Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

2 reports

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315 miles · Jul 12, 2010

Electrical SystemInjury

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I HAVE A HARLEY DAVIDSON TRI GLIDE ULTRA CLASSIC THAT WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING, THE LEFT SIDE SUDDENLY A HAD A TREMENDOUS DRAG I BELIEVED CAUSED BY THE REVERSE COMING ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT AROUND 55 MILES PER HOUR. WE WERE THROWN INTO THE ON COMING TRAFFIC JUST MISSING A PICKUP AND WENT DOWN INTO THE DITCH JUST MISSING A LARGE CULVERT. MY WIFE WAS THROWN OFF AND RECEIVED MANY BROKEN BONES AND BRUISES. SHE WILL BE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 6 WEEKS AND THEN MANY MONTHS OF TERAPHY. I WAS ABLE TO STAY ON AND ONLY RECEIVED A LITTLE BACK PAIN. WE WERE BOTH VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE KILLED. HARLEY HAS A BIG PROBLEM THAT NEED ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342784

2,582 miles · Mar 21, 2010

Electrical SystemFuel System, Other

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I OWN A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOM CLASSIC TRIKE. THIS BIKE IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (SO CALLED FLY BY WIRE) ON MARCH 18 WHILE RIDING IN MEDINA COUNTY IN OHIO AT 50 MPH THE ETC HAD SOME FORM OF FAILURE AND THE THROTTLE CUT THE RPM TO LESS THAN 1000 AND THE BIKE ABRUPTLY SLOWED TO A CRAWL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY SHUT DOWN THE BIKE AND AFTER FIVE MINUTES RESTART AND THE THROTTLE WORKED AS DESIGNED. I ROAD THE BIKE TO CENTURY HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY ADVISED I HAD A CODE WHICH VERIFIED THE ETC HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THEY ADVISED THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT IS WRONG BUT THEY REPORTED THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE H D ETC. I AM SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED AND REPAIRED ON MARCH 29, 2010. I WAS ADVISED THE BIKE IS SAFE TO RIDE AS IS. ON MARCH 21, THE EXACT SAME THING OCCURRED. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF I WERE RIDING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE LANE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THIS HAPPENS I WOULD BE A SITTING DUCK AND COULD BE KILLED. I BELIEVE HARLEY DAVIDSON IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT IS DOING NOTHING TO GET THE WORD OUT AND TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10321280

Official recalls

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.