Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 17 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Steering. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. 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
22 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2022
Service Brakes
riding down a hill i applied the brakes and come across some dirt on the road the anti lock brake activated so i did not skid about a half mile down the road was a stop sign when i applied therear brake again they did not work. There were no warning of the failure until i needed brakes,there were no warning lights before or afte…
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riding down a hill i applied the brakes and come across some dirt on the road the anti lock brake activated so i did not skid about a half mile down the road was a stop sign when i applied therear brake again they did not work. There were no warning of the failure until i needed brakes,there were no warning lights before or after the failure . the ABS had to be replaced at a total cost of 1417.59 dollars . the brake system is now working fine after repair.
NHTSA ODI #11477993
31,000 miles · Mar 15, 2022
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
The contact owns a 2011 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra (FLTRU). The contact stated while riding at undisclosed speeds and attempting to apply the front brakes, the motorcycle failed to respond. The contact stated that the brake lever seized during the failure. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V076000 (Servi…
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The contact owns a 2011 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra (FLTRU). The contact stated while riding at undisclosed speeds and attempting to apply the front brakes, the motorcycle failed to respond. The contact stated that the brake lever seized during the failure. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V076000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact was informed that the brake fluid needed to be flushed. While the mechanic was flushing the brake fluid, the contact was informed that the brake module needed to be replaced as well for the vehicle to operate as designed. The contact was informed that replacing the brake module was not included in the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.
NHTSA ODI #11456802
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2021
Service Brakes
ABS Module goes bad and completely disables brakes Very dangerous. Got on my bike only to have a rock hard pedal with no brakes. Harley should fix this for free.
NHTSA ODI #11433448
Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 2018
Electrical System
THROTTLE BY WIRE IS NOT DEPENDABLE AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE . MY WIFE PURCHASED THE BIKE FOR ME IN 2011. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE WHILE NEGOTIATING INTERSECTIONS AND WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH UNCOMMANDED FULL THROTTLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS . BIKE HAS BEEN I…
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THROTTLE BY WIRE IS NOT DEPENDABLE AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE . MY WIFE PURCHASED THE BIKE FOR ME IN 2011. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE WHILE NEGOTIATING INTERSECTIONS AND WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH UNCOMMANDED FULL THROTTLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS . BIKE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR OF THE TBW FIVE TIMES. IT IS CURRENTLY BACK IN SHOP FOR TBW ISSUES. TO DATE ECM, BATTTERY, TPS, ABS SENSORS, THROTTLE BODY HAVE BEEN REPLACED. OTHER RIDERS HAV HAD THE SAME ISSUES. I LOVE THE BIKE BUT NO LONGER FEEL SAFE RIDING IT NOT KNOWING HOW THE THROTTLE WILL RESPOND WITH THE NEXT TWIST. THE UNCOMMANDED FULL THROTTLE ISSUES WERE LUCKILY ALL WHILE NEGOTIATING LOW SPEED MANUEVERS IN PARKING AREAS AND WHILE PARKING IN THE GARAGE. LUCKILY AS WELL THE BIKES ARE STILL MANUAL SHIFT, WHICH SAVED ME FROM INJURY DURING THE UNCOMMANDED FULL THROTTLE EPISODES.
NHTSA ODI #11088332
41,000 miles · Sep 23, 2017
Service Brakes
LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF FRONT BRAKES. BRAKE LEVER IS FROZEN OPEN AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEPRESS TO SLOW OR STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. AFTER MUCH TROUBLESHOOTING, REPLACING BRAKE PARTS AND BLEEDING BRAKES, I WAS INFORMED OF A HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT PATTERN OF FAILURE, THE SYMPTOMS OF WHICH EXACTLY DESCRIBE MY SITUATION. THE REAR BRAKES …
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LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF FRONT BRAKES. BRAKE LEVER IS FROZEN OPEN AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEPRESS TO SLOW OR STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. AFTER MUCH TROUBLESHOOTING, REPLACING BRAKE PARTS AND BLEEDING BRAKES, I WAS INFORMED OF A HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT PATTERN OF FAILURE, THE SYMPTOMS OF WHICH EXACTLY DESCRIBE MY SITUATION. THE REAR BRAKES OPERATE NORMALLY. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN USED FOR RECREATIONAL RIDING AND OWNED BY ME SINCE NEW. I DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE WHEN PREPARING FOR THE 2017 RIDING SEASON AND HAVE NOT HAD A SAFE, FUNCTIONAL MOTORCYCLE THIS YEAR.
NHTSA ODI #11025189
15,500 miles · Aug 21, 2017
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT OF THE MOTORCYCLE EMITTED A TICKING NOISE AND VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT WHEEL COVER SEPARATED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT OF THE MOTORCYCLE EMITTED A TICKING NOISE AND VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT WHEEL COVER SEPARATED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500.
NHTSA ODI #11016547
60,000 miles · Jun 12, 2017
Service Brakes
SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT.
NHTSA ODI #10994390
1 miles · May 16, 2016
Service Brakes
WHILE LEAVING A PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE I ATTEMPTED TO STOP FOR THE CAR IN FRONT. FRONT BRAKE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE NEARLY CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE ABS MODULATOR. ..UPDATED 02/10/17 *BF *CN
NHTSA ODI #10865252
18,023 miles · Mar 7, 2016
Wheels
I WAS RIDING ALONG AT 70 MILES AN HOUR ON I 95, I STARTED TO FEEL SHAKING COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. IT STARTED GETTING WORSE, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK WHAT WAS WRONG AND SAW THAT HALF THE BALL BEARINGS WERE MISSING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL HUB.
NHTSA ODI #10840402
38,245 miles · Apr 13, 2014
SteeringSuspensionWheels
NOTICED A GRINDING AND JERKING MOTION IN THE FRONT WHEEL PULLED OVER TO INSPECT. DIDN'T NOTICE THE BEARING AT THE TIME. BRAKE PADS WERE A LITTLE THIN SO THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THEM. ROAD THE BIKE HOME AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION NOTICED THAT THE SEALED BEARING ON THE FRONT WHEEL WAS COMING APART AND WAS MISSING SEVERAL OF THE BALL …
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NOTICED A GRINDING AND JERKING MOTION IN THE FRONT WHEEL PULLED OVER TO INSPECT. DIDN'T NOTICE THE BEARING AT THE TIME. BRAKE PADS WERE A LITTLE THIN SO THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THEM. ROAD THE BIKE HOME AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION NOTICED THAT THE SEALED BEARING ON THE FRONT WHEEL WAS COMING APART AND WAS MISSING SEVERAL OF THE BALL BEARINGS. GOT ON A COUPLE OF FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 2009 AND NEWER BIKES WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT BEARING FOR MINE ARE ONLY SOLD BY HARLEY SO I'LL BE PUTTING IN THE SAME PROBLEMATIC BEARING THAT THEY PLACED IN IT TO START WITH !!!! THIS IS A DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN. LUCKY NO ONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED YET !!! *JS
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Fltru Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year