ROAD KING MOTORCYCLE WITH 15,500 MILES ON MOTOR HAD EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE OIL PUMP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF OVER $500.00. THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SCORING ON THE PUMP CAMS WHICH MEANS METALS WITHIN THE ENGINE LOWER END HAVE CAUSED THE SCORING OF THE METAL PARTS OF THE OIL PUMP. *TR
Sep 24, 2004Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
I OWN A 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHR, I HAD JUST TAKEN A TRIP FROM NORTH CAROLIN TO OHIO,WITH A FRIEND WHO WAS RIDING ALSO. HIS BIKE , A 2004 HALREY DAVIDSON FLHR. UPON OUR TRAVEL THROUGH THE WEST VIRGINIA TURNPIKE ON A COUPLE OF LONG SWEEPING CURVES, BOTH HE AN I EXPERIANCED A HIGH SPEED WOBBLE(TANK SLAPPER) NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I ATTRIBUTE 35 YEARS OF RIDING, AS WELL AS MY FRIEND. FOR BEING ABLE TO RECOVER.UPON OUR RETURN WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. WHAT IS HD GOING TO DO TO RESOLVE? AND WHEN? HOW MANY IN-EXPERIANCED RIDERS WILL HAVE TO ENDURE A CRASH OR DEATH? THERE IS A DEVICE ON THE MARKET THAT IS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT THIS.IT CAN BE FOUND ON…
Mar 31, 2004 · 14,000 milesElectrical system
WHILE RIDING MY 2001 HARLEY ROAD KING (FLHR) ON TWO SEPARATE TIMES AS WE WERE RIDING DOWN THE MOTOR DIED. PRIOR TO THAT ON THE FIRST TIME BEFORE WE STARTED OFF THE BIKE WOULD NOT START, I ONLY HEARD THE SOUND OF A RELAY CLICKING SO I PUT IN A NEW BATTERY AND IT STARTED, THEN WE TOOK OFF AND IT QUIT IN TRAFFIC. IT DID START AND WE RODE HOME. THEN A WEEK LATER WE WENT FOR A RIDE AND IT DIED ON THE HIGHWAY AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. IT WOULD ONLY CLICK A RELAY. THEY FOUND A BURNED OUT STATOR WHICH I PERSONALLY BELIEVE IS CAUSED BY SOMETHING ELSE AS A STATOR SHOULD NOT GO BAD WHEN THE BIKE HAS ONLY 14K MILES ON IT AND I AM ORIGINAL OWNER. ALSO THE STATOR WOULD HAVE BURNED OUT AND I BELIEVE THE…
Aug 4, 2002Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys
DRIVE BELT SUDDENLY BROKE WHEN ACCELERATING IN 2ND GEAR. HAD RIDER PASSENGER IN MODERATE TRAFFIC.*AK

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.