AI Damage1999 Harley-Davidson Flhrci: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Harley-Davidson Flhrci filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 57% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 4 complaints (57% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (14% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (14% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 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.
After storage my harley was hard starting. After some fresh gas the bike began to run. Maybe a month after this gas began squirting out of the tank where the fuel line and the return line are attached. I shut down the engine, cleaned up the gas and repeated the startup. Same thing.
They say,at harley-davidson that my motorcycle has a electical problem,and should be fixed right away.I called my dealership the very day I got my recall letter,on or about 6/29/04.at this time I was told they were "waiting on parts"trhat was about ten weeks ago.....at what point an time do I get satisfaction from…
Background on m/c first owner: unknown second owner: bought bike with 7750 miles on it / replaced brakes once / has no knowledge of bike being in an accident third owner: myself / thought I needed rear brake pads. I'm having trouble with my brakes on a 1999 flhrc-I vin # [xxx] harley davidson m/c.
Motorcycle hesitates at highway speeds. Dealer has been notified. Please provide more information.
Rear camshaft bearing assembly disintegrated, sending metal particles through the lubrication system into the oil pump, necessitating replacement of many engine componenents.
Cams always is very noisy and believe they will go completely out any day now possibly in a curve, causing severe injury or death.
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 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Flhrci has 4 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 7, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Harley-Davidson Flhrci?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, electrical system, fuel system. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: hesitation when accelerating (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Harley-Davidson Flhrci?
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 1999 Harley-Davidson Flhrci 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 1999 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.