DT: BRAKE FAILURE ON MOTORCYCLE. HYDRAULIC BRAKES HAVE PAINT ON METAL FITTINGS, AND AS THE PAINT FLAKED AWAY THE FITTINGS RUSTED, AND THE FLUID LEAKED OUT. THEN, THE BRAKES FAILED. DEALER SAID THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE BRAKES WHERE THEY USE SALT ON THE ROADS OR CLOSE TO OCEAN. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK
2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Fxst
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Fxst years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
2 reportsWAS ON ILLINIOS ROUTE 150 TRAVELING AT 55 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL POWER. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, THE ELECTRAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. I COSTED TO THE SHOULDER OF THIS BUSY 2 LANE HIGHWAY WITH ONLY A SOFT SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETE DEAD EXCEPT FOR THE ALARM SYSTEM. TAILERED THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FO…
Read full complaint
WAS ON ILLINIOS ROUTE 150 TRAVELING AT 55 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL POWER. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, THE ELECTRAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. I COSTED TO THE SHOULDER OF THIS BUSY 2 LANE HIGHWAY WITH ONLY A SOFT SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETE DEAD EXCEPT FOR THE ALARM SYSTEM. TAILERED THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE MAIN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO THE TANK MOUNTED "PRIMARY" IGNITION SWITCH HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE CONNECTOR JUST FEEL OFF WHILE THE BIKE WAS IN MOTION. IF THIS HAPPENED IN A TURN OF CROSSING AN INTERSECTION IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.*AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration