2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc

Routine

Owners filed 4 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes2
100
Suspension1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip18V076000
Filed Jan 29, 2018174,636 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Company

Defect. Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling all 2008-2011 Touring, CVO Touring and VSRC motorcycles equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), including Road King (FLHR), Road King Police (EFI) (FLHP), Road King Police (EFI) (FLHPE), Electra Glide Standard Police (EFI) (FLHTP), Electra Glide Classic (EFI) (FLHTC), Electra Glide Ultra Classic (EFI) (FLHTCU) and Street Glide (EFI) (FLHX), 2008 VROD (VRSCAWA), CVO Road King 4 (FLHRSE4), Night Rod (VRSCDA), CVO Ultra Classic 3 (FLHTCUSE3), Night Rod Special (VRSCDXA), 2008-2010 Road King Classic (EFI) (FLHRC), 2008-2009 Road Glide (EFI) (FLTR) and Electra Glide Standard (EFI) (FLHT), 2009-2010 V-Rod (VRSCAW), 2009 CVO Ultra Classic (FLHTCUSE4) and CVO Road Glide 3 (FLTRSE3), 2009-2011 Night Rod Special (VRSCDX) and V-Rod Muscle (VRSCF), 2010 CVO Ultra Classic 5 (FLHTCUSE5) and CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), 2010-2011 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (FLHTK) and Road Glide Custom (FLTRX), 2011 Road Glide Ultra 103 (FLTRU103), Street Glide 103 (FLHX103), Road King Classic 103 (FLHRC103), CVO Ultra Classic 6 (FLHTCUSE6), CVO Road Glide Ultra (FLTRUSE), Road Glide Custom 103 (FLTRX103), and CVO Street Glide 2 (FLHXSE2) motorcycles. Deposits may form on components within the brake system if the DOT 4 brake fluid is not replaced for a prolonged period of time beyond the 2-year maintenance schedule specified in the Owner’s Manual.

Risk. These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will flush the entire brake system with new Platinum Label DOT 4 brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0171.

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch11V506000
Filed Oct 19, 2011250,757 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Company

Defect. HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 TOURING, CVO TOURING AND TRIKE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6, 2008, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16, 2011. SEE THE ABOVE LIST FOR THE MODELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY BE EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

Risk. THE EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY CAUSE THE SWITCH TO NOT ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP OR ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP WHEN NO BRAKE IS APPLIED AND/OR CAUSE A BRAKE FLUID LEAK AT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, AFFECTING REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE. EITHER CONDITION MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. HARLEY-DAVIDSON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL A INSTALL A REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KIT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service BrakesCrash
Filed Nov 25, 201910,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC (FLHTC) MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND THE BACK TIRE LOCKED UP INTO A FISHTAIL. THE TRAILING DRIVER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN OFF THE MOTORCYCLE INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE MOTORCYCLE SKID ONTO ITS SIDE INTO THE SIDEWALK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE AND CONTINUED DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME ON A TRAILER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *DT*JB

Service Brakes
Filed Feb 16, 201839,500 milesFL

NHTSB SAFETY ISSUE ID 18V076000 INDICATED A BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT WOULD BE THE RESOLUTION TO THE BRAKE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS INCORRECT. LAST YEAR I HAD THE BOX THAT CONTROLS THE ABS FLUID PRESSURE REPLACED. THIS DID NOT INCLUDE CHANGING THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOARD. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONT MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. EACH TIME THE FLUID WAS REPLACED AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED BY A HARLEY CERTIFIED MECHANIC. UNFORTUNATELY I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE FRONT BRAKES EITHER NOT WORKING AND REQUIRING PUMPING, ABS TRIGGERING AND NOT DOING ANYTHING, AND 'SQUISHY' FRONT BRAKE LEVER. EACH OF THESE COME AND GO. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO HARLEY FOR REPAIR THE EXACT CAUSE IS STILL UNKNOWN. THE BRAKES APPEAR GOOD WHEN THE POWER IS OFF. AS SOON AS I TURN THE POWER ON THERE IS A NOTICEABLE RELEASE OF PRESSURE IN THE FRONT BREAK LEVER. THIS LEADS ME TO THINK THE BRAKE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL OF THE ABS.

Suspension
Filed Aug 20, 201218,000 milesCO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 4, 2011650 milesNY

FACTORY FAILURE. INCORECT POUR OF ALUMINUM MOLD FOR ENGINE CASTING/ ENGINE BLOCK, RESULTING IN OIL LEAK. ENGINE BLOCK SWEATING OIL AND SPREADING OIL ALONG BOTTOM OF FRAME FROM FRONT TO REAR OF MOTORCYCLE. ENGINE POUROUS. *TR

4 of 4 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2009
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20131000Routine
20122100Routine
2011 — this page4200Routine
20107300Routine
200919300Routine
200815200Routine
200714000Routine
20053000Routine
20031100Routine
20022100Routine
20017100Routine
20001000Routine
19996100Routine
19983100Routine
19971100Routine
19962100Routine
19956100Routine
19948200Routine
19932100Routine
19923000Routine
19902000Routine

Compare every Flhtc year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 29, 2018. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.