AI Damage2003 Harley-Davidson Flhtcui reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Harley-Davidson Flhtcui filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 26
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 65% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 5 Equipment 4% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 4% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 4% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 4% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 17 complaints (65% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 3 complaints (12% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (8% of all).
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (8% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (4% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 26 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 17 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 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.
Tl contact owns tech international valve stems, model tr413. While driving 70 mph, the rear tire on the vehicle suddenly flattened. The contact noticed that the valve stem cap and core were both missing. The tires have not been diagnosed by the dealer.
Engine failure at 30000 and 48700 miles. The first engine failure was paid by me $5479.10. The second engine failure was paid by harley davidson customer relations, thank you harley davidson. The cam shaft tensioner is a known hazard and should be changed at about 25000 miles on all tc 88 engines.
My 2003 harley davidson flhtcui ultra classic had a catastrophic engine failure due to a cam shaft tensioner at 29,705 miles.the engine was rebuilt for $5479.10 dollars. Many motorcycles have had the same problem at about the same mileage. This will cause the engine to stop running.
The contact stated while driving 80 mph on a highway, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact mentioned that the ehicle was repaired under recall nhtsa campaign number: 04v134000 (electrical system). However, the remedy failed to repair the problem. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
Quit while riding, total loss of power. Forced to coast to side of road while dealing with traffic conditions. Event has happened on 4 separate occasions. Recall #0113 was issued by harley davidson on april 15, 2004. Recall has been performed on this vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 harley davidson ultra classic motorcycle. While traveling 70 mph, the contact noticed that the vehicle had suddenly began to wobble abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the rear rim was found fractured and was replaced. There were no prior warnings of the failure.
This condition causes the motorcycle to stall, which could result in a crash. In 2004 he had his vehicle repaired according to recall# 04v134000 (electrical system:fuses and circuit breakers).
White smoke fumes began coming off the engine. I was able to get stopped, get off the bike and turn it off. I was an instant away from a fire. I had gasoline soaked into my jeans. I was very fortunate that me and the bike did not catch on fire.
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 7,013 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 22% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Flhtcui has 8 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 26, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Harley-Davidson Flhtcui?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 26. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (15%), engine failure or replacement (8%), fuel system, fuel smell (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Harley-Davidson Flhtcui?
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 2003 Harley-Davidson Flhtcui 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 2003 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 2026-11-06.