2011 Harley-Davidson FLHTK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
21,960 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 20 complaints (55.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 65.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 11 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Service Brakes: 11; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Wheels: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2011: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 3; 2020: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10438195 · 2011-12-03 (December 3, 2011)
I RECEIVED A LETTER ON NOV 9 MY DEALER ONLY GETS 8 OF 10 RECALL PARTS A WEEK IF THERE LUCKY. I CALL MAIN OFFICE OF HARLEY. THERE EXCUSE IS THEY CANT MAKE THEM FAST ENOUGH. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES ON MY BIKE YOU THINK THEY BE GETTING OUT MORE PARTS THEN WHAT THERE GIVING. THERE EXCUSES IS THERE GLOBAL. SO MAKE MORE PARTS .IF YOU DON'T CAMP OUT AT YOUR DEALER TO GET IT FIXED YOU'LL NEVER GET IT FIXED. THIS LETTER CAME OUT NOV 9 BUT IT WAS IN THE PAPERS A MONTH BEFORE AND STILL HASN'T BEEN RESOLVED .CANE YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10438195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585844 · 2014-05-01 (May 1, 2014)
I WAS ON A COUNTRY ROAD GOING INTO A CORNER. I HIT THE REAR BRAKE TO FIND I DID NOT HAVE ANY REAR BRAKES. AFTER THE ACCIDENT WHEN I GOT THE BIKE HOME AND HAD TIME TO INSPECT IT I FOUND THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD BLOW OUT CAUSING THE BACK BRAKES TO FAIL. I CALLED HARLEY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DID NOT GET ANY ANSWERS OR EVEN A PHONE BACK AFTER I TOLD THEM THAT THEY MAY HAVE A PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL. I THEN CALLED MY DEALER. THEY ARE TRYING TO HELP BUT ARE NOT SURE WHAT THEY CAN DO EITHER. THE END RESULT IS THIS, I HAVE THE SERVICED ON A RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585844 at NHTSA ↗