2010 Harley-Davidson FLHX: complaints, problems and recalls

I OWN A 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE MOTORCYCLE. THE BIKE HAS APPROXIMATELY 13000 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE THROTTLE QUITS WORKING AND HAS NO RESPONSE WITH NO WARNING OR SYMPTOMS. THE FIRST OCCASION WAS WHEN I WAS PASSING A CAR AND THE ENGINE RPM'S WENT FROM 4000 TO IDLE AND THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEY REPLACED A SENSOR IN THE THROTTLE AND A CONNECTOR SOMEWHERE. I PICKED THE BIKE UP AND THE NEXT DAY AND RODE ABOUT 200 MILES AND THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10361329 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS RIDING, WHEN MY MOTORCYCLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND HAD TO TOW IT HOME, WHERE I DISCOVERED THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET HAD COME LOOSE. LUCKILY, I WAS RIDING SLOWLY WHEN IT HAPPENED. HAD I BEEN RIDING AT SPEED AND/OR ON A HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. I HAD TO UPGRADE TO A SCREAMING EAGLE COMPENSATOR KIT, AT MY COST, TO CORRECT THE POOR ENGINEERING OF THE ORIGINAL COMPENSATOR SPROCKET, WHICH WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,477 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378219 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR RECALL REPAIRS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 02/15/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED TWO DAYS LATER AFTER FILING THIS COMPLAINT. UPDATED 02/17/12

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442156 at NHTSA ↗

I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER BEING ASSURED THE BIKE WAS SAFE TO RIDE. I WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT A CRUNCHING NOISE AND VIBRATION WITH SLOW SPEED BRAKING. THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I GOT 10 MILES DOWN THE ROAD. MY FRONT END STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I PULLED OVER TO DISCOVER I HAD AN AXEL WITH NO BEARINGS ON THE LEFT SIDE. MY ENTIRE WHEEL AND BEARINGS HAD TO REPLACED. THE WHEEL HAD 3 TO 4 INCHES OF PLAY. I WAS RIDDING ON MY WHEEL HUB NO BEARING. UPON CHECKING THE FORUMS, I FOUND THIS WAS NOT A ISOLATED EVENT. SOME ONE IS GOING TO …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10445024 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE DEALER LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE THROTTLE WIRE SENSOR, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF FUEL CIRCULATION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 4,300 UPDATED 06/05/12 *BF

Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456421 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. HAD TO CYCLE THE IGNITION 3 TIMES TO RESET. DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD THROTTLE BODY MODULE. DEALER SAID IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IS HAPPENING FASTER THAN THEY CAN GET THE PARTS IN TO FIX. BIKE CURRENTLY HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOR 3 WEEKS AND PARTS ARE STILL ON BACK ORDER. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS NOT LISTED IT AS A RECALL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10606438 at NHTSA ↗

THE MOTORCYCLE GOES INTO LIMP HOME MODE AND THROWS SEVERAL CODES WHICH ARE ALL RELATED TO THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, RPM'S, AND THROTTLE POSITIONS. I SPOKE WITH MULTIPLE MECHANICS AND THEY ADVISED ME TO FIRST CLEAN THE CONNECTOR AT THE THROTTLE BODY. CLEANING THE CONNECTIONS WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE CODES. AFTER RIDING ABOUT 150 MILES THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN AND I ENDED UP STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. THIS TIME I COULD NOT GET THE CODES TO GO AWAY. TALKED TO M…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626557 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 50 MPH AND MY THROTTLE SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" (SHUT OFF ONE CYLINDER). I HAD TO CROSS ONE LANE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO I COULD RESTART MY BIKE. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T HEAVY TRAFFIC OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD. I SEE THAT THIS IS A TREND IN THESE BIKES AND HARLEY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 10,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10629975 at NHTSA ↗

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.

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.

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.