2018 Harley-Davidson Fxfbs
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 8 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the highest complaint count among 2 Fxfbs model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 1 involved a crash. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
8 reports, newest first.
Engine, Apr 15, 2020
OIL SUMPING, OIL PUMP FAILURE. CYLINDER SEIZED. 2300 TOTAL MILES. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Visibility/wiper, Mar 23, 2020
MOISTURE IS COLLECTING UNDER THE SPEEDOMETER, FORCING ME NOT TO KNOW MY SPEED, RPM, ETC. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I AM ON MY SECOND FACTORY REPLACEMENT OF THE UNIT.
Electrical system, Apr 2, 2019
THE SPEEDOMETER FILLS WITH CONDENSATION RENDERING IT UNREADABLE. HARLEY DAVIDSON CORPORATE IS REPLACING DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETERS WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER AND REFUSES TO REPLACE IT MORE THAN ONCE.
Electrical system, Mar 29, 2019
CONDENSATION FORMS INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHILE DRIVING, RENDERING THE SPEED INDICATOR UNREADABLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN BECOME DISTRACTED TRYING TO READ THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THROUGH THE CONDENSATION. IT'S ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN'T DETERMINE THEIR SPEED WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE. THE CONDENSATION MAY ALSO CAUSE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO FAIL OVER TIME. HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT HAS ADVISED THAT THEY WILL ONLY FIX IT ONCE, AND WON'T GUARANTEE THAT THE REPLACEMENT CLUSTER WON'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH CONDENSATION.
Vehicle speed control, Feb 28, 2019
AFTER TAKING MY '18 HD OUT FOR LUNCH, THE SPEEDOMETER FOGGED UP WHILE I WAS INSIDE THE BUILDING (ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES - ~75 DEGREES OUTSIDE). THE ENTIRE RIDE HOME THE SPEEDOMETER WAS FOGGED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE SPEED OF MY MOTORCYCLE OR GEAR THAT THE BIKE WAS IN. SINCE THE UNIT ONLY HAS AN ANALOG TACH I AM OUT OF LUCK WHEN IT COMES TO DETERMINING MY SPEED TO KEEP SAFE / LAWFUL VEHICLE OPERATION ON THE ROAD. I PHONED HD TO ASK ABOUT POSSIBLE WARRANTY OPTIONS AND I WAS TOLD "THIS IS NORMAL BEHAVIOR" AND THAT THEY WOULD / COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT - KNOWING THAT THEIR USERS ARE UNABLE TO SEE THEIR CURRENT SPEED WHILE DRIVING.
Electrical system, Feb 28, 2019
AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WARMS UP (ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF RIDING), CONDENSATION BEGINS TO FORM INSIDE THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE INSIDE OF THE GLASS. THIS CONDENSATION BLOCKS THE VIEW OF THE SPEED READING AND OTHER INDICATORS. AT NIGHT, VISIBILITY IS EVEN WORSE WHEN THIS OCCURS. HARLEY SAYS THAT THIS IS JUST THE WAY IT IS, BUT THAT CANNOT BE THE CASE. THE GAUGE SHOULD BE COMPLETELY SEALED SO MOISTURE CANNOT GET IN. THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS. THE PICTURE I ATTACHED SHOWS THE CONDENSATION FORMING ON THE BOTTOM. IT GETS EVEN WORSE THAN THE PHOTO I PROVIDED.
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Dec 29, 2018, crash
'TAKATA RECALL' REAR BRAKE LOCKS UP IN HARD BREAKING SITUATIONS AND PULLS BACK WHEEL LEFT. ALSO SPEEDOMETER CONSTANTLY FILLS WITH CONDENSATION NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMPERATURE OR WEATHER IS LIKE OUTSIDE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AND A CONSTANT PROBLEM
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Aug 28, 2018
CONDENSATION FORMS INSIDE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHILE DRIVING, RENDERING THE SPEED INDICATOR UNREADABLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN BECOME DISTRACTED TRYING TO READ THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THROUGH THE CONDENSATION. IT'S ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE DRIVER CAN'T DETERMINE THEIR SPEED WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE. THE CONDENSATION MAY ALSO CAUSE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER TO FAIL OVER TIME. HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT HAS ADVISED THAT THEY WILL ONLY FIX IT ONCE, AND WON'T GUARANTEE THAT THE REPLACEMENT CLUSTER WON'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITH CONDENSATION.