2010 Harley-Davidson FLHTC: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
5,013 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 28.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 28.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 14.3% |
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 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Service Brakes: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Driveline: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10296882 · 2009-12-24 (December 24, 2009)
EXCESSIVE ENGINE AND EXHAUST HEAT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343700 · 2010-07-16 (July 16, 2010)
MY 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTC, AFTER ONLY 1025 MILES, EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS MECHANICAL BREAK DOWN IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE MAIN SHAFT BROKE. THIS IS A MAJOR COMPONENT TO THE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES (MAINLY HARLEYS) FOR THE PAST 34 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN ON A BIKE AFTER THOUSANDS OF MILES, LET ALONE ON ONE THAT WAS ONLY A MONTH OLD. I WAS LUCKY THAT WHEN IT BROKE, I WAS STOPPED AT MY MAIL BOX. IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AT GREATER SPEEDS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,025 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10523534 · 2013-07-07 (July 7, 2013)
SPROCKET ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED 2 TIMES.DEALER IS FIXING AT OWN EXPENSE WITH NEW IMPROVED SCREAMING EAGLE VERSION THAT WAS DEVELOPED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS NOW COMES STANDARD ON 20121 AND BEYOND MODELS. COULD CAUSE FATALITIES IF FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HD PUTS ON NEW BIKES BUT WILL NOT FIX PREVIOUS MODELS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10523534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10780882 · 2015-10-08 (October 8, 2015)
WHILE RIDE ABOUT 65 MPH ON MAJOR HWY WITH LOTS OF TRAFFIC. THE BIKE JUST LOST POWER, MOTOR WENT INTO IDLE OR LIMP HOME MODE. RIDING IN LEFT LANE, WITH SHOULDER ONLY ABOUT 2 FOOT WIDE, I COULD NOT PULL OVER TO LEFT SHOULDER. WITH TRAFFIC PASSING ME @65 TO 70 MPH I WAS DOWN TO 15 MPH BEFORE I HAD ENOUGH CLEAR TRAFFIC BEFORE I COULD CHANGE LANES TO GET TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. TRAFFIC BEHIND ME PARTICULAR A 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME ALMOST CAME TO A STOP TO KEEP FROM RUNNING OVER ME. I HAVE FOUND OUT FROM FRIENDS AND HD FORUMS THAT THIS IS …
Owner-reported narrative. 45 miles reported. Look up ODI 10780882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10984573 · 2017-05-09 (May 9, 2017)
WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE FRONT BRAKE WAS HARD AND WOULD NOT COMPRESS LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE COMING DOWN ROAD. IT RESULTED IN ME CRASHING MY BIKE IN THE ROADWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10984573 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11210508 · 2019-05-28 (May 28, 2019)
I HAD BEEN RIDING FOR UNDER FIVE MINUTES, CITY TRAFFIC, SPEED LIMIT 25MPH. AS I SLOWED FOR A TURNING CAR MY REAR BRAKE FAILED BY THE PEDAL LOCKING. I CONTROLLED THE STOP AND RETURNED HOME. I'VE NOW BEEN TOLD THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED AND THE REPAIR COST ARE TO BE AROUND 900.00. I FIND IT INCREDIBLY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A MODULE FAILURE DEFAULTS TO A TOTAL LACK OF BRAKES! ONE MIGHT BE INCLINED TO THINK YOUD LOSE ABS FUNCTION, NOT TOTAL BRAKING!
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11210508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11543165 · 2023-09-07 (September 7, 2023)
I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH IN 5TH GEAR WHEN MY MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING, AND THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY WENT INTO LIMP-MODE AND WOULD NOT TRAVEL ANY FASTER THAN 25 MPH. I WAS NEAR A SERVICE STATION, SO I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME TRAVELING 25 MPH, AS FRUSTRATED CARS FOLLOWED CLOSE BEHIND ME. MY HARLEY DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRING THAT TRIGGERED THE LIMP-MODE SENSOR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11543165 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
09V457000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting
Reported: 2009-12-01 (December 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗11V506000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2011-10-19 (October 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V076000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Fluid
Reported: 2018-01-29 (January 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗