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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Harley-Davidson FLHTC: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

4 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

14,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior250.0%
Electrical and battery issues125.0%

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.

Service Brakes
2
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Suspension
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes2
Engine And Engine Cooling1
Suspension1

Service Brakes: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Suspension: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 3; 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 (3). 0 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.

2011
1
2012
1
2018
1
2019
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20111
20121
20181
20191

2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10438518 · 2011-12-04 (December 4, 2011)

FACTORY FAILURE. INCORECT POUR OF ALUMINUM MOLD FOR ENGINE CASTING/ ENGINE BLOCK, RESULTING IN OIL LEAK. ENGINE BLOCK SWEATING OIL AND SPREADING OIL ALONG BOTTOM OF FRAME FROM FRONT TO REAR OF MOTORCYCLE. ENGINE POUROUS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438518 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10471614 · 2012-08-20 (August 20, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471614 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11073221 · 2018-02-16 (February 16, 2018)

NHTSB SAFETY ISSUE ID 18V076000 INDICATED A BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT WOULD BE THE RESOLUTION TO THE BRAKE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS INCORRECT. LAST YEAR I HAD THE BOX THAT CONTROLS THE ABS FLUID PRESSURE REPLACED. THIS DID NOT INCLUDE CHANGING THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOARD. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONT MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. EACH TIME THE FLUID WAS REPLACED AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED BY A HARLEY CERTIFIED MECHANIC. UNFORTUNATELY I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE FRONT BRAKES EITHER NOT WORKING AND REQUIRING PUMPING, ABS TRIGGERING AND NOT D…

Owner-reported narrative. 39,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11073221 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11282117 · 2019-11-25 (November 25, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC (FLHTC) MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND THE BACK TIRE LOCKED UP INTO A FISHTAIL. THE TRAILING DRIVER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN OFF THE MOTORCYCLE INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE MOTORCYCLE SKID ONTO ITS SIDE INTO THE SIDEWALK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE AND CONTINUED D…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11282117 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

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 Owner’s 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 ↗