2011 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUTG: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
575 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 9 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 33.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 22.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 11.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Wheels: 2; Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Tires: 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 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 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). 4 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 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10436558 · 2011-11-21 (November 21, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454903 · 2012-04-11 (April 11, 2012)
THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE RUNS EXTREMELY HOT ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC AND HOT WEATHER. THE CONDITION WILL ACTUALLY CAUSE MILD BURNS TO LEGS DURING RIDING. MANY CASES HAVE BEEN NOTED ON LINE IN DIFFERENT FORUMS AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERS. SOME RESOLVE TO PROBLEM HAS BEEN DONE BY CHANGING HEADER EXHAUST PIPES WITHOUT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND CHANGING THE FUEL MIXTURE TO RICHER ADJUSTMENTS TO RUN COOLER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 575 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457976 · 2012-05-10 (May 10, 2012)
AFTER A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF RIDING USUALLY 10-30 MINUTES, THE HEAT IS SO INTENSE COMING OFF THE ENGINE THAT IT WILL BURN MY LEG. HARLEY REPS SAY THIS IS NORMAL! HOW CAN THIS BE NORMAL? I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO DISCONNECT THE CONVERTER WHICH IS ILLEGAL AND EXPENSIVE. THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10457976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10473737 · 2012-09-04 (September 4, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON TRIKE FLHTCUTG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BLOCK AND THE ELECTRICAL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42.
Owner-reported narrative. 42 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10482753 · 2012-10-31 (October 31, 2012)
WHILE ON A RIDE WITH MY WIFE ON A COUNTY ROAD IN IDAHO I STARTED FEELING A VIBRATION. WITHIN 5 SEC. THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF MY HARLEY TRI-GLIDE CAME OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. THE BIKE SLIDE INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC AND INTO A DITCH. THE TIRE TRAVELED APPOX. 50 YARDS DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE STOPPING. I HAD NEVER REMOVED THE TIRES SINCE I PURCHASED THE BIKE FROM THE LONE WOLF HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER IN SPOKANE VALLEY WASHINGTON. WE HAVE RESEARCHED OTHER TRI-GLIDE OWNERS TO LEARN THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10482753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10521801 · 2013-06-25 (June 25, 2013)
DRIVING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY PUT ON BRAKES TO EXIT AT OFFRAMP BIKE DIES COMPLETE SHUT OFF NO THROTTLE NO ANYTHING COAST TO STOP ON OFF RAMP BIKE WILL NOT START AT ALL TROUBLE CODE P1511 WHICH IS THE THROTTLE MANAGMENT SYSTEM IS DEAD 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED FIRST TIME WAS AT 30 MPH AFTER SITTING BIKE STATRTED AGAIN THIS IS HAPPING TO ALL EFI HARLEY DAVIDSONS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,064 miles reported. Look up ODI 10521801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10534542 · 2013-08-09 (August 9, 2013)
ON JULY 7, 2013, WHILE TRAVELING EASTBOUND IN THE LEFTHAND LANE OF US HIGHWAY 64 JUST OUTSIDE NASHVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, WELL BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON TRI-GLIDE (MODEL FLHTCUTG) DETACHED AND SWERVED AWAY FROM THE TRI-GLIDE. THE TRI-GLIDE VEERED LEFT OFF THE ROAD, STRIKING THE LEFT SIDE GUARD RAIL, EJECTING BOTH THE HELMETED DRIVER AND THE HELMETED PASSENGER OVER THE GUARD RAIL. THE DRIVER, DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF HIS INJURIES, DIED AND THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED. THE DETACHED LEFT REAR TIRE S…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10534542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10653696 · 2014-11-09 (November 9, 2014)
THE EXHAUST BURNS MY LEG WHEN I STOP FOR A LIGHT OR ANYTHING ELSE. $35,000.00 AND CANT USE IT WHEN AMBIENT TEMP IS ABOVE 80 UNLESS I WANT TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL WITH 2ND DEGREE BURNS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10653696 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 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 ↗