2011 Harley-Davidson FLTRUSE: complaints, problems and recalls

DURING ROUTINE OPERATION, NEW TOURING MODEL MOTORCYCLES HAVE REAR CYLINDER EXHAUST HEADER PIPE THAT GENERATES EXTREME AMOUNT OF HEAT WHICH IMPACTS OPERATOR'S RIGHT UPPER INNER THIGH REGION. CONDITION IS MORE THAN A DISCOMFORT. IT HAS BECOME A DISTRACTION TO THE OPERATOR AND THUS, A HAZARD TO THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE. TO BE EPA COMPLIANT, AMONG OTHER THINGS---HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS HAD TO LEAN OUT THE FUEL/AIR MIXTURE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE MAJOR CAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS DESIGNED/INSTALLED A PLASTIC HEA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10415917 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON CBO ROAD GLIDE ULTRA MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 5 MPH WHEN THE HANDLE BARS BEGAN SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE BOTH THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE HOWEVER THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING HEAD BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE HANDLE BAR RISER BUSHING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT M…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467960 at NHTSA ↗

I TWISTED THE ACCELERATOR GRIP AND SLIPPED THE CLUTCH TO PROCEED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHEN A RED LIGHT TURNED GREEN. WHEN I GOT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION, THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE BIKE CAME TO A STOP. I THEN TRIED TO PUSH MY 900 LB. MOTORCYCLE TO THE CURB BEFORE THE LIGHT FOR OPPOSING TRAFFIC TURNED GREEN. I DIDN'T MAKE IT IN TIME AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY A VEHICLE. THE THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUES WITH HARLEY MODELS FROM 2008-2011 ARE WIDELY KNOWN AND ATTRIBUTED TO A CONDITION KNOWN AS "FRETTING" IN THE METAL CONNE…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10523595 at NHTSA ↗

AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE GOE'S INTO THE "DEATH WABBLE" IT ALSO DOES IT IN CURVES. YOUTUBE VIDEO: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=GMW6QPPXNEY

Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10918985 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRUSE (ROAD GLIDE). THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE'S REAR BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HCU WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO ROANOKE VALLEY HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO GET NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) REMEDIED HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HCU WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED PRIOR TO THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN BEING PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT T…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11081295 at NHTSA ↗

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.