2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK Engine Problems

TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OVERHEAT LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER CONSULTING WITH LOCAL HD DEALER BY PHONE WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE BIKE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR (PER HD MEMO). PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY WATER PUMP WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER STATED, AND CONFIRMED AT OTHER HD DEALERS, THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THESE WATER PUMPS IN STOCK DUE TO THE HIGH FAILURE RATE. NECESSITY TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSED AN UNSAFE CONDITION DUE TO REMAINING ALONGSIDE THE HIGHWAY UNTIL A TOW VEHICLE COULD MOVE BIKE. THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE ON 2014 HD MOTORCYCLES WITH "TWIN COOLING" ACCORDING TO SEVERAL DEALERS. ONCE REPLACED, THE NEW PUMP MOTORS FUNCTION PROPERLY.

Mileage: 10,500

WATER PUMP FAILURE, IN MOTION ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT SPEED.

Mileage: 20,000

APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES ENGINE AND THERMOSTAT LIGHTS CAME ON. THE SENSOR WAS CHANGED. THIS LASTED FOR 600 MILES. DIFFERENT SHOP CHANGED THE SENSOR AND WATER PUMP WHICH LASTED ABOUT 2000 MILES. WHEN RETURNED TO THE SHOP, THEY RETRIEVED THE FAULTY CODE BUT COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO REPRODUCE THE ERROR AND WOULD NOT LOOK INTO ISSUE. PROBLEM RETURNED LESS THAN 100 MILES LATER/ AT THE PRESENT TIME, I RIDE THE BIKE WITH THE ENGINE AND TEMPERATURE LIGHTS ACTIVATED.

Mileage: 10,000

ON 04/24/14 DRIVING AT APP. 45 MPH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND LOST POWER FROM REAR CYLINDER. APP. 30 TO 45 SECS. LATER , LIGHT WENT OFF AND POWER RETURNED TO REAR CYLINDER. WENT DOWN ROAD A FEW MORE MILES AND SAME THING OCCURRED AGAIN. THIS TIME LIGHT STAYED ON AND NO POWER FROM REAR CYLINDER. CHECKED CODE FROM ENGINE AND CAME UP WITH PO264 WHICH IS "REAR INJECTOR HIGH". TOOK TO DEALER NEXT DAY. ON 4/26/14 WAS DRIVING AT APP. 65 MPH SAME THING OCCURRED 4 TIMES. TOOK TO DEALER ON 5/1/14. GOT BIKE BACK SAME DAY FROM DEALER. ON 5/3/14 SAME THING OCCURRED AND HAD DEALER PICK UP. ON 5/5/14 PICKED BIKE FROM DEALER AND WITHING 3.5 MILES FROM DEALER TRAVELING AT APP. 55 MPH, SAME THING HAPPENED BUT THIS TIME I WAS IN A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND CAME WITHIN A FOOT OF BEING STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE SUDDEN POWER LOSS OF THE REAR CYLINDER. GOT BIKE HOME AND TRAILERED IT TO DEALER ON 5/6/14. DEALER CONTACTED HD BECAUSE THEY HAVE CHECKED EVERYTHING THEY COULD. MY CONCERN IS THE SAFETY FACTOR FROM THE LOSS OF POWER AND SUDDEN REDUCTION IN SPEED IN TRAFFIC. *TR

Mileage: 6,500

THE MOTORCYCLE LEAKS COOLANT FROM MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, THE COOLANT FILLER NECK WHICH WAS A SERVICE UPGRADE AND SHOULD OF BEEN A RECALL, THE THERMOSTAT IS THE NEXT PROBLEM AREA, ITS MADE OF PLASTIC AND IT IS PRONE TO LEAK AT THE ELBOW INTO IT, HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THEY LEAK FROM THE COOLANT PUMP AND HOSES, MOST COMMON IS THE THERMOSTAT. IT GETS ON THE GROUND AND ON THE TIRES OF THE MOTORCYCLE, IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE NEW TWIN COOLED HARLEY DAVIDSONS THEY ARE HAVING A PROBLEM GETTING THEM FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIPS. MINE NOW LEAKS FROM THE THERMOSTAT AND THE DEALERS DO NOT HAVE AN UPDATED PART SO THE REPLACEMENTS PARTS CAN LEAK AND THIS BECOMES A DANGER BECAUSE YOU PUT YOUR FEET DOWN AND THERE IS COOLANT UNDER THE BIKE IT COULD SLIP OUT FROM UNDER YOUR FEET , THE BIKE WEIGHTS 860 LBS !!!ALSO IF COOLANT GETS ON THE TIRES WHEN YOUR RIDING YOU COULD CRASH AND GET HURT BADLY. IF SOMEONE WANTS TO CONTACT ME AND TAKE PICTURES OF THE LEAK ON MY BIKE THAT WILL BE OK. ALSO IF YOU RESEARCH THIS YOU WILL FIND THAT I'M TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT CURRENTLY A FIX AND A SUPPOSED RUNNING CHANGE IN THE PART NUMBER OF THERMOSTAT OR POSSIBLE RUNNING CHANGE IN MANUFACTURING PROCESS. I CANT CHANCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, ITS MAKES FOR A DANGER TO ME AND THE PEOPLE AROUND ME, IT MAKES THE MOTORCYCLE UNRELIABLE AND NOT SAFE. I NEED YOUR HELP ON THIS. *TR

Mileage: 181

THE COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKS WHEN IN MOTION WHICH SPILLS THE COOLANT IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. IT ALSO LEAKS WHILE SITTING PARKED. IT HAS ALSO OVERFLOWED AND SPILLED ALL OF THE COOLANT ONTO THE GROUND IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM FOUR PREVIOUS TIMES AND HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. THE BIKE IS CURRENTLY AT A HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AGAIN. I HAVE OWNED THE MOTORCYCLE THREE MONTHS AND I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RIDE IT FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH DUE TO BEING IN THE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE OF THE LEAKS. *TR

Mileage: 500

ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING FROM COOLANT PUMP CASING. INSPECTED COOLANT RESERVOIR WHICH WAS PRESSURED UP AND FULL(NO AIR GAP). AFTER ENGINE COOLED, THEN COOLANT LEVEL BELOW COLD FULL LEVEL. DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE EPISODE. AT 30 TO 33 MPH, THERE IS A WOBBLE/SHIMMY IN THE HANDLE BARS/FRONT END. MORE SO ON DECELERATION,BUT HAVE FELT WHEN TURNING. FIRST TIME DEALER STATED THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE. PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED. DEALER STATED THEY CAN REPRODUCE. THEY RODE OTHER BIKES OF THIS MODEL AND ALL BIKES HANDLE THIS WAY, SO THEY CALL THIS NORMAL. THE DEALER GM TOLD ME IF I BROUGHT IT BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, HE WOULD CLAIM THEY ALREADY INVESTIGATED AND WRITE IT OFF AS NORMAL. HD CORPORATE OFFICE WAS NO HELP AND ALSO SAID THIS IS NORMAL. *TR

Mileage: 450

HARLEY DAVIDSON MODEL FLTHK MOTORCYCLE. BOUGHT NEW MOTORCYCLE ON 9-13-13 COOLANT LEAKING AROUND THE THERMOSTAT ONTO GROUND & ON REAR TIRE ON 9-17-13 WITH 450 MILES. TOOK TO DEALER THEY REPLACED THERMOSTAT HOUSING & HAD MOTORCYCLE UNTIL 9-26-13. RODE MOTORCYCLE & COOLANT BOTTLE OVERFLOWED IN PARKING LOT AT LOWE'S ON 9-27-13. WE TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER ON 9-29-13 FOR THE COOLANT LEAK & COOLANT GETTING ON REAR TIRE. DEALER CLEANED BIKE & THEY TOPPED OFF COOLANT & GAVE ME A WATER BOTTLE FULL OF COOLANT TO ADD TO THE LEVEL IF I HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS AND SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT HARLEY ON THE ISSUE. NEXT DAY 9-30-13 I TOPPED OFF THE COOLANT TO THE COOLANT LINE ON THE OVER FLOW BOTTLE AS INSTRUCTED BY THE DEALERSHIP. RODE THAT EVENING & SAME THING OVERFLOW BOTTLE OVERFLOWING. I ADDED MORE OF THE COOLANT THEY GAVE ME & RODE MOTORCYCLE HOME. RODE TO DEALERSHIP & PULLED INTO THE SERVICE BAY & OVERFILL BOTTLE OVERFILLED ON THEIR SHOP FLOOR & ON THE REAR TIRE. DEALER CLEANED BIKE & THEY TOPPED OFF COOLANT & REFILLED THE WATER BOTTLE FULL OF COOLANT AND TOLD ME TO DO THE SAME THING THEY SAID TO DO BEFORE & ADD TO THE LEVEL IF I HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS AND SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT HARLEY ON THE ISSUE AGAIN. COUPLE DAYS LATER I TOPPED OFF THE COOLANT OVERFLOW BOTTLE AGAIN AT HOME, HADN'T RODE TOO COLD OUTSIDE. 10-15-13 TOOK MOTORCYCLE TO DEALERSHIP ON THE TRAILER WASN'T GOING TO RIDE ANY MORE DO TO COOLANT GETTING ON REAR TIRE & MAKING IT SLIPPERY ON HE ROAD DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE ANY CHANCES. THERE ARE A LOT OF CUSTOMERS BUYING THESE MOTORCYCLES WITH COOLANT SPEWING OUT & GETTING ON THE REAR TIRES. THESE MOTORCYCLES ALREADY HAVE A RECALL ON THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH & THERE IS THE SAFETY HAZARD OF COOLANT ON THE REAR TIRES. PLEASE HELP! *TR

Mileage: 450

AFTER DELIVERY, I DISCOVERED WHILE PARKED THERE WAS A COOLING SYSTEM LEAK NEAR THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE (~90 MILES); IF IT WERE NOT ADDRESSED, SUCH A LEAK HAS POTENTIAL TO DEPOSIT COOLANT ON THE REAR TIRE AND COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A CRASH AND ENSUING INJURY. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE LEAK, IT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY RETURNED AND BECOME MORE SERIOUS (DISCOVERED AT 975 MILES). THE SELLING DEALER ADVISED ME NOT TO OPERATE THE MOTORCYCLE AND RETRIEVED IT BY TRAILER FROM MY HOME. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TECHNICIAN SERVICING MY BIKE HAD A CRASH ON A TEST RIDE AFTER SERVICE; IT'S APPARENT THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LEADING TO THE CRASH RESULTED FROM THE OTHER DRIVER'S ACTIONS, BUT AT THIS POINT IT'S UNKNOWN IF THE COOLANT LEAK WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE TECHNICIAN'S INABILITY TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 90

OCTOBER 6, 2013, AFTER RIDING 98 MILES (ODOMETER) ON A NEWLY PURCHASED MOTORCYCLE, MOTORCYCLE COOLANT WAS NOTICED ON THE GARAGE FLOORS SHORTLY AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE MOTORCYCLE (30 MIN). RIGHT LOWER FARING COVER WAS REMOVED TO INSPECT COOLANT RESERVOIR WITH NO APPARENT SIGNS OF COOLANT LEAKAGE. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR OVERFLOW TUBE APPEARED TO BE DRY, HOWEVER, THE RESERVOIR COOLANT WAS BELOW THE COLD FLUID LEVEL LINE.WATER PUMP COVER WAS REMOVED AND SHOWED ACCUMULATION OF COOLANT, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE LEAKAGE WAS COMING FROM. AREA WAS WIPED CLEAN TO DETERMINE IF COOLANT WAS LEFTOVER FROM FACTORY. MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON OCTOBER 9, 2013. UPON, PARKING THE MOTORCYCLE, MORE COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE WATER PUMP COVER AREA. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED ME THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS LEAKING AND PARTS TO REPAIR THE MOTORCYCLE WERE NOT IN STOCK AT THE DEALERSHIP AND MUST BE ORDERED. WAITING FOR PARTS AND REPAIR COULD BE A WEEK OR MORE AS HARLEY DAVIDSON PARTS WAREHOUSE DOES NOT HAVE THIS PART IN STOCK EITHER. APPARENTLY THEY SEEM TO BE ON BACKORDER. COOLANT LEAKAGE FORM THE WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT AREA WILL DUMP ANTIFREEZE IN DIRECT LINE OF THE REAR TIRE AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND UNKNOWN TO THE OPERATOR. THIS IS A SAFETY/HEALTH ISSUE AND POTENTIAL DESIGN FLAW THAT MAY RESULT IS ACCIDENTS, INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR

Mileage: 98

THIS IS A BRAND NEW 2014 HD FLHTK LIMITED. NEW WITH THIS MODEL YEAR, HARLEY-DAVIDSON INTRODUCED THEIR NEW TWIN-COOLED TECHNOLOGY. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A COOLANT SYSTEM, WHEREBY THE EXHAUST PORTS INSIDE EACH OF THE TWO ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS ARE COOL WITH ANTIFREEZE. AFTER RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE FOR THE FIRST TIME, I PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. COOLANT LIQUID (ANTIFREEZE) BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF THE COOLANT RESERVOIR BOTTLE FROM THE OVERFLOW TUBE AND ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT BUT IT HAS SINCE OCCURRED THREE TIMES FOR A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES. ANTIFREEZE LIQUID IS VERY SLIPPERY. IF THE COOLANT SYSTEM HAS DEFECTS THAT COULD CAUSE COOLANT TO OVERFLOW ONTO THE GROUND WHILE OPERATING (RIDING) THE MOTORCYCLE, THE REAR TIRE WOULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ANTIFREEZE AND GET ON THE REAR TIRE. SHOULD THE REAR TIRE BE EXPOSED TO THE SLIPPERY ANTIFREEZE COOLANT LIQUID, SUCH A SITUATION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF TRACTION OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. *LN

Mileage: 120

NEW ENGINE OVERHEATING DUMPING COOLANT OUT OF OVERFLOW TUBE UNDERNEATH MOTORCYCLE AND ON TO REAR TIRE CREATING A SAFETY RISK. FOUR OVERHEATING INCIDENTS WITHIN THE FIRST 400 MILES OF ENGINE LIFE. ENGINE BREAK IN WITH MALFUNCTIONING COOLING SYSTEM CREATING EXCESSIVE ENGINE HEAT AND RISK OF IMPROPER BREAK IN OR ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR

Mileage: 80