Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 6 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 reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

28 reports

40,265 miles · Nov 21, 2016

Service Brakes

WHILE RIDING REAR BRAKE BECAME STIFF AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER APPLYING EXTREME PRESSURE REAR ABS BEGAN TO CHATTER AND INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGE. FRONT BRAKE WORKED AS EXPECTED AND ALLOWED VEHICLE TO BE SLOWED. THIS WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND NOT A PANIC STOP. IF THIS WAS ON A BUSY CITY STREET IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10927146

18,000 miles · Jul 21, 2016

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

WHEN DRIVING THE BIKE GOES IN TO WHAT THEY CALL LIMO MODE , I HAVE NO THROTTLE AND WON'T GO , IT HAPPENED MANY TIMES PASSING ON HI WAY SPEEDS , LOCAL HD DEALER DON'T SEEM TO HAVE A FIX , I FEEL THIS IS A DANGER AND AFTER DOING SOME LOOKING I SEE THOUSANDS OF CASES LIKE MINE , IT SHOULD BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE DIES ITS VARY DA…

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NHTSA ODI #10887385

37,415 miles · Apr 26, 2016

Electrical System

THE THROTTLE BY WIRE FAILED WHILE RIDING. I HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT FROM BEHIND. THE DEALER BLAMED CORROSION ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE INDUCTION MODULE. COATING THE CONNECTOR IS A TEMPORARY FIX. AFTER THE 3RD FAILURE I HAD IT TOWED AND HAD A NEW INDUCTION MODULE INSTALLED. I SPENT $450 FIXI…

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NHTSA ODI #10861528

23,569 miles · Sep 8, 2015

EngineVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET RIDE FLHX MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE THROTTLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND THE INDUCTION MODULE KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,569. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10762093

60,128 miles · Aug 14, 2015

Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

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I WAS JUST RIDING DOWN THE I-405 FREEWAY NEAR SEATTLE, WA AT ABOUT 70 MPH IN THE LEFT WITH NO SHOULDER AVAILABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO. THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY FAILED AND I HAD NO POWER. I SLOWED DRAMATICALLY AND WAS NEARLY RUN OVER BY A TRUCK. I PUT ON MY FLASHERS AND MOVED 3 LANES RIGHT TO GET TO THE SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO BE HIT WHEN I HAD NO THROTTLE CONTROL. I CALLED A FRIEND AND HE CAME ABOUT AN HOUR LATER AND TOWED ME HOME. I FEEL THAT I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED IN THIS INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10748784

21,792 miles · Sep 14, 2014

Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHILE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT, AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PROCEEDED TO APPLY THROTTLE WITH NO RESPONSE. LET OUT CLUTCH AND ROLLED NO FASTER THEN 20 MPH WHILE CARS WERE BACKING UP BEHIND ME. AFTER ROLLING AT 20 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY HUNDRED YARDS, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER IN A SAFE LOCATION WITH OUT BEING RUN OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633060

6,400 miles · May 4, 2014

Power Train

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DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON MAJOR INTERSTATE. HEARD LOUD NOISE AND THOUGHT DRIVE BELT BROKE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE AS MOTORCYCLE WAS JUST COASTING AT THIS POINT. ENGINE AND THROTTLE FINE BUT NO FORWARD MOTION. ALSO THOUGHT MAYBE TRANSMISSION UNTIL I CHECKED REAR WHEEL AND SPROCKET. APPEARS REAR BEARING FAILURE WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. CHECKED OTHER POSTINGS AND FORUMS ON INTERNET (HARLEY SITES) AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT LOW MILEAGE BEARING FAILURES, BOTH FRONT AND REAR. APPEARS DEALERSHIPS AND MANUFACTURER JUST GIVE IDIOTIC EXCUSES INSTEAD OF STANDING BEHIND THIS PROBLEM, SUCH AS DON'T RIDE IN THE RAIN. THEY TEST THEIR MOTORCYCLES IN INTENSE WATER TESTING PROCEDURES FOR CRYING OUT LOUD ATTEMPTING TO FIND ANY DEFECTS OR PRODUCE SOME TYPE OF FAILURE. THEY APPARENTLY WILL NOT ISSUE ANY RECALL OR GENERATE SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS ARE PUT AT GRAVE RISK DUE TO FAULTY BEARINGS BEING SUPPLIED TO HARLEY DAVIDSON AND INSTALLED. THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THE MOTORING PUBLIC AND THEIR FIRST PRIORITY SHOULD BE IN MANUFACTURING AND SELLING A SAFE PRODUCT. THIS NEEDS AT THE LEAST TO BE INVESTIGATED OR LOOKED INTO BY YOUR AGENCY OR DEPARTMENT. DON'T JUST TAKE MY WORD ON THIS, LOOK AT ALL OF THE RESPONSES TO THIS SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT OR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586460

9,300 miles · Sep 17, 2013

Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

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ACCELERATING FROM A STOP UP TO SPEED WHEN LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE, ENGINE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 1500-2000 RPM. WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT BIKE DOWN AND WAITED A MINUTE AND RESTARTED IT. IT STARTED UP AND RAN AS NORMAL. TALKED TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND MADE THEM AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY SEEMED VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE AND SAID TO BRING IT IN AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME A COST TO FIX. THIS SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ON A MANUFACTURES RECALL. WHAT IF I WERE TRYING TO GET ON THE INTERSTATE AND LOST THE ABILITY TO MERGE . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10544039

45,000 miles · Sep 7, 2013

Electrical System

WHILE RIDING DOWN THE I 65 SOUTH, I ATTEMPTED TO PASS A 18 WHEELER ON THE LEFT. AS I DID I NOTICED THE CAR IN FRONT SWERVE INTO MY LANE AND I TRIED TO THROTTLE TO GET OVER AND I LOST POWER NEARLY SLAMMING INTO THE OTHER CAR. YESTERDAY AS I PULLED OUT TO MERGE ONTO THE HIWAY I AGAIN LOST THROTTLE(POWER) AND HAD TO SWEARVE TO AVOI…

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NHTSA ODI #10542403

25,600 miles · Jul 6, 2013

Electrical System

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ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP THE ENGINE LOSES POWER AND GOES INTO AN IDLE MODE. THIS EVENT ALSO OCCURS WHEN YOU'RE ACCELERATING UP TO ROAD SPEED AND OCCURS WITHOUT ANY WARNING, INCLUDING SITUATIONS WHERE YOU'RE ENTERING INTO AN INTERSECTION AND POTENTIALLY IN THE PATH OF OTHER VEHICLES - IN NORMAL SITUATIONS, YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO HAVE A SAFE DISTANCE TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION. WHEN ENGINE GOES INTO IDLE YOU'RE BASICALLY WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO MOVE OFF THE ROAD SAFELY WITHOUT POTENTIAL FOR COLLISION. THE LATEST SITUATION OCCURRED ON 7/3/2013 WHILE I WAS PASSING A VEHICLE AND ACCELERATING TO 70 MPH, WITH A PASSENGER ON THE BIKE. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WENT INTO IDLE AT 2000 RPM WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DECELERATE OR ACCELERATE. I WAS TRAPPED ABREAST OF THE VEHICLE I WAS PASSING - IF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, I COULD HAVE LOST ANY ABILITY TO TAKE ACTIONS TO GET BACK INTO MY PROPER LANE OF TRAFFIC TO AVOID A CONFLICT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10523474

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.