NHTSA vehicle safety data

2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse Recalls & Complaints

The 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 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 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse, describing incidents dated June 15, 2015 to July 22, 2022.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11479875 · Filed August 17, 2022
I brought my motorcycle into a Harley Davidson dealer for a Virginia State Safety Inspection. The inspector noticed a crack in the powder-coat of paint covering a welded section of the frame. Further investigation revealed the crack in the paint followed the edge of the weld and the weld is lifted…
ODI #11110013 · Filed July 7, 2018
A TAPPET CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED, CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE ON A MOTORCYCLE IS A VERY DANGEROUS EVENT. MANY HARLEY-DAVIDSON CVO 110 ENGINES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS…
ODI #10749439 · Filed November 19, 2015
2015 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTKSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE BIKE, IT SHUT OFF AND WOULD NO RESTART. AFTER SEVERAL MORE ATTEMPTS, THE BIKE STARTED AND THEN SHUT OFF, AND DISPLAYED A FAULT CODE " FORKS LOCKED". THE BIKE…

Read all 3 complaints

Saddlebags may Separate from Motorcycle

NHTSA #15V427000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported July 6, 2015 · Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Potentially affected: 185,272 vehicles

Repair completion: 80.73% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Harley-Davidson campaign 0166 · Owners notified July 30, 2015 · Vehicles built May 3, 2013 – May 26, 2015 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Road King (FLHR), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), Electra Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Ultra Limited (FLHTK), Police Road King (FLHP), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), CVO Ultra Limited (FLHTKSE), 2014 CVO Road King (FLHRSE), and 2015 Electra Glide Ultra Classic Low (FLHTCUL), Ultra Limited Low (FLHTKL), Road Glide (FLTRX), Road Glide Special (FLTRXS), CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), and CVO Road Glide Ultra (FLTRUSE) motorcycles. The affected motorcycles have saddlebag mounting receptacles that may not adequately secure the saddlebags to the motorcycle.

Safety consequence

If a saddlebag is not adequately secured, it may separate from the motorcycle while riding, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected saddlebag mounting receptacles with updated receptacles, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2015. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0166.

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 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse.

Steering; Suspension; Structure

ODI #11479875

Incident: July 22, 2022 · Filed: August 17, 2022

I brought my motorcycle into a Harley Davidson dealer for a Virginia State Safety Inspection. The inspector noticed a crack in the powder-coat of paint covering a welded section of the frame. Further investigation revealed the crack in the paint followed the edge of the weld and the weld is lifted off of the frame. Harley Davidson Corporate was notified and I was told the motorcycle is out of warranty and damage was probably cause by miss use or accident. They told me it was an insurance issue. I called Geico and reported the claim. They investigated and denied the claim saying it was not related to an accident. I called Harley Davidson Corporate and told them the results of the insurance investigation but it did not change their mind. The weld is the strongest point of any manufactured steel component. If the weld is failing it can only be from a defective welding job. The motorcycle is still sitting at the dealership in Virginia.

Engine

ODI #11110013

Incident: June 21, 2018 · Filed: July 7, 2018

A TAPPET CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED, CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE ON A MOTORCYCLE IS A VERY DANGEROUS EVENT. MANY HARLEY-DAVIDSON CVO 110 ENGINES HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEFECT, WHICH IS THE RESULT OF BAD METALLURGY AND POOR DESIGN OF THE TAPPET TO CAM INTERFACE IN THE 110 TWIN-CAM ENGINES. THESE BIKES SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE CAMS AND TAPPETS. AGAIN, THE DANGER OF A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IN A MOTORCYCLE IS EXTREME. A PHOTO OF THE TAPPET FAILURE IS ATTACHED.

Electrical System

ODI #10749439

Incident: June 15, 2015 · Filed: November 19, 2015

2015 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTKSE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE BIKE, IT SHUT OFF AND WOULD NO RESTART. AFTER SEVERAL MORE ATTEMPTS, THE BIKE STARTED AND THEN SHUT OFF, AND DISPLAYED A FAULT CODE " FORKS LOCKED". THE BIKE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE BIKE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, WITH THE REPAIRS. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TURN RIGHT AFTER A COMPLETE STOP, THE BIKE SHUT DOWN AGAIN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE SAME MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE SCREEN. ONCE AGAIN, THE BIKE WAS TOWED AND ONCE AT THE DEALER, IT RESTARTED AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. ONCE AGAIN, THE BIKE SHUT OFF AGAIN, WHEN IT WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE DEALER, HE DEMANDED THE IGNITION SWITCH BE REPLACED. SO FAR, THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS. *JB

Other Harley-Davidson Flhtkse model years

Check your 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse VIN

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

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