Service Brakes. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

15 reports

14,000 miles · Mar 14, 2013

Electrical SystemPower Train

BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE CAUSING THE BIKE TO SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN TO ABOUT 15 MPH. CAUSE WAS FRETTING OF THROTTLE BODY WIRING CONNECTOR PINS. FACTORY HAS KNOWN OF PROBLEM AND HAS A TCB OUT ON ISSUE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN RIDING ON HIGHWAYS. COMPANY NEED TO HAVE RECALL BUT THEY WON'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502754

15,626 miles · Jan 30, 2013

Electrical System

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RIDING FOR (RIDE FOR A REASON RUN) BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE CAUSING A TROUBLE CODE OF P1511. TOOK TO DEALER AND HAD NEW CONNECTOR PINS REPLACED IN THROTTLE CONTROL ACTUATOR. A COST OF $332.07 FOR REPLACEMENT OF 7 TERMINAL PINS, PINS COST $6.30 TOTAL. LABOR WAS OUT OF LINE. SAID IT TOOK 2.5 HR. THIS IS A SIMPLE FIX. SHOULD HAVE TOOK NO LESS THEN 1 HR. THIS IS ALSO A MAJOR PROBLEM ON THESE BIKES. I WAS RIDING WITH A LARGE GROUP WHEN LIMP MODE HAPPENED, BIKE SHUT DOWN IN LESS THEN 3 SECONDS. ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED . THE COMPANYS GOT TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS A TSB ON PROBLEM. (TSB-418-1). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495183

15,200 miles · Jun 19, 2012

Electrical System

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AT ANY GIVEN TIME THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN INTO LIME MODE WHEN DTCS 1511/2135 ARE STORED. WHEN CODES ARE GIVEN THE VEHICLE WILL REDUCE SPEED IN LESS THEN 5 SECONDS WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING WITH A LARGE GROUP OF RIDERS WHEN BIKE SHUT DOWN CAUSING A NEAR PILE-UP. THE SUSPECTED REASON FOR THE CODES IS THE REPLACEMENT OF TERMINALS PINS OF THE SOCKET ON THE PCM WIRES AND -OR THE TCA TERMINALS PINS ON THE SOCKET WIRES CAUSED BY FRETTING OF THE TERMINAL PINS. THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM ON 2008-LATER TOURING,POLICE AND TRIKE MODELS. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OR TECH TIP # TT-418-1. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IN GROUPS. I FEEL THEIR IS A NEED FOR A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10462211

34,500 miles · Sep 6, 2010

Suspension

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. PROBLEM WAS FOUND DURING ROUTINE MAINT. HAD TO REPLACE FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. MOTORCYCLE ONLY AS 35,000 MILES THESE BEARINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOOD FOR 100,000 PLUS. WHEEL BEARING FAILURES ON A MOTORCYCLE CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10353987

1 miles · Jun 11, 2008

Engine And Engine Cooling

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IDLED IRREGULARLY. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND OCCURRED WHILE RIDING AT 60 MPH. IF HE TOUCHED THE THROTTLE WHEN THE IGNITION WAS OFF OR WHEN JUST STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE IRREGULAR IDLING WOULD BEGIN. THE NEXT TIME HE WOULD START THE VEHICLE, THE RPM'S WOULD OCCASIONALLY INCREASE TO 2,000 RPM'S OR HIGHER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE DUE TO THE THROTTLE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND WAS INFORMED THAT MANY CONSUMERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT KNOW THE REMEDY. THE DEALER NEVER MADE AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,950 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD CHANGE IDLE RPM'S UP TO AND EXCEEDING 2000 RPM'S. AT THIS RPM, THE MOTORCYCLE WILL NOT DECELERATE AS EXPECTED ON THROTTLE ROLL OFF. IF THE CONSUMER ROLLS OFF THE THROTTLE ENTERING A TURN OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE MOTORCYCLE WILL CONTINUE ON AT AROUND 60 MPH. UPDATED. 07/29/08

NHTSA ODI #10230588

Official recalls

18V076000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid

Jan 29, 2018

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 Owners Manual.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Consequence: 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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid

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

08V357000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Jul 30, 2008

HARLEY DAVIDSON IS RECALLING 47,579 MY 2008 FLHP, FLHPE, FLHR, FLHRC, FLHRSE4, FLHT, FLHTC, FLHTCU, FLHTCUSE3, FLHTP, FLHX, AND FLTR MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES MAY EXPERIENCE A CRACKING OF THE FUEL FILTER SHELL LEADING TO LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE. THIS LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE CAN CAUSE DIMINISHED PERFORMANCE AND, IN SOME CASES, MAY CAUSE AN ENGINE STALL OR A NO-START CONDITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER SHELL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

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

PE16009 · Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle

Opened Jul 6, 2016 · Closed Apr 23, 2018

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation in July 2016 based on forty-three (43) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ).During the course of this investigation ODI received a total of 145 VOQs related to the alleged defect on the subject motorcycles.Owners allege they experience a sudden and complete loss of brakes on one or both wheels.To better understand the cause of the braking issue on the subject motorcycles, ODI requested NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) conduct inspections and testing of affected vehicle braking systems.Through its work, VRTC determined that deposits were forming on the valves in the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) of the Antilock Braking System (ABS). These deposits could prevent the proper function of the HCU and render the brakes ineffective.To understand why deposits were forming in the HCU, Harley Davidson completed an analysis of the Dow 460 brake fluid used as original equipment on the subject motorcycles and determined that it had stability issues if left in the brake system for an extended period of time.Harley Davidson found that if a brake fluid flush was not conducted as outlined in the owner?s manual for the motorcycles, and was left in the system for a period of time beyond their recommendation; deposits could form in the HCU.Through further testing, Harley Davidson identified an alternate, commercially available, brake fluid that did not have the same stability issues as the original fluid and could stop the proliferation of any current brake system deposits.ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to Harley Davidson and Dow Chemical (the supplier of the brake fluid on the subject motorcycles) to collect information about the subject bikes and the alleged defect.Harley Davidson responded in full on Sept 30, 2016 and Dow responded with a confidential submission on October 25, 2017.ODI analyzed the information contained in both IR responses and concluded that motorcycles manufactured during Model Years (MY) 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 were failing at a rate greater than their peers.Based on this analysis and the brake fluid study conducted by Harley Davidson, a group of motorcycles was identified that were potentially affected by the instability of the original brake fluid.2008 marked the introduction of ABS on Harley Davidson motorcycles and a change in the Dow 460 brake fluid used in the 2012 MY vehicles provided the bases for the scope of the affected population.With recall action 18V-076 taken by Harley Davidson this investigation is closed as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/ using the complaint identification numbers attached to this resume.

PE08043 · Motorcycle Stalling

Opened Jul 17, 2008 · Closed Aug 8, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

THE SUBJECT FUEL FILTER HOUSING (P/N 62229-08) CRACKS, RESULTING IN SUDDEN ENGINE STALL DUE TO UNREGULATED FUEL PRESSURE.HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS MODIFIED THE HOUSING WITH A NEW PART NUMBER 62229-08A.SHORTLY AFTER OPENING THIS PE, ODI RECEIVED HARLEY'S DEFECT NOTIFICATION INDICATING THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE BEING RECALLED TO INSTALL THE NEW FUEL FILTER HOUSING.WITH THAT RECALL, RECEIVED PRIOR TO RELEASE OF OUR INFORMATION REQUEST, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CONCLUDED.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Fuel System, Gasoline