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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

11 reports

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Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2017

Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE EFI/ECM IS FAULTY, CAUSING MULTIPLE CODES DEALING WITH LOW VOLTAGE TO THE THROTTLE BY WIRE, THESE LOW VOLTAGES CAUSES THE THROTTLE TO FAIL DURING RIDING AND LOSS OF SPEEDOMETER. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ISSUE WHICH HAS OCCURED WELL OVER 30 TIMES IN 8 YEARS. I H…

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NHTSA ODI #10971524

35,600 miles · May 21, 2015

Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

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RIDING ALONG AND THE THROTTLE GOES INTO IDLE MODE AND WILL NOT SPEED UP. MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING RUN OVER AND WAIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. IT FIRED UP OK AND MANAGE TO GO ANOTHER 20 OR SO MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WAITED AT THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE FOR A WHILE STILL WOULD NOT WORK AND FIRED UP AND LIMPED ALONG TO AN EXIT. THE SHOP REPLACED GRIP SENSOR. WORKED FINE NOW LESS THAN A YEAR AND ONLY 3000 MILES IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY A SEMI ON THE INTERSTATE BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #10717731

25,267 miles · Aug 30, 2014

Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE WENT INTO IDLE MODE AND HAD NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BY WIRE TBW. CAN HAPPEN AT ANY OPERATING SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629530

46,000 miles · Jul 27, 2013

Vehicle Speed Control

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I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DOING 60 MPH IN TRAFFIC AND MOTOR CUT OUT. IT WENT INTO 'LIMP MODE' ONLY ALLOWING ABOUT 1500 RPM. FROM THE MOTOR, W/ NO RESPONSE OR POWER FROM THE ENGINE IF I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND/OR THERE HAD BEEN A VEHICLE RIGHT BEHIND ME I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE EXPERIENCED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. APPARENTLY THROTTLE BY WIRE (TBW) CONNECTION @ THE FUEL INJECTION BODY WAS NOT SEALED @ THE FACTORY AND THE CONNECTORS CORRODE UNTIL NO VOLTAGE WILL GO FROM THE THROTTLE WIRES TO THE EFI. DEALER STATES IT'S COMMON PROBLEM W/ HD TBW AND THERE ARE ALOT OF POSTS ON THE INTERNET RE: OTHER RIDERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. HD MOCO. REFUSES TO RECALL IT. SEEMS SOMEONE (OR SEVERAL SOMEONE'S) WILL HAVE TO DIE FOR A RECALL TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532149

30,000 miles · Jun 22, 2013

Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY,BIKE SHUT DOWN AND I HAD NO THROTTLE CONTROL.JUST ABOUT GOT HIT FROM BEHIND, THE BIKE WOULD IDLE AND THAT'S IT. SEAT ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY FOR 15 MINUTES, STARTED BIKE BACK UP AND WENT ANOTHER 100 YARDS AND IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS TILL I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET HOME. THIS IS A…

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NHTSA ODI #10521224

29,200 miles · Feb 9, 2012

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF, WHEN IT UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED AND ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PUSH TO START IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,486.

NHTSA ODI #10447291

7,700 miles · Jan 11, 2012

Vehicle Speed Control

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I WAS TRAVELING UP A MOUNTAIN, WHEN THE BIKE SUDDENLY WENT TO IDLE SPEED. THE THROTTLE HAD NO EFFECT ON THE BIKE. THIS WAS ON A TWO LANE ROAD WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OFF.THE BIKE WAS STOPPED ON THE ROADWAY. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I RESTARTED AND THEN THE THROTTLE AGAIN WAS WORKING. I CONTINUED FOR ABOUT A TENTH OF A MILE BEFORE THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I RESTARTED AND I PROCEEDED . THIS SITUATION REPEATED ONE MORE TIME GOING UPHILL WHERE A GENTLEMAN FOLLOWED ME WITH FLASHERS ON TO INSURE MY SAFETY. AFTER REACHING THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, IT DID IT ONE ADDITIONAL TIME. AFTER THE FOURTH TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME ABOUT FIVE MILES AWAY. HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DANGEROUS. THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE BIKE FROM INFORMED THEY HAVE RECEIVED FEW COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE BUT I HAVE READ MANY IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON ONLINE FORUMS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443471

29,000 miles · Nov 30, 2011

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SUDDENLY ACTS ERRATIC SOMETIMES REVVING THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY AND SOMETIMES GOING INTO "LIMP MODE" CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IN TRAFFIC AND CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI #10438369

35,700 miles · Oct 25, 2011

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DECELERATED INTO AN IDLE MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED IN APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE THROTTLE MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,700.

NHTSA ODI #10432707

10,500 miles · Sep 1, 2011

Vehicle Speed Control

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WHILE PULLING OUT ONTO ROADWAY, THE THROTTLE QUIT WORKING AND THE MOTOR WENT INTO "LIMP HOME MODE". SINCE THAT TIME, IT'S HAPPEN SEVERAL (AT LEAST 6) TIMES. THE FIRST TIME, THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED AND IT SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. IF I PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN THE MOTOR OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND RESTART, IT CLEARS THE PROBLEM. I CAN'T TRUST THE BIKE NOT TO QUIT AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME. THE LOCAL HD DEALER LOOKED AT THE BIKE THE FIRST TIME AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I REPLACED THE THROTTLE MYSELF.

NHTSA ODI #10423668

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.