2010 Harley-Davidson Flhrc

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation in July 2016 based on forty-three (43) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ).During the course of this investigation ODI received a total of 145 VOQs related to the alleged defect on the subject motorcycles.Owners allege they experience a sudden and complete loss of brakes on one or both wheels.To better understand the cause of the braking issue on the subject motorcycles, ODI requested NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) conduct inspections and testing of affected vehicle braking systems.Through its work, VRTC determined that deposits were forming on the valves in the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) of the Antilock Braking System (ABS). These deposits could prevent the proper function of the HCU and render the brakes ineffective.To understand why deposits were forming in the HCU, Harley Davidson completed an analysis of the Dow 460 brake fluid used as original equipment on the subject motorcycles and determined that it had stability issues if left in the brake system for an extended period of time.Harley Davidson found that if a brake fluid flush was not conducted as outlined in the owner?s manual for the motorcycles, and was left in the system for a period of time beyond their recommendation; deposits could form in the HCU.Through further testing, Harley Davidson identified an alternate, commercially available, brake fluid that did not have the same stability issues as the original fluid and could stop the proliferation of any current brake system deposits.ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to Harley Davidson and Dow Chemical (the supplier of the brake fluid on the subject motorcycles) to collect information about the subject bikes and the alleged defect.Harley Davidson responded in full on Sept 30, 2016 and Dow responded with a confidential submission on October 25, 2017.ODI analyzed the information contained in both IR responses and concluded that motorcycles manufactured during Model Years (MY) 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 were failing at a rate greater than their peers.Based on this analysis and the brake fluid study conducted by Harley Davidson, a group of motorcycles was identified that were potentially affected by the instability of the original brake fluid.2008 marked the introduction of ABS on Harley Davidson motorcycles and a change in the Dow 460 brake fluid used in the 2012 MY vehicles provided the bases for the scope of the affected population.With recall action 18V-076 taken by Harley Davidson this investigation is closed as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/ using the complaint identification numbers attached to this resume.

ABS REAR BRAKE FAILURE. MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PRESS AND RESULTED IN ABSOLUTELY NO REAR BRAKE. ALMOST RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THERE IS NOW A RECALL TO FLUSH THE SYSTEM WITH NEW BRAKE FLUID TO SUPPOSEDLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NO VEHICLE WITH ABS SHOULD JUST FAIL WITHOUT AT LEAST REVERTING TO STANDARD BRAKING. THE ABS LIGHT IS BASICALLY USELESS. THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW HOW MANY LIVES THIS ISSUE MAY HAVE CLAIMED OR WILL DO SO IN THE FUTURE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND POORLY DESIGNED ABS SYSTEM. A DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE, CONSIDERING THE RECALL INVOLVES OVER 200,000 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES WITH ABS! THERE ALMOST IS CERTAINLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS MODULE, THE CONTROLLER OR BOTH! NO, I DID NOT CHANGE THE FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS. I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE USED AND DID NOT RECEIVE THE MANUAL. HOWEVER, TO BLAME THE OWNER FOR THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE ON THE MOCO'S PART AS WELL. WHY DOESN'T THE MACHINE REVERT TO STANDARD BRAKING RATHER THAN NO BRAKES PERIOD? BRAKE FLUID SHOULD BYPASS THAT MODULE. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT, I WILL PROBABLY BE STUCK WITH AT LEAST THE COST OF A NEW ABS MODULE. IS THIS BRAKE FLUID FLUSH WHAT THE NHTSA REFERS TO AS A FREE AND SAFE SOLUTION TO A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE? EVEN IF THE BRAKE FLUID IS FLUSHED EVERY TWO YEARS, WHAT WILL PREVENT A NO BRAKE SITUATION IF A MODULE OR CONTROLLER FAILS? BOTH HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THE NHTSA (TWO ORGANIZATIONS I USED TO RESPECT) SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THIS RIDICULOUS 'SOLUTION' TO A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. UNLIKE, HD I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT WILL MOST LIKE BE RECOMMENDED ALONG WITH THE FREE FLUID FLUSH KNOWING THAT I MIGHT SELL A DEATH MACHINE. APPARENTLY, HD AND THE NHTSA FEEL DIFFERENTLY. STILL, I AM VERY INTERESTED IN YOUR RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11079476

Incident

Jan 10, 2018

Mileage

7,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC FLHRC. ON FEBRUARY 14, 2018, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD REPLACE THE FLUID, HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE ABS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ID

11074065

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

12,000 mi

REAR BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO ABS MODULE FAILURE. HARLEY STATES THAT NOT REPLACING THE BRAKE FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS IS THE ROOT CAUSE, THE FLUID ON MY CYCLE HAS BEEN CHANGED OUT IN ROUGHLY THAT INTERVAL IN MY GARAGE. IF FAILURE IS DUE TO HYGROSCOPIC FLUID THEN A SIMPLE 2YEAR INTERVAL MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO CAPTURE INSTANCES WHERE THE FLUID COMES INTO MORE WATER THAN NORMAL - FOR INSTANCE I COMMUTE IN THE RAIN AND LIVE IN A HUMID ENVIRONMENT. CHIEF CONCERN IS THAT THE BRAKE MODULE FAILS IN STATE WHERE THE BRAKES DON'T FUNCTION VERSUS ONLY THE ABS NOT FUNCTIONING AS WOULD BE TYPICAL FAILURE MODE, NO NOTICE WAS PROVIDED THAT HIGH MOISTURE CLIMATE CAN LEAD TO UNEXPECTED BRAKE FAILURE. FAILURE OCCURRED DURING DAILY COMMUTE IN HOUSTON, TX. FRONT BRAKES CONTINUED FUNCTIONING NORMALLY WHILE THE REAR BRAKE WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL.

NHTSA ID

10915567

Incident

Sep 14, 2016

Mileage

58,000 mi

10/27/09, DRIVING 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON 110 SCREAMING EAGLE (FLHTCUSE5), AT APPROX 20 MPH. ENGAGED CLUTCH TO STOP AND IT HAD NO EFFECT, BIKE CONTINUED UNDER POWER. UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, SLAMMED ON BREAKS AND BIKE STALLED, IN TRAFFIC. UPON RESTARTING, UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE FORWARD MOTION, HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AT INTERSECTIONS TO RETURN 1 ' 2 MILES HOME. DEALERSHIP HAD NO IDEA WHAT COULD CAUSE. SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH FOUND COMMON PROBLEM WITH HD 110 SCREAMING EAGLE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH. BLEEDING AIR BUBBLES FROM CLUTCH SEEMS TO REMEDY, BUT AN EXCESSIVELY LONGER PROCESS TO ACCOMPLISH RESULT IS REQUIRED, MUCH MORE THAN USUAL OR HD TECHNICIANS ARE TRAINED FOR. COMMON PROBLEM, VERY DANGEROUS, NO KNOWN SERVICE BULLETINS. VEHICLE MODEL TYPE NOT AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE: MODEL FLHTCUSE5. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290019

Incident

Oct 27, 2009

Mileage

308 mi

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 26.0.2): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). New Software Update Version 26.0.2. Release Date: Week of November 18, 2025. New Features, Changes. 2026 Vehicles, 2025 Softail and LiveWire S2DM/MH/AP EV3. NOTE: Digital Technician II (DT II) supports additional Harley-Davidson motorcycle models and model years outside of those listed.

SERVICE BULLETIN M1391A (REVU): MIDTRONICS GRX-3110 AND DCA-8000 SOFTWARE. PURPORSE: Revision U. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the dealer network that a software update to the GRX-3110 and DCA-8000 is now available. DYNAMIC DIAGNOSTIC CHARGER SYSTEM (PART NUMBER: DCA-8000). [Rev U] Added: Description of improvements made to the testing algorithm for GRX software Version P and DCA-8000 software Version E.

GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1171 (REV B): SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR SCREAMIN EAGLE PRO STREET TUNER. PURPOSE: Revision B. Updated: Summary. The App has returned to the Apple App Store. This bulletin informs dealers that a recent software update to the Screamin' Eagle Pro Street Tuner application will require the use of a Personal Computer (PC) to complete a Bluetooth Communication Interface (BCI) firmware update.

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 25.8.9): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). New Software Update Version 25.8.9 Release Date: Week of September 2, 2025. Changes: LiveWire 2024 S2MH: Removal of incorrect Electro Hydraulic Control Unit (EHCU) reflash support; EHCU Module (Part No. 41100123): Addressed issue where module became unrecoverable after failed reflash attempted. NOTE: Digital Technician II (DT II) supports additional Harley-Davidson motorcycle models and model years outside of those listed.

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 25.8.7): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). New Software Update Version 25.6.4, Release Date: Week of August 19, 2025. Includes New Features and Changes for the Models & Model Years listed. NOTE: Digital Technician II (DT II) supports additional Harley-Davidson motorcycle models and model years outside of those listed.

SERVICE BULLETIN M1391A (REV T): MIDTRONICS GRX-3110 AND DCA-8000 SOFTWARE. PURPORSE: Revision T. The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the dealer network that a software update to the GRX-3110 and DCA-8000 is now available. DYNAMIC DIAGNOSTIC CHARGER SYSTEM (PART NUMBER: DCA-8000). [Rev T] Updated: New Software Update, Previous Software Updates and DCA-8000. Added: 192-210335P. Software update 192-210335P for GRX-3110 and DCA-800 to add new battery part numbers.