While driving the vehicle the hydrolic clutch becomes very stiff. This is random, it may work correctly then suddenly become increasingly hard to pull the clutch lever in. When this happens eventually the clutch will not disengage. Making it necessary to turn the bike off in order to disengsge the clutch. At one point I was unable to pull the clutch lever in when approching a stop light on a busy major intersection. I had to turn the motorcycle off and drift to the shoulder at the last moment. I have since had an accident on a gravel driveway while trying to shift gears. The clutch is unreliable, at times it works correctly and at other times is becomes too stiff to operate. I have driven motorcycles for 27 years and am very familiar with clutch operation. I have recently purchased this motorcycle and it has only 300 miles on it. I am unable to drive this motorcycle until this issue is resolved.
The worst 2017 Harley-Davidson FLSS problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes1
- Transmission1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes1
- Transmission1
Recalls 1
Power train: clutch assembly
- What is wrong
- Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Police Road King (FLHP), Road King (FLHR), Road King Special (FLHRXS), Electra Glide Ultra Classic (FLHTCU), Ultra Limited (FLHTK), Ultra Limited Low (FLHTKL), Ultra Limited Shrine (FLHTK SHRINE), Police Electra Glide (FLHTP), Street Glide (FLHX), Street Glide Special (FLHXS), Road Glide Ultra (FLTRU), Road Glide (FLTRX), Road Glide Special (FLTRXS), Freewheeler (FLRT), Tri Glide Ultra (FLHTCUTG), CVO Limited (FLHTKSE) and CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE) motorcycles, 2017 Softail Slim S (FLSS), Fat Boy S (FLSTFBS) and CVO Pro Street Breakout (FXSE) motorcycles, 2018 115th Anniversary Ultra Limited (FLHTK ANV), 115th Anniversary Street Glide (FLHX ANV), 115th Anniversary Street Glide Special (FLHXS ANX), 115th Anniversary Tri Glide Ultra (FLHTCUTG ANV), 115th Anniversary CVO Limited (FLHTKSE ANV) and CVO Road Glide (FLTRXSE) motorcycles. The secondary clutch actuator cylinder may leak fluid internally and the clutch master cylinder may lose the ability to generate enough lift to disengage the clutch.
- Risk
- If the clutch cannot be disengaged it can result in a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will install a new secondary clutch actuator piston assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 5, 2018. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1‑800‑258‑2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0173.
Recall number 18V734000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2017 Harley-Davidson FLSS 41
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Battery warranty guidelines
- Digital technician II - updates and release notes
- Digital technician II - updates and release notes
- Digital technician II - updates and release notes
- Big twin inner primary seal changes
- Digital technician II - updates and release notes
- Digital technician II - updates and release notes
- Aftermarket exhaust header debris
- Digital technician II - updates and release notes
- Dtii update procedure for software version (26.4.3)
What 2017 Harley-Davidson FLSS owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I was riding the motorcycle on a country road at 65 MPH when I noticed a slight power loss, I applied some extra throttle and the power loss just got worse, the motor cycle was slowing rapidly under power so I let off of the throttle, at this time the rear brake locked up the rear wheel sending me into a skid off of the pavement and into the gravel. There was a semi truck hauling hay that was behind me and I managed to keep the motorcycle upright as the truck went passed me. I got off of the motorcycle and could smell hot brake smell. I looked at the rear brake disk and it was so hot that it was purple and the rear brake pedal was locked up. I couldn't move it at all. After it cooled for about 30 minutes the rear brake begin to free up. I had the motorcycle trailered because there was no way that I was chancing the brake locking up again. The bike is at high desert harley in meridian idaho and I'm waiting to here from them. The motorcycle only has about 950 miles on it. It is also equipped with anti lock brakes.
Compare the 2017 Harley-Davidson FLSS
Other model years
20162017
Questions about the 2017 Harley-Davidson FLSS
Is the 2017 Harley-Davidson FLSS reliable?
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2017 Harley-Davidson FLSS, close to a typical FLSS model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Harley-Davidson FLSS?
Brakes, with 1 complaint. Next is transmission (1).
How many recalls does the 2017 Harley-Davidson FLSS have?
1 recall, covering power train.
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