Verdict · NHTSA data
Limited data — recalls on file
NHTSA has just 10 complaints on file for the 2002 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUI — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but 2 recall campaigns apply to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.
10
NHTSA complaints
2
Recalls
0
Investigations
0
Crash-involved
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
—
NCAP overall
| Component | Complaints | Share | vs prior year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 | 50% | ▲ up |
| Fuel System | 1 | 10% | — flat |
| Lighting | 1 | 10% | — flat |
| Seats | 1 | 10% | new |
| Body & Structure | 1 | 10% | — flat |
| Transmission | 1 | 10% | ▼ down |
2 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Defect
ON CERTAIN TOURING AND POLICE MODEL MOTORCYCLES, THE 40 AMP MAIN CIRCUIT BREAKER CAN "OPEN" FOR REASONS OTHER THAN WHICH IT WAS DESIGNED, CAUSING AN UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE MOTORCYCLE.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BREAKER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 23, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
Defect
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE CLIPS THAT RETAIN THE WIRING FOR THE FRONT FENDER TIP LIGHT CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE FENDER, CAUSING THE WIRES TO FRAY AND SHORT.
Consequence
THIS COULD CAUSE THE LIGHTING SYSTEM FUSE TO BLOW, LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT AN OPERATIONAL FRONT FENDER TIP LIGHT, HEADLIGHT, TAILLIGHT, RUNNING LIGHTS, AND PASSING LAMPS (IF EQUIPPED).
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FENDER TIP LIGHT WIRING HARNESS RETENTION CLIPS, AND INSPECT AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, ANY DAMAGED WIRING HARNESSES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 9, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.
Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.
“6 TIMES WITH NO WARNING MY 2002 HARLEY JUST LOST ALL ELECTRIC AS IF YOU JUST REMOVE THE KEY AND 3 TIMES I WAS ON THE EXPRESS WAY AT NIGHT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND TURNING THE KEY ON/OFF IT WOULD JUST ACT NORMAL. HARLEY WAS CONTACTED AND STATED "KNOWS OF NO SUCH PROBLEMS". SPENT…”
“MOTORCYCLE QUITS WHILE RIDING. CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED IN JUNE, 2008. ON A RIDE WITH THE MOTORCYCLE ON 6/20/2008. THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL POWER, ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL, WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC. RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC SINCE BRAKE LIGHTS AND EMERGENCY SIGNALS DO NOT…”
“AT 25000 MILES THE FRAME CRACKED ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THIS RENDERED THE BIKE UN-DRIVABLE. IT DID NOT RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL. THE DEALER SAID THE WELD WAS DEFECTIVE ON THE FRAME. THE ONLY POSSIBLE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE FRAME. IT COULD NOT…”
“VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY NOTICE, THERE IS A DEFECT IN SOME WIRES WHICH SHUT DOWN THE CYLINDERS ON VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES WIRE TO THE FRONT FUEL GETS PULLED CAUSING THE BIKE TO LOSE POWER AND RESULTED IN THE BIKE TO FALL DOWN WHEN STARTING OUT ON TURN. CONSUMER…”
“I PURCHASED A 2002 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUI 1-29-02. IT CURRENTLY ONLY HAS 1200 MILES ON IT. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR. I WAS TAKING A RIDE 8-27-03 AND WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE THE SEAT SHIFTED CAUSING ME TO WOBBLE A LITTLE. I WENT HOME, REMOVED THE SEAT AND FOUND THE PLASTIC…”
The record is thin — 10 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 2 recalls should be verified as completed.
According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are electrical system (5 complaints), body & structure (1 complaints), lighting (1 complaints).
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns affecting the 2002 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUI. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.