2010 Harley-Davidson Flhtc

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.

I WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH IN 5TH GEAR WHEN MY MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING, AND THE CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY WENT INTO LIMP-MODE AND WOULD NOT TRAVEL ANY FASTER THAN 25 MPH. I WAS NEAR A SERVICE STATION, SO I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO RETURN HOME TRAVELING 25 MPH, AS FRUSTRATED CARS FOLLOWED CLOSE BEHIND ME. MY HARLEY DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY WIRING THAT TRIGGERED THE LIMP-MODE SENSOR.

NHTSA ID

11543165

Incident

Aug 27, 2023

I HAD BEEN RIDING FOR UNDER FIVE MINUTES, CITY TRAFFIC, SPEED LIMIT 25MPH. AS I SLOWED FOR A TURNING CAR MY REAR BRAKE FAILED BY THE PEDAL LOCKING. I CONTROLLED THE STOP AND RETURNED HOME. I'VE NOW BEEN TOLD THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED AND THE REPAIR COST ARE TO BE AROUND 900.00. I FIND IT INCREDIBLY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A MODULE FAILURE DEFAULTS TO A TOTAL LACK OF BRAKES! ONE MIGHT BE INCLINED TO THINK YOUD LOSE ABS FUNCTION, NOT TOTAL BRAKING!

NHTSA ID

11210508

Incident

May 20, 2019

Mileage

24,000 mi

WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE FRONT BRAKE WAS HARD AND WOULD NOT COMPRESS LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE COMING DOWN ROAD. IT RESULTED IN ME CRASHING MY BIKE IN THE ROADWAY.

NHTSA ID

10984573

Incident

Apr 29, 2017

Mileage

25,000 mi

WHILE RIDE ABOUT 65 MPH ON MAJOR HWY WITH LOTS OF TRAFFIC. THE BIKE JUST LOST POWER, MOTOR WENT INTO IDLE OR LIMP HOME MODE. RIDING IN LEFT LANE, WITH SHOULDER ONLY ABOUT 2 FOOT WIDE, I COULD NOT PULL OVER TO LEFT SHOULDER. WITH TRAFFIC PASSING ME @65 TO 70 MPH I WAS DOWN TO 15 MPH BEFORE I HAD ENOUGH CLEAR TRAFFIC BEFORE I COULD CHANGE LANES TO GET TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. TRAFFIC BEHIND ME PARTICULAR A 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME ALMOST CAME TO A STOP TO KEEP FROM RUNNING OVER ME. I HAVE FOUND OUT FROM FRIENDS AND HD FORUMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THIS MODEL BIKE, FROM 08 THRU 12 IF SOME ONE IS IN THE WRONG PLACE GOING UP OR DOWN A HILL, GOING THRU INTERSECTION OR ON MAJOR HWY WHEN THIS OCCURS DEATH OR INJURY COULD OCCUR. HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TT418A ON FIXING THE (TBW) THROTTLE BY WIRE, EITHER THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR OR THE SENSOR WIRING. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AND NEEDS TOBE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR INJURED .

NHTSA ID

10780882

Incident

Oct 3, 2015

Mileage

45 mi

SPROCKET ASSEMBLY HAS FAILED 2 TIMES.DEALER IS FIXING AT OWN EXPENSE WITH NEW IMPROVED SCREAMING EAGLE VERSION THAT WAS DEVELOPED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THIS NOW COMES STANDARD ON 20121 AND BEYOND MODELS. COULD CAUSE FATALITIES IF FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HD PUTS ON NEW BIKES BUT WILL NOT FIX PREVIOUS MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10523534

Incident

Jul 6, 2012

Mileage

9,000 mi

MY 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTC, AFTER ONLY 1025 MILES, EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS MECHANICAL BREAK DOWN IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE MAIN SHAFT BROKE. THIS IS A MAJOR COMPONENT TO THE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES (MAINLY HARLEYS) FOR THE PAST 34 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN ON A BIKE AFTER THOUSANDS OF MILES, LET ALONE ON ONE THAT WAS ONLY A MONTH OLD. I WAS LUCKY THAT WHEN IT BROKE, I WAS STOPPED AT MY MAIL BOX. IF THIS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AT GREATER SPEEDS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. AFTER HAVING IT TRANSPORTED TO THE DEALER, THEY INFORMED ME OF THE PROBLEM, OF WHICH I DIDN'T REALIZE WAS THAT SERIOUS AT THE TIME. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IS A SERIOUS MECHANICAL DEFECT AND SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO ALL HALEY-DAVIDSON OWNERS WITH THIS SIMILAR TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN 4 DAYS SINCE THIS INCIDENT AND ALL I KNOW IS THAT THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION AND SEND IT BACK TO THE FACTORY WITH NO EXPLANATION OF WHY IT FAILED. THEY HAVE PROMISED TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW ONE, WHICH IS THE SAME TYPE. HOW DO I KNOW IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SAME TYPE OF DEFECT? I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS INVESTIGATION BY SOMEONE THAT DEALS WITH VEHICLE MECHANICAL FAILURES THAT WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. I HAVE EVEN SPOKE WITH THE FACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM, EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343700

Incident

Jul 13, 2010

Mileage

1,025 mi

EXCESSIVE ENGINE AND EXHAUST HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10296882

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

6 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.