2002 Harley-Davidson Flhtcui recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Electrical system
What's wrong, in plain English: Wiring, modules, batteries. Short circuits can cause stalls or fires. ON CERTAIN TOURING AND POLICE MODEL MOTORCYCLES, THE 40 AMP MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER CAN "OPEN" FOR REASONS OTHER THAN WHICH IT WAS DESIGNED, CAUSING AN UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE MOTORCYCLE.
What could happen: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2002 FLHTCUI.
- Book a repair at any authorized Harley-Davidson dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 04V134000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-414-343-4056.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Summary: ON CERTAIN TOURING AND POLICE MODEL MOTORCYCLES, THE 40 AMP MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER CAN "OPEN" FOR REASONS OTHER THAN WHICH IT WAS DESIGNED, CAUSING AN UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE MOTORCYCLE.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
Notes: HARLEY-DAVIDSON RECALL NO. 0113. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
2. Lights
What's wrong, in plain English: Headlights, tail lights or turn signals may not work, making the car hard to see. 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.
What could happen: 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).
The 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 R…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2002 FLHTCUI.
- Book a repair at any authorized Harley-Davidson dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 02V002000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-414-342-4680.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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).
Remedy: 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.
Notes: ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Portable jump starter
- 2002 Harley-Davidson Flhtcui owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Electrical system (4), Transmission / drivetrain (1), Lights (1), Body / structure (1), Seats (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
10/31/2015 · Transmission / drivetrain
ON SEPT 14 2015 WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC MY DRIVE BELT BROKE CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO SLOW SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED. THE BELT WAS FAIRLY NEW AND HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO BY A HARLEY DEALER IN VIRGINIA. AT THAT TIME THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHILE RIDING THE BELT SUDDENLY BROKE AND I WAS COMI…
06/20/2008 · Electrical system
MOTORCYCLE QUITS WHILE RIDING. CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED IN JUNE, 2008. ON A RIDE WITH THE MOTORCYCLE ON 6/20/2008. THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL POWER, ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL, WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC. RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC SINCE BRAKE LIGHTS AND EMERGENCY SIGNALS DO NOT FUNCTION WITHOUT ELECTRICAL POWER. GOT TO SIDE OF ROAD AND…
11/25/2005 · Body / structure
AT 25000 MILES THE FRAME CRACKED ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THIS RENDERED THE BIKE UN-DRIVABLE. IT DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL. THE DEALER SAID THE WELD WAS DEFECTIVE ON THE FRAME. THE ONLY POSSIBLE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE FRAME. IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED SAFELY. *NM
07/18/2005 · Electrical system
DT: LAST YEAR OWNER RECEIVED A RECALL ON HARLEY DAVIDSON. THE RECALL NUMBER IWASNOT AVAILABLE. THE OWNER WENT TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS. THE FIRST TIME HE WENT TO DEALER WAS LAST SUMMER. HE RETURNED TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES LAST YEAR. THEN OWNER GOT ANOTHER LETTER ON JULY 5 2005, BUT HAS NOT CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THE PARTS…
03/29/2004 · Electrical system
6 TIMES WITH NO WARNING MY 2002 HARLEY JUST LOST ALL ELECTRIC AS IF YOU JUST REMOVE THE KEY AND 3 TIMES I WAS ON THE EXPRESS WAY AT NIGHT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND TURNING THE KEY ON/OFF IT WOULD JUST ACT NORMAL. HARLEY WAS CONTACTED AND STATED "KNOWS OF NO SUCH PROBLEMS". SPENT HUNDRED $ AS MECHANICS TROUBLE SHOOTED FOR A PROBLEM. STILL UNKO…
08/29/2003 · Seats
I PURCHASED A 2002 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUI 1-29-02. IT CURRENTLY ONLY HAS 1200 MILES ON IT. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR. I WAS TAKING A RIDE 8-27-03 AND WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE THE SEAT SHIFTED CAUSING ME TO WOBBLE A LITTLE. I WENT HOME, REMOVED THE SEAT AND FOUND THE PLASTIC AROUND THE SEAT MOUNTING TONGUE CRACKED, CAUSING THE SEAT TO…
07/03/2003 · Electrical system
HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSING BIKE TO SHUT DOWN IN TRAFFIC AND AT HIGH SPEEDS.
08/27/2002 · Fuel system
VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, THERE IS A DEFECT IN SOME WIRES WHICH SHUT DOWN THE CYLINDERS ON VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES WIRE TO THE FRONT FUEL GETS PULLED CAUSING THE BIKE TO LOSE POWER AND RESULTED IN THE BIKE TO FALL DOWN WHEN STARTING OUT ON TURN. CONSUMER STATES HE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS FOUND ON THE INTE…