2011 Harley-Davidson FLHX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
13,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 18 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 55.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.6% |
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 | 8 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Suspension:Front | 1 |
Service Brakes: 8; Tires: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2; Wheels: 2; Engine: 1; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 1; Steering: 1; Suspension:Front: 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 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 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: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 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 (13). 3 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 | 4 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2016: 5; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 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 10415325 · 2011-07-27 (July 27, 2011)
VISUAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH TAIL LIGHTS. TAIL/BRAKE/TURN SIGNALS CAN NOT BE SEEN IN DAYTIME. THE REAR END LIGHTING ON THE HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE AND ROAD GLIDE CUSTOM IS USELESS. I CAN NOT SEE HOW IT CAN POSSIBLY MEET DOT STANDARDS. THERE ARE TWO SMALL LIGHTS FOR TAIL/BRAKE/TURN SIGNALS, AND ONE LED MODULE LOW ON THE FENDER. I WAITED UNTIL THE 2012 MODEL YEAR TO SEE IF HARLEY DAVIDSON WAS GOING TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THEY DID NOT. I DON'T FEEL THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO MODIFY THEIR MOTORCYCLE TO MAKE IT SAFE TO RIDE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10415325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10422602 · 2011-08-30 (August 30, 2011)
FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. BEARING CAME APART WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70 MPH). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,279 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10422608 · 2011-08-30 (August 30, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS FRACTURING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED A LIFE THREATENING CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,279.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,279 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422608 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10422955 · 2011-09-01 (September 1, 2011)
I HAVE A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE (MODEL FLHX). I REALIZED AFTER I PURCHASED IT THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE A SEPARATE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. THE TURN SIGNALS FUNCTION AS TURN SIGNALS, RUNNING LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THOSE BEHIND ME TO DETERMINE WHEN I AM BRAKING SINCE THE TURN SIGNALS ONLY CHANGE IN INTENSITY - THEY DO NOT TURN OFF AND ON. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE THE LACK OF A BRAKE LIGHT CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING ANOTHER MOTORCYCLIST WHO WAS RIDING BEHIND ME. HE DID NOT RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10422955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459372 · 2012-05-23 (May 23, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS A STRESS FRACTURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE WINDSHIELD DESPITE THE VEHICLE BEING UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,327.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,327 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462077 · 2012-06-18 (June 18, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX MOTORCYCLE. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH DUNLOP D408F TIRES, TIRE SIZE 130/70/18. THE DOT NUMBER WAS DA4Y4B1M1712. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT TIRE WAS SEVERELY DEFECTIVE WITH NUMEROUS CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALL. THE FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS EACH TIME. THE ORIGINAL TIRE WAS INCLUDED IN ONE OF THE REPLACEMENTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,400.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10463280 · 2012-06-27 (June 27, 2012)
FRONT TIRE ON MOTORCYCLE SIDEWALL CRACKING AND SPLITTING DUNLOP D408F I HAVE HAD ONE REPLACED NOW THE 2ND TIRE IS DOING THE SAME THING. I DO NOT HAVE THE DATE CODES FOR THESE TIRES BUT THEY WERE LESS THEN A YEAR OLD. THIS IS A NEWER LINE OF TIRES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466013 · 2012-07-17 (July 17, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX EQUIPPED WITH DUNLOP D408F TIRES, SIZE 130/70/R18, DOT DA4Y. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT TIRE WAS CRACKING. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466013 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 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 ↗