Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Oct 28, 2019
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Mar 24, 2012
What this page shows
Our database holds 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhr. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–9 of 9
Brakes
Filed Oct 28, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA (FLHR) MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH SIGNIFIED THAT THE MORTORCYCLE DID NOT HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING ABILITY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,875.
NHTSA ID
11271643
Incident
Oct 21, 2019
Mileage
15,875 mi
Filed Jun 10, 2019
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported
THE SADDLE BAG FELL OFF WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE MOTORCYCLE BEHIND IT CAUSING THE RIDER TO COME OFF AT 100 KM/HOUR. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE SADDLE BAG HAS COME OFF. THE PREVIOUS TIME, IT WAS THE OTHER SIDE SO THE OWNER OF THIS MOTORCYCLE WAS EXTRA CAREFUL TO BE SURE THE BAGS WERE LATCHED PROPERLY PRIOR TO THE TRIP. IN OUR GROUP OF ABOUT 12 RIDERS, TWO OTHER MOTORCYCLISTS HAVE HAD HD SADDLEBAGS FALL OFF. WHEN I SPOKE TO OUR LOCAL DEALER, HE SAID HE'S HAD LOTS OF COMPLAINTS WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE THEIR SADDLE BAG REPLACED BECAUSE IT FELL OFF GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND GOT SCURFFED UP.I'VE REPORTED THE ACCIDENT TO HARLEYDAVIDSON.I AM WORRIED PEOPLE WILL DIE DUE TO THIS DEFECT.THEY ARE SELF REGULATING, SO I AM VERY VERY CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE NOT DOING A RECALL EVEN THOUGH LIVES ARE AT RISK.THEY WOULD NOT TELL ME HOW MANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS THEY HAVE RECEIVED, NOR WOULD THEY TELL ME HOW MANY THEY WOULD GET BEFORE DECIDING THEY SHOULD DO A VOLUNTARY RECALL. THERE NEEDS TO BE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT ON THIS SORT OF THING, BECAUSE OF COURSE HARLEY DAVIDSON IS NOT GOING TO WANT TO ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND IT WAS VEY CLEAR TO ME THAT THE RISK POSED BY THESE BAGS WAS NOT GETTING THE ATTENTION IT DESERVED. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS UNDER REPORTED, BECAUSE PEOPLE ASSUME THEY MUST HAVE FORGOT TO ATTACH IT WHEN FACT THE ATTACHEMENTS ARE FAULTY. ALSO, I THOUGHT BY REPORTING IT TO HD THAT THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD KNOW ABOUT IT TOO, BECAUSE I ASSUMED HD WOULD BE OBLIGATED TO PASS ON THE REPORT TO THE TRAFFIC SAFETY BOARD. THEY DO NOT. THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE A HD MECHANIC ASSESS IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND IS ENDANGERING LIVES!*DT MORE PICS OF INJURIES AND HELMET.*JB
NHTSA ID
11219095
Incident
Aug 15, 2018
Mileage
6,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 27, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHR (ROAD KING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) WAS PERFORMED ON MARCH 11, 2018 AT QUEEN CITY HARLEY-DAVIDSON (5960 DIXIE HIGHWAY FAIRFIELD, OHIO 45014 PHONE 513-874-4343) HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM BY FAILING TO PUT THE MOTORCYCLE DATA PORT SERVICE PROCESS AS FOUND. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,064.
NHTSA ID
11081438
Incident
Mar 11, 2018
Mileage
68,064 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 28, 2017
HEADLIGHTS AND PASSING LAMPS FLICKER ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AT NIGHT. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO WIRING FOR THE HEADLIGHT AND PASSING LAMPS. HAPPENS WHEN YOU TURN THE HANDLEBARS LEFT OR RIGHT. HAPPENS SITTING STILL AND WHILE MOTORCYCLE IS IN MOTION.
NHTSA ID
11001841
Incident
Jun 30, 2016
Mileage
27,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 7, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHR ROAD KING. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH APPROACHING A CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC JAM, THE REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP WHEN APPLIED AND THE FRONTAL BRAKE LEVELER WAS VERY HARD TO APPLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO COAST BETWEEN THE LANES OF TRAFFIC UNTIL THE FRONTAL BRAKE ENGAGED AND CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT PUSHED THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE RIGHT LANE THAT WAS CLOSED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DRIVEN HOME SLOWLY. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ABS FAILURE AND THE ENTIRE ABS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS AT THE DEALER BEING REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. ...UPDATED 05/03/17 *BF *AS
NHTSA ID
10971085
Incident
Mar 27, 2017
Mileage
64,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 5, 2015
Crash reported
WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGH THE FRONT BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL AFTER GETTING STOPPED AND PARKING THE BIKE, THE BREAK LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS PULLING ON THE BREAK IT LOOSENED UP SO I RODE BIKE TO REPAIR SHOP. EVERY TIME THE FRONT BREAK WOULD ENGAGE (WHICH WAS NOT EVERY TIME), IT WOULD CATCH AND LOCK UP THE FRONT TIRE CAUSING ME TO DROP THE BIKE ONCE. REPAIR SHOP SAID THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM WAS NOT WORKING. HARLEY CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO ALLOW THEM TO FIX IF BUT THAT IT WOULD BE AT THEIR NORMAL RATE FOR PARTS AND SERVICE. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS AWARE THEY HAVE RECALLED THE SAME BIKE FOR MANY YEARS BUT NOT FOR THE 2011 MODEL AND THAT IT APPEARS THAT IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER BIKES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE IS APPRECIATED.
NHTSA ID
10723670
Incident
May 26, 2015
Mileage
62,232 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 8, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHR ROAD KING. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE. THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. ...UPDATED 02/11/15 *BF
NHTSA ID
10670897
Incident
May 26, 2014
Mileage
33,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 25, 2014
1 injury reported
RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE OVERHEATING TO THE POINT OF BURNING MY PANTS AND LEGS. COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A $20K BIKE. HARLEY STATES THAT IS IS NORMAL. THERE IS NOTHING NORMAL FOR A RIDER TO BURN HIS/HER LEGS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10616320
Incident
Jul 24, 2014
Mileage
7,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 24, 2012
HARLEY HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH REAR BRAKES. THIS BIKE WAS BRAND NEW THEY FAILED TO ADDRESS IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE INSTABILITY TO A NEW DRIVER. WITH 53 YEARS RIDING EXPERIENCE I GOT THE BIKE TO A HALT. THIS PROBLEM IS SYSTEM WIDE AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH RECALL. HARLEY REFUSES TO WARRANTY THIS ITEM EVEN ON NEW BIKES. IT DOES NOT HAVE ANY RELATIONSHIP TO MOTOR MOUNTS BUT TO DEFECTIVE DISKS, PADS OR ALIGNMENT WHEEL TABS (WELDED) ON THE REAR WHEEL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO A NEW RIDER. *TR
NHTSA ID
10452886
Incident
Jun 29, 2011
Mileage
15 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.