Service Brakes. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Service Brakes complaints

35 reports

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26,000 miles · Feb 23, 2016

Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA (NA). WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL WAS VERY STIFF. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED …

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NHTSA ODI #10837699

21,000 miles · Dec 10, 2015

Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE STOPPED DUE TO THE FRONT BRAKES FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN THE TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE MODULE FAILED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA ODI #10809429

2 miles · Dec 2, 2015

Service Brakes

THE ABS CONTROL MODULE MALFUNCTIONED, AND CAUSED MY FRONT BRAKE LEVER TO LOCK UP. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS. THERE IS NO WARNING THAT IT IS GOING OUT. ONE MINUTE FINE, AND THEN FROZE.

NHTSA ODI #10808063

10,000 miles · Nov 2, 2015

Service Brakes

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FRONT BRAKE HAND LEVER IS VERY STIFF AND WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. MY BRAKES ARE ABS. I WAS IN MOTION AND HAD TO PULL ON THE BRAKE LEVER VERY HARD AND THE FRONT BRAKE SUDDENLY REACTS CAUSING A VERY HARD BRAKING ON THE FRONT END. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS NO GRADUAL BRAKING AS YOU PULL THE LEVER, SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T EVEN PULL THE LEVER CAUSING YOU TO RELY SOLELY ON THE REAR BRAKE.. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON MOTORCYCLE FORUMS AND HAVE FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ABS EQUIPPED HARLEY-DAVIDSONS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO A FRONT BRAKE. I WILL BE TAKING MY MOTORCYCLE (WITH 10,000 MILES AND GARAGE KEPT) TO MY LOCAL HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALER FOR ANALYSIS AND REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10787797

9,350 miles · May 27, 2015

Electrical SystemService Brakes

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RIDING MY 09 HARLEY ULTRA, WHEN AT LOW SPEED I HAD TO STOP FOR A CAR STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WAS FROZEN AND COULD NOT APPLY THE BRAKE. I SWERVED OFF INTO THE GRASS TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR. THE REAR BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT AT SLOW SPEEDS I USE THE FRONT SO I CAN PUT MY FEET DOWN WHEN THE BIKE COMES TO A STOP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AT HIGHER SPEEDS THIS WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE FATAL!! HARLEY CLAIMS THAT IF THE ABS FAILS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THAT IT WILL " FAIL SAFE" WITH NORMAL, NON ABS BRAKING. THIS IS NOT THE CASE!! WHEN THE ABS FAILS ELECTRONICALLY, IT FAILS CRITICAL. NO BRAKES. WHEN I CALLED THE HARLEY DEALERS IN MY AREA I GOT THE SAME STORY FROM BOTH OF THEM. ALMOST WORD FOR WORD LIKE IT WAS REHEARSED. "WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE WE'VE SEEN WITH THAT PROBLEM. WE DON'T SEE PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS." I BOUGHT IT TO THEM AND THEY FOUND THE ABS MODULE DEFECTIVE. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO "FAIL SAFE" AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT WASN'T TRUE. HE SAID "THIS IS THE 3RD OR 4TH ONE WE'VE HAD AND THE ALL FAIL THE SAME WAY. CAN'T SQUEEZE THE LEVER AND NO BRAKES!" HE CLAIMED THAT BECAUSE THEY SEE SUCH A LOW NUMBER OF BIKES WITH THIS ISSUE THAT IT'S NOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I DISSAGREE! MOST PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM ARE DEAD!! I WAS RIDING SLOW IN A NON PANIC SITUATION. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS MY BIKE IS SAFE TO RIDE TO RIDE, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IF THE PROBLEM RETURNS I WOULD AGAIN, BE LEFT WITHOUT BRAKES. I BOUGHT A NEW HARLEY BECAUSE I WANTED THE ADDED SAFETY OF ABS BRAKES. BUT NOW IT SEEMS THAT HARLEY ABS MAY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING ME KILLED THAN THEY DO OF SAVING MY LIFE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION IMMEDIATELY!! MANY LIVES COULD BE LOST BY YOUR DELAY ON THIS MATTER. IF YOU FIND OUT I DIED IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT PLEASE CHECK OUT MY BRAKE SYSTEM!

NHTSA ODI #10721585

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.

11V506000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Oct 19, 2011

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

09V457000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Dec 1, 2009

HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 TOURING FAMILY MOTORCYCLES, INCLUDING CVO TOURING AND TRIKE PRODUCTS, MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6, 2008 THROUGH NOVEMBER 19, 2009. THE FRONT FUEL TANK MOUNTS MAY DISTORT IN REACTION TO SEVERE FRAME DAMAGE FROM A FRONTAL COLLISION. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE A FUEL LEAK AT THE WELD OF THE FRONT BRACKET TO THE TUNNEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LEFT AND RIGHT BRACE, WHICH ARE INTENDED TO REDUCE FRONT MOUNT DISTORTION DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS. THIS REPAIR WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2009. 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.