NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 6 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Harley-Davidson dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu, describing incidents dated September 30, 2015 to September 30, 2024.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11622689 · Filed October 30, 2024
The contact owns a 2016 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU Electra Glide Ultra. The contact stated while riding at various speeds, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the motorcycle. In addition, the contact stated that an abnormal vibration was coming from the handlebars while riding. The contact…
ODI #11123500 · Filed August 30, 2018
PURCHASED A NEW 2016 ULTRA CLASSIC HARLEY DAVIDSON NOW HAS 9200 MILE THE COMPENSATOR STARTED TO RATTLE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME THE COMPENSATOR WENT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY
ODI #11048522 · Filed November 26, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. SCREEN FOR GPS AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING

Read all 6 complaints

Clutch may not Fully Disengage

NHTSA #16V471000 · Power Train — Clutch Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported June 27, 2016 · Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Potentially affected: 27,232 vehicles

Repair completion: 83.68% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Harley-Davidson campaign 0169 · Owners notified July 19, 2016 · Vehicles built July 28, 2015 – March 22, 2016 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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. In the affected motorcycles, the clutch master cylinder may lose the ability to generate enough lift to disengage the clutch, especially if the motorcycle has been parked for an extended period of time.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu.

Suspension

ODI #11622689

Incident: September 30, 2024 · Filed: October 30, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU Electra Glide Ultra. The contact stated while riding at various speeds, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the motorcycle. In addition, the contact stated that an abnormal vibration was coming from the handlebars while riding. The contact used a trailer to tow the motorcycle to the dealer where it was discovered that the front and rear wheel bearings were defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,800.

Power Train

ODI #11123500

Incident: August 18, 2018 · Filed: August 30, 2018

PURCHASED A NEW 2016 ULTRA CLASSIC HARLEY DAVIDSON NOW HAS 9200 MILE THE COMPENSATOR STARTED TO RATTLE BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME THE COMPENSATOR WENT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY

Electrical System; Unknown or Other

ODI #11048522

Incident: November 11, 2017 · Filed: November 26, 2017

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. SCREEN FOR GPS AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING

Tires

ODI #11000897

Incident: June 1, 2017 · Filed: June 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE FLHTCU EQUIPPED WITH SHINKO 77HD (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 180/65/B16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 70-80 MPH, THE REAR TIRE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION AND WOBBLING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPANY WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THE TIRES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO RETURN ALL REMAINING INVENTORY TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED ON TIRES WITH THE SAFETY SIDEWALLS. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

Service Brakes

ODI #10991204

Incident: May 13, 2017 · Filed: May 23, 2017

SCENARIO: 2016 ULTRA 4200 MILES THAT I PURCHASED WITH ZERO MILES FROM THE DEALER. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER AS WELL. THE BRAKES WERE FINE. I PARKED AT A RESTAURANT AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUTSIDE I PULLED UP TO THE STREET AND HAD BRAKES. I PULLED OUT ONTO THE STREET AND I HAD NO BRAKES WHATSOEVER ON MY BACK BRAKES AND MY FRONT BRAKES WERE DOING SOME KIND OF GRABBY ON OFF THING AT 10MPH. IT WAS SCARY AS HELL, NO BACK BRAKES AND ALMOST NO FRONT BRAKES. THE BACK BRAKES JUST WENT DOWN ALL OF THE WAY. I HAD TO TRAILER THE BIKE 90 MILES BACK TO TULSA. MY BIKE IS IN THE SHOP AND THEY ARE SAYING IT IS THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. I WAS COMPLETELY UNAWARE THAT A FAILURE OF THE ABS IN THIS FASHION COULD RESULT IN BASICALLY A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES. ABS LIGHT WAS OFF AS WELL, BUT THERE WAS A CODE ON THE BIKE. HONESTLY I'M PISSED BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING MY RIDE AND IT WOULD HAVE JUST BEEN ANOTHER BIKER WHO RUNS OFF THE ROAD AND KILLED HIMSELF, ETC AND NOBODY WOULD BE THE WISER. THERE IS NO REASON FOR KIND OF TOTAL FAILURE. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE. FAILING BACK TO STANDARD BRAKES IMMEDIATELY IS MUCH BETTER THAN NO BRAKES. ---HARLEY FIXED THE BRAKES AT NO CHARGE, BUT I FEEL THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AS I'VE READ OF OTHERS WITH SIMILAR ACCOUNTS. THEY REPLACED THE ABS CONTROL UNIT, WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND WHEEL BALL BEARING.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10861045

Incident: September 30, 2015 · Filed: April 23, 2016

THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT ONLY LIGHTS UP THE ROAD ABOUT 15 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU GOING AROUND TURNS IN THE ROAD AND CURVES. YOU ARE DRIVING IN TOTAL DARKNESS UNTIL THE MOTORCYCLE IS STRAIGHTEN OUT. AND THE HIGH BEAM ONLY LIGHTS UP A SMALL CIRCLE IN FRONT OF YOU GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. YOU CAN'T SEE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN CASE AN ANIMAL IS COMING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE LIGHTING SYSTEM HARLY HAS INSTALLED ON THE MOTORCYCLE IN 2016. THEY ARE CALLED DAY MAKERS. BECAUSE THEY ARE ONLY DESIGNED TO DRIVE IN THE DAYTIME.

Other Harley-Davidson Flhtcu model years

Check your 2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Harley-Davidson Flhtcu at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Harley-Davidson VIN