AI Damage1998 Harley-Davidson FL Series: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Harley-Davidson FL Series filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 17% of all complaints
- 4 Tires 17% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 17% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (17% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Visibility: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
1998 harley davidson flh rear tire blew out. The motorcycle overturned while pulling over onto the berm. Both occupants were ejected off of the motorcycle which then struck a sign. Updated 07/20/06
Rear fork crack noted above rear axel on drive side of fork. Complete failure would/could result in loss of control and crash. This problem is noted in web info available by researching google search harley davidson rear fork cracks. This research revealed thar in flh models from 1996 to 2002 this is occurring.
The motorcycle's ignition system failure caused loss of control and damage. Yh
Speedometer sticks at 33 mph when weather is cool (75 degress of lower).
Curved windshield distorts vision, also motorcycle reflects in windshield. Qcaw
Intermittently after driving about 5 miles motorcycle loses all power. The spark plugs do not get any electricity. Dealer is aware of the problem. The problem has not been corrected. Model ultra classic.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the FL Series has 2 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 6, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Harley-Davidson FL Series?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, powertrain, suspension. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: tires: bulges, blowouts (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Harley-Davidson FL Series?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Harley-Davidson FL Series from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.