2010 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
17,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 31 complaints (29.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 38.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.2% |
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 | 9 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Service Brakes: 9; Power Train: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Electrical System: 5; Engine: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Wheels: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 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 | 23 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (23). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 3; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10349293 · 2010-08-13 (August 13, 2010)
THE 6TH GEAR INDICATOR GOES OUT ON MY 2010 HARLEY FLHTCU AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED IT GOES OFF AND WILL NOT WORK UNTIL YOU TURN THE BIKE ON AND OFF AGAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,525 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10351898 · 2010-08-26 (August 26, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTENING WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO A DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FRONT WHEEL BARRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 17,661.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10351968 · 2010-08-26 (August 26, 2010)
2010 (AND EARLIER) HARLEY-DAVIDSON TOURING MODELS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION COMPENSATOR THAT IF NOT ADDRESSED, COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WITH INJURY OR DEATH. THE COMPENSATOR BOLT COMES LOOSE IN THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING AND CAUSES SIGNIFICANT INTERNAL DAMAGE WITH COULD CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO MALFUNCTION. IN MY CASE, I HAD JUST EXITED THE HIGHWAY 100 WHEN I HEARD A LOUD RATTLING IN THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD BUT THE BIKE LURCHED AND WOULD NOT GET INTO GEAR. THIS CAUSED ME TO STOP IN THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,565 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360267 · 2010-10-13 (October 13, 2010)
2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC REAR BRAKE QUIT WORKING. REAR BRAKE HAD COMPLETE PEDAL PRESSURE BUT WOULD NOT STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. APPLYING PRESSURE WHILE RIDING WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE REAR BRAKE TO START WORKING AS NORMAL. FOUND PUDDLE OF OIL ON GARAGE FLOOR AND UPON INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE RIGHT REAR SHOCK ABSORBER WAS LEAKING OIL AND THAT OIL WAS GETTING ON THE REAR DISC ROTOR CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING FRICTION. MOTORCYCLE IS IN SHOP NOW WAITING FOR A NEW SHOCK ABSORBER TO ARRIVE. MOTORCYCLE HAS 7K MILES ON IT AND PART WILL BE REPLAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10361879 · 2010-10-23 (October 23, 2010)
WITH ONLY 1800 MILES ON A 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU BOUGHT NEW EXCESSIVELY LOUD CLANKING WAS PRESENT AT 2000-2500 RPM. THE PRIMARY CASE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED AND THE COMPENSATOR SHOWED SIGNS OF WEAR ALREADY AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MAIN COMPENSATOR BOLT WAS LOOSE. IT WAS RE-TORQUED TO SPEC AND THE NOISE IS FOR THE MOST PART GONE. BUT THERE IS STILL SOME NOISE PRESENT. I WAS TOLD THAT HD WOULD NOT CHANGE IT UNTIL IT COMPLETELY FAILED. HARLEY DAVIDSON KNOWS THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THEIR TOURING PLATFORMS COMPENSATORS TO THE POINT THAT THEY H…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10423792 · 2011-09-05 (September 5, 2011)
THE COMPENSATOR ON MY BIKE IS NOT ENGINE FOR THIS LARGE OF MOTOR. MY COMPENSATOR HAS LOOSENED AND IS A EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE DRIVE AND PASSENGER IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN MOTION AND THE BOLT FALLS OUT OR THE INADEQUATE COMPENSATOR FALLS APART WHILE DRIVING. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN IN BECAUSE OF A LARGE BANGING NOISE AT START UP. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE COMPENSATOR TOGETHER HAD CAME LOOSE AND WAS RETIGHTENED TO SPECS. THE SERVICING DEALER STATED THAT THIS ITEM HAS BEEN A PROBLEM ON THE 2009-2010 MODELS. …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10423792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10431148 · 2011-10-19 (October 19, 2011)
COMPENSATOR FAILURE. THE COMPENSATOR ON MY H-D HAS DEVELOPED A BANGING NOISE ON STARTUP AND CONTINUES TO MAKE NOISE UP TO THE 3500 RPM RANGE. HARLEY DAVIDSON IN MIAMI, FLORIDA SERVICED MY MOTORCYCLE AND FOUND THE MOUNTING BOLT TO BE LOOSE. AFTER SERVICE THE COMPENSATOR THE NOISE RECURRED AFTER 100 MILES. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE IF THIS UNTIL SHOULD COME APART AND LOCK UP THE DRIVE TRAIN WHILE RIDING WHICH WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS RECOGNIZED THIS ISSUE AND HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM O…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10431148 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455951 · 2012-04-21 (April 21, 2012)
RIDING ALONG AT 60 MPH WHEN THE BIKE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE". I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE AND MY SPEED INSTANTLY DROPPED TO 10 MPH. ONCE THE BIKE GOES INTO THIS "LIMP MODE", THE SPEED IS AUTOMATICALLY LIMITED TO 10 MPH. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO RIDE AT 10 MPH DOWN A BUSY STREET WITH MY FLASHERS ON TO PREVENT GETTING REAR ENDED BY ALL THE CARS. THIS "LIMP MODE" IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON (CHECK IT OUT ON GOOGLE OR AT HDFORUMS.COM. HARLEY IS APPARENTLY REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE WITH THE BIKES. THRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455951 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 ↗