RoadVitals

2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
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Latest Nov 25, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes250.0%
  • Engine125.0%
  • Suspension125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC (FLHTC) MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND THE BACK TIRE LOCKED UP INTO A FISHTAIL. THE TRAILING DRIVER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN OFF THE MOTORCYCLE INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE MOTORCYCLE SKID ONTO ITS SIDE INTO THE SIDEWALK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE AND CONTINUED DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME ON A TRAILER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *DT*JB

NHTSA ID 11282117 · filed Nov 25, 2019

NHTSB SAFETY ISSUE ID 18V076000 INDICATED A BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT WOULD BE THE RESOLUTION TO THE BRAKE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS INCORRECT. LAST YEAR I HAD THE BOX THAT CONTROLS THE ABS FLUID PRESSURE REPLACED. THIS DID NOT INCLUDE CHANGING THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOARD. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONT MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. EACH TIME THE FLUID WAS REPLACED AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED BY A HARLEY CERTIFIED MECHANIC. UNFORTUNATELY I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE FRONT BRAKES EITHER NOT WORKING AND REQUIRING PUMPING, ABS TRIGGERING AND NOT DOING ANYTHING, AND 'SQUISHY' FRONT BRAKE LEVER. EACH OF THESE COME AND GO. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO HARLEY FOR REPAIR THE EXACT CAUSE IS STILL UNKNOWN. THE BRAKES APPEAR GOOD WHEN THE POWER IS OFF. AS SOON AS I TURN THE POWER ON THERE IS A NOTICEABLE RELEASE OF PRESSURE IN THE FRONT BREAK LEVER. THIS LEADS ME TO THINK THE BRAKE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL OF THE ABS.

NHTSA ID 11073221 · filed Feb 16, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

FACTORY FAILURE. INCORECT POUR OF ALUMINUM MOLD FOR ENGINE CASTING/ ENGINE BLOCK, RESULTING IN OIL LEAK. ENGINE BLOCK SWEATING OIL AND SPREADING OIL ALONG BOTTOM OF FRAME FROM FRONT TO REAR OF MOTORCYCLE. ENGINE POUROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10438518 · filed Dec 4, 2011

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID 10471614 · filed Aug 20, 2012

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .