2011 Harley-Davidson Fltruse

Routine

Owners filed 5 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the steering. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Steering2
101
Service Brakes1
000
Fuel/Propulsion System1
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 Brakes
Filed Mar 26, 201818,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRUSE (ROAD GLIDE). THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE'S REAR BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HCU WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO ROANOKE VALLEY HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO GET NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) REMEDIED HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HCU WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN BEING PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY DEALER WOULD NOT SELL THEM THE PART FOR HCU REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE PART COINCIDES WITH THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000.

Steering
Filed Oct 26, 201630 milesTX

AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE GOE'S INTO THE "DEATH WABBLE" IT ALSO DOES IT IN CURVES. YOUTUBE VIDEO: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GMW6QPPXNEY

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 7, 20136,900 milesVA

I TWISTED THE ACCELERATOR GRIP AND SLIPPED THE CLUTCH TO PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHEN A RED LIGHT TURNED GREEN. WHEN I GOT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE BIKE CAME TO A STOP. I THEN TRIED TO PUSH MY 900 LB. MOTORCYCLE TO THE CURB BEFORE THE LIGHT FOR OPPOSING TRAFFIC TURNED GREEN. I DIDN'T MAKE IT IN TIME AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY A VEHICLE. THE THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUES WITH HARLEY MODELS FROM 2008-2011 ARE WIDELY KNOWN AND ATTRIBUTED TO A CONDITION KNOWN AS "FRETTING" IN THE METAL CONNECTORS OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS THAT CONTROL THROTTLE OPERATION. HARLEY APPARENTLY CHANGED THE METAL MATERIAL USED IN THE CONNECTORS IN 2011, RESULTING IN BETTER ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS. THE FOLLOWING ID NUMBERS ARE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS REGARDING HARLEY'S "THROTTLE BY WIRE" SYSTEM: 10396505, 10423668, 10428104,10432529, 10432707, 10438369, 104434471, 10455951, 10482185, 10502754, 10510385, 10515560, 10520570, 10521224, 10521801, 10555386. THESE COMPLAINTS ARE FROM VARIOUS 2008-2011 HARLEY MODELS. INTERESTINGLY, THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS ON RECORD FROM 2012-2013 MODELS WHICH TENDS TO CONFIRM DESIGN CHANGES WERE MADE IN 2011. HARLEY ISSUED AN INTERNAL SERVICE BULLETIN #TT418 REGARDING THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR VOLUNTARILY RECALLED 2008-11 MODELS TO INSTALL THE UPDATED CONNECTORS AT NO CHARGE. GIVEN THE SERIOUS NATURE OF THIS DEFECT AND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED, I RESPECTFULLY REQ

SteeringCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 27, 201217,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON CBO ROAD GLIDE ULTRA MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 5 MPH WHEN THE HANDLE BARS BEGAN SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE BOTH THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE HOWEVER THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING HEAD BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE HANDLE BAR RISER BUSHING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,100.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 26, 2011AK

DURING ROUTINE OPERATION, NEW TOURING MODEL MOTORCYCLES HAVE REAR CYLINDER EXHAUST HEADER PIPE THAT GENERATES EXTREME AMOUNT OF HEAT WHICH IMPACTS OPERATOR'S RIGHT UPPER INNER THIGH REGION. CONDITION IS MORE THAN A DISCOMFORT. IT HAS BECOME A DISTRACTION TO THE OPERATOR AND THUS, A HAZARD TO THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE. TO BE EPA COMPLIANT, AMONG OTHER THINGS---HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS HAD TO LEAN OUT THE FUEL/AIR MIXTURE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE MAJOR CAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS DESIGNED/INSTALLED A PLASTIC HEAT DEFLECTOR WHICH PROVIDES LITTLE, IF ANY, RELIEF. MOST OWNERS HAVE PURCHASED AFTER-MARKET EXHAUST SYSTEMS AND FUEL INJECTION TUNERS TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO THIS CONDITION. HOWEVER; DOING THIS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT NEW VEHICLE WARRANTY AND IMPACT VARIOUS LAWS REGARDING EXHAUST AND NOISE. SO, TO SAFELY OPERATE & ENJOY THEIR MOTORCYCLE, THEY HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE A MOTORCYCLE THAT IS NO LONGER EPA COMPLIANT AND SUBJECT TO FINES, IMPOUNDMENT, ETC. OR, THEY CAN JUST CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE MOTORCYCLE IN STOCK CONDITION, AND BE DISTRACTED BY WHAT WILL PROBABLY BECOME A FIRST OR SECOND DEGREE BURN TO THEIR UPPER LEG WITH THE RESULT POTENTIALLY BEING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL, COLLISION, ETC.

5 of 5 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2011
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20190100Routine
20180100Routine
20170100Routine
20162100Routine
20152100Routine
2011 — this page5200Routine

Compare every Fltruse 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.