NHTSA vehicle safety data

2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 4 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 Flhtkse. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse, describing incidents dated April 27, 2017 to June 16, 2017.

Most-cited components

Power Train 3 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint

Of the 4 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 4 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10995731 · Filed June 18, 2017
THE SPARK PLUG WIRE FOR THE FRONT CYLINDER RUBS AGAINST THE FUEL TANK WEARING THE PROTECTIVE SHEATH AROUND THE SPARK PLUG WIRE. PROLONGED RUBBING WILL WEAR A HOLE IN THE SHEATHING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AGAINST THE FUEL TANK OR ENGINE STUMBLE. MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 8100 MILES ON IT AND…
ODI #10992600 · Filed June 1, 2017
THE ASSIST & SLIP CLUTCH OF MY HD NEARLY GOT ME KILLED THE OTHER DAY. I WAS TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION AND HAD SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN A CAR DIDN'T SEE ME AND WAS COMING RIGHT AT ME. I ACCELERATED HARD WHILE LETTING THE CLUTCH OUT, AND INSTEAD OF IT GRABBING, IT SLIPPED! SO MY MOTORCYCLE JUST SAT…
ODI #10981526 · Filed April 30, 2017
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD AND LOUD SHIFTING BETWEEN SOME OF THE GEARS IS EXTREMELY HARSH AND LOUD AND CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE WHOLE BIKE, FROM MY HANDS ON THE HANDLEBARS TO MY FEET ON THE FLOORBOARDS! IT FEELS LIKE A HAMMER HITTING THE TRANSMISSION WHETHER IT IS AN UPSHIFT OR A DOWNSHIFT. IT FEELS…

Read all 4 complaints

Replacement Rear Reflectors Missing from Kit

NHTSA #19V574000 · Visibility · NHTSA notice

Reported August 5, 2019 · Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Potentially affected: 12,733 vehicles

Repair completion: 10.81% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Harley-Davidson campaign 0629 · Owners notified August 19, 2019 · Vehicles built August 5, 2015 – April 24, 2019 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain Touring and CVO Touring motorcycles, including 2017-2019 FLHTCU, FLHTCUL, FLHTK ANV, FLHTKL, FLTRU, FLHTK, and 2016-2019 FLHTKSE, FLHTKSE ANV, and FLTRUSE models equipped with a Harley-Davidson Detachable Tour-Pak Luggage Conversion Kit (Part numbers 53000291, 53000291A, and 53000567). The kit did not include replacement rear red reflectors for the ones that are eliminated by installing this kit. As such, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Safety consequence

Without the rear red reflectors, the motorcycle has reduced visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Harley-Davidson has notified owners, and dealers will install the replacement reflectors, free of charge. The recall began August 19, 2019. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0629.

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.

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 August 12, 2015 – March 21, 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 Flhtkse. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse.

Electrical System

ODI #10995731

Incident: June 16, 2017 · Filed: June 18, 2017

THE SPARK PLUG WIRE FOR THE FRONT CYLINDER RUBS AGAINST THE FUEL TANK WEARING THE PROTECTIVE SHEATH AROUND THE SPARK PLUG WIRE. PROLONGED RUBBING WILL WEAR A HOLE IN THE SHEATHING AND CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AGAINST THE FUEL TANK OR ENGINE STUMBLE. MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 8100 MILES ON IT AND VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED TO CAUSE THE RUBBING. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD ACROSS ALL 2014-2016 HARLEY DAVIDSON TOURING SERIES MOTORCYCLES, BOTH OF MY NEIGHBORS 2015 AND 2016 MOTORCYCLES HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.

Power Train

ODI #10992600

Crash 1 injury

Incident: May 20, 2017 · Filed: June 1, 2017

THE ASSIST & SLIP CLUTCH OF MY HD NEARLY GOT ME KILLED THE OTHER DAY. I WAS TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION AND HAD SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN A CAR DIDN'T SEE ME AND WAS COMING RIGHT AT ME. I ACCELERATED HARD WHILE LETTING THE CLUTCH OUT, AND INSTEAD OF IT GRABBING, IT SLIPPED! SO MY MOTORCYCLE JUST SAT THERE REVVING THE ENGINE AND BARELY MOVING BECAUSE THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING! THANK GOD THE ONCOMING CAR SLAMMED ON ITS BRAKES AT THE LAST MINUTE AND BARELY MISSED ME. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE A&S CLUTCH HARLEY HAS IN MY CVO HARLEY.

Power Train

ODI #10981526

Incident: April 28, 2017 · Filed: April 30, 2017

TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD AND LOUD SHIFTING BETWEEN SOME OF THE GEARS IS EXTREMELY HARSH AND LOUD AND CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE WHOLE BIKE, FROM MY HANDS ON THE HANDLEBARS TO MY FEET ON THE FLOORBOARDS! IT FEELS LIKE A HAMMER HITTING THE TRANSMISSION WHETHER IT IS AN UPSHIFT OR A DOWNSHIFT. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION COULD SHATTER THE NEXT TIME I SHIFT AND POSSIBLY FAIL ME SOMETIME I WILL NEED IT THE MOST IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND CAUSE ME TO GET IN A CAR ACCIDENT!

Power Train

ODI #10981522

Incident: April 27, 2017 · Filed: April 30, 2017

CLUTCH MAY NOT FULLY DISENGAGE WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN GEAR, THE CLUTCH MAY NOT BE FULLY DISENGAGED.

Other Harley-Davidson Flhtkse model years

Check your 2016 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.

Check a Harley-Davidson VIN