RoadVitals

2009 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
36
Latest Mar 17, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
51%
of 70 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 36 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 36, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Mar 17, 2026

While riding my 2009 ultra classic cvc Harley davidson motorcycle the front brake level became stiff and eventually did not compress, no front brakes, while attempting to stop. The rear brake still operated normally. In an emergency, this could cause serious injury or death with front brake failing and possible rear brake failure at same time. a local repair shop inspected the brakes and attempted to bleed system and determined the ABS mudule failed. there were no warning lamp indications of ABS failure. When ABS module fails on HD motorcycles, brakes can also fail. This is a major safety issue with the braking system that shoud still operate to stop motorcycle when ABS module fails.

NHTSA ID
11725017
Incident
Feb 7, 2026
Brakes
Filed Jun 5, 2025

ABS Module failure. Brake pedal solid when depressed with no brakes available. I will request the bad module from the dealer. No brakes is an extremely dangerous condition. The motorcycle is in a Harley Davidson getting the module replaced. This catastrophic failure happened with no warnings or symptoms.

NHTSA ID
11665136
Incident
Apr 12, 2025
Brakes
Filed Nov 21, 2021

When approaching an intersection I went to apply brakes and could not because lever was frozen this resulted in my bike to coast into the intersection I was fortunate the vehicle coming was able to stop.I was told my abs system had failed and would need replaced! The issue was blamed on fluid and lack of flushing and replacement it.The fluid was replaced by dealer 5 months earlier so I’m not buying the fluid is the culprit.Bike has 12,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ID
11441177
Incident
Nov 21, 2021
Brakes
Filed Dec 3, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER COULD NOT BE PRESSED TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON EASTGATE (699 CINCINNATI POTAVIA PIKE, CINCINNATI, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE IN THE ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND THE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000(SERVICE BRAKES) IN JULY OF 2018, BUT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,176.

NHTSA ID
11155634
Incident
Nov 1, 2018
Mileage
43,176 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 18, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED TO FULLY ENGAGE AND FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH WAR HORSE HARLEY-DAVIDSON (5331 N US HWY 441, OCALA, FL 34475, 1-(352) 732-2488) AND WAS PROVIDED WITH A REMEDY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR FROM THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE, INDICATING THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11130210
Incident
Apr 2, 2018
Brakes
Filed May 4, 2018

ABS HCU SUDDENLY FAILED CAUSING FRONT BRAKE LEVER TO BECOME SO HARD IT IS ALMOST UNSQUEEZABLE. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED WHILE STATIONARY IN MY GARAGE ON INITIAL IGNITION ON CYCLE. I UNDERSTAND THINGS FAIL BUT FOR ABS TO FAIL IN A WAY TO LOOSE ALL BRAKING WITHOUT WARNING IS REDICULOUS. HOW COULD NHTSA LET HARLEY DAVIDSON BLAME THIS ON FLUID OR CONSUMER? ARE YOU IMPLYING THAT HARLEY TOURING OWNERS OF 2008-11 ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO DIDNT FLUSH BRAKE FLUID? MY FLUID WAS ALWAYS FLUSHED. ITS A DEFECTIVE MODULE. COME ON NHTSA WAKE UP!

NHTSA ID
11091997
Incident
Apr 30, 2018
Mileage
35,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 23, 2018

REAR BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE. THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED WITH FOOT. THE HARLEY RECALL ONLY CHANGES THE BRAKE FLUID WHICH IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION IS THE ABS MODULE IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. HARLEY CLAIMS A LACK OF FLUID CHANGE IS THE CAUSE. THIS A COVER UP BY HARLEY TO KEEP FROM HAVING TO REPLACE ALL OF THE ABS MODULES ON THEIR DANGEROUS MOTORCYCLES ON THE ROAD. THIS IS THE ONLY VEHICLE THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD OF THAT MUST HAVE THE BRAKE FLUID CHANGED EVERY TWO YEARS ( JUST A COVER UP BY HARLEY) THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD COST LIVES ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11089758
Incident
Mar 3, 2018
Mileage
12,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 10, 2018

WHEN TRYING TO MOVE THE BRAKE LEVER FOR FRONT BRAKE THE LEVER WAS FROZEN AND UNABLE TO MOVE. *JS

NHTSA ID
11078519
Incident
Mar 3, 2018
Mileage
59,720 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 24, 2018
Crash reported

FRONT BRAKES FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE ON HIGHWAY. BRAKE LEVER IS LOCKED OPEN AND WILL NOT MOVE. LATER THAT DAY, THE BRAKES LOCKED OPEN AGAIN WHILE IN PARKING LOT CAUSING ME TO WRECK INTO CURB AND DAMAGE FRONT FENDER.

NHTSA ID
11074665
Incident
Feb 11, 2018
Mileage
88,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 19, 2018

ABS SYSTEM FAILS TO "NO BRAKES" . I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED MY 2009 HD FROM A REPUTABLE DEALER IN HOUSTON. SO I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. WITHIN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AND PERHAPS ONLY 20 MILES THE ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED. I WENT TO DRIVE THE MOTORCYCLE ON A RECENT SUNNY DAY, AND ROLLED OUT OF MY GARAGE UNABLE TO STOP. BOTH REAR AND FRONT BRAKES ARE SOLID AND IMMOVABLE. HAD THIS OCCURRED FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. RESEARCHING RECALLS, I SEE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT ONLY REQUIRING HARLEY TO FLUSH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. REPAIR IS STILL ON THE OWNER. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. HARLEY ENGINEERING SHOULD HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY WHO HAS USED DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID WITHOUT SUCH AN ISSUE FOR DECADES. HYGROSCOPIC BRAKE FLUID IS NOT THE ISSUE, ITS THE MATERIAL CHOICE AND POTENTIALLY CATHODIC ISSUES. FOR HARLEY TO BLAME OWNERS FOR NOT FLUSHING THE FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS IS SILLY. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE BIKE 6 MONTHS. FOR THEM TO RESELL WITHOUT HAVING REPAIRED OR REPLACED THIS IS NEGLIGENT AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. NO DOUBT OTHER USED BIKE OWNERS WILL EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE ALSO AND MORE ACCIDENTS ARE IN THE MAKING. A TOTAL RECALL SHOULD BE DONE AND THE ABS VALVES REPLACED AT HD'S EXPENSE. MANY ON FORUMS ARE NOW BYPASSING THE ABS SYSTEMS TO AVOID THE EXORBITANT REPAIR BILL AND NEED TO GO TO HARLEY. THIS IS PUTTING DANGEROUS BIKES ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11073572
Incident
Feb 3, 2018
Mileage
26,520 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 10, 2018

I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL FROZE AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT SLOW OR STOP. THIS HAPPENED AROUND MARCH OF 2017. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO GATEWAY HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR REPAIRS. THE SUGGESTED THAT BECAUSE A LACK OF MAINTENANCE THE ABS MODULE FAILED. THE REPLACED THE ABS HCU, PART 48343-09 AND I PAID FOR ALL REPAIRS. MY CONCERN IS AN ABS MODULE SHOULD NOT CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN IN AN AUTOMOBILE. THE IS A DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE 2 NEWER HARLEYS WITH ABS. I CALLED HARLEY MANUFACTURING AND WAS TOLD THESE 2 NEWER MOTORCYCLES HAVE THE SAME DESIGN. EVEN WITH MAINTENANCE THESE 2 COULD HAVE A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE ABS DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE THE DEFECT ABS MODULE THAT WAS REPLACED

NHTSA ID
11072037
Incident
Mar 1, 2017
Mileage
35,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 8, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. UPON ACCELERATION AND ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL BECAME STUCK SEVERAL TIMES AND FAILED TO ENGAGE, CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE DEALER (GATEWAY HARLEY-DAVIDSON, 3600 LEMAY FERRY RD, ST LOUIS, MO 63125, (314) 845-9900) DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WAS NOT FOLLOWED REGARDING REPLACING THE FLUID FOR THE BRAKES AND THAT THE SOLUTION WAS A BRAKE FLUSH AT NO CHARGE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE DEALER WOULD PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOLUTION. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNED THE MOTORCYCLE AND STILL HAD THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID
11071704
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Mileage
36,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 29, 2017

MY WIFE AND MYSELF WAS RIDING MY 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC IN THE SEQUOIA NATIONAL FOREST IN CALIFORNIA ON HWY 198 ON JULY 5 2016 WE LEFT THE GENERAL SHERMAN TREE AREA HEADING TOWARDS THREE RIVERS CA AS WE WERE STARTED TO RIDE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN ON THE DOWN HILL WINDING ROAD WE LOST THE REAR BRAKE ON THE BIKE, THE BRAKE FOOT PEDDLE WOULD GO ALL THE WAY DOWN UNTIL IT BOTTOMED OUT AND STOPPED IT FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO BRAKE PRESSURE, I HAD TO PUMP THE FOOT BRAKE CONTINUOUSLY A FEW TIMES TO GET BRAKE PRESSURE BACK AS SOON AS I STOP PUMPING THE FOOT BRAKE IT WOULD LOSES PRESSURE AGAIN UNTIL I PUMPED IT A FEW TIMES TO GET THE PRESSURE BACK THIS CONDITION CONTINUED FOR A NUMBER OF MILES WHILE WE WENT DOWN THE CANYON, THE FRONT BRAKE WORK NORMAL AND I WAS ABLE TO USE A COMBINATION OF DOWN SHIFTING THE FRONT BRAKE AND PUMPING THE BACK BRAKE AFTER WE GOT OFF THE MOUNTAIN THE REAR BRAKE WORK NORMAL AND HAS WORKED NORMAL SINCE.

NHTSA ID
10992099
Incident
Jul 5, 2016
Mileage
60,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 8, 2017

MY MOTORCYCLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE DESCRIBED IN YOUR ODI RESUME INVETIGATION NUMBER PE 16-009. THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL FREEZES WHEN THE IGNITION IS INGAGED. I TOOK IT THE THE HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID IT IS THE ABS MODULE AND IS ON BACK ORDER FOR 10 DAYS UNTIL 3/10/2017. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY MOTORCYCLE INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION AND ANY FUTURE RECALLS FOR THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $760 FOR THIS FIX.

NHTSA ID
10959640
Incident
Feb 28, 2017
Mileage
36,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 14, 2017

VERY SERIOUS FAILURE OF ABS FRONT BRAKE. WHEN RIDING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER SEIZED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SQUEEZE YIELDING NO FRONT BRAKES. AT THIS DATE NHTSA HAS 88 COMPLAINTS FILED FOR THE HD ABS MODULE FAILURE, SOME RESULTING IN CRASHES. HARLEY DAVIDSON SAYS FLUID HAS TO BE CHANGED EVERY 2 YEARS TO PREVENT MOISTURE BUILD UP. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING AMONG THE MILLIONS OF ABS VEHICLES IN USE. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME THAT THE NHTSA HAS NOT DEMANDED A RECALL OR OWNER NOTIFICATIONS TO BE MAILED OUT. WHEN I OPERATE A VEHICLE I EXPECT IT TO COMPLY WITH ALL SAFETY REGULATIONS AND KNOWN PROBLEMS BE SCRUTINIZED BY THE NHTSA. WHERE IS THE SAFETY IN NHTSA WHEN NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE WITH THE KNOWN PROBLEMS AND COMPLAINTS SINCE 2008? DOES IT TAKE A DEATH TO GET A RECALL. IF TWO GM CARS EXPERIENCE A COLUMN LOCK WHILE DRIVING OR IN A JEEP AN OPERATOR ERROR FAILS PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, THERE IS A MASSIVE RECALL AND DEMANDED OWNER NOTIFICATIONS. THIS IS EXTREMELY SERIOUS AND DEMANDS ACTION!

NHTSA ID
10954616
Incident
Feb 11, 2017
Mileage
31,900 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 18, 2017

"FRONT BRAKE LEVER FROZE WITH NO WARNING WHILE RIDING IT HOME ON THE HIGHWAY ' FORTUNATELY FOR ME, MY REAR BRAKES STILL WORKED FINE, OR I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT."

NHTSA ID
10946153
Incident
Nov 1, 2016
Mileage
35,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 26, 2016

EXITING INTERSTATE FRONT BRAKE LEVER INOPERATIVE. TOTAL LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES AS I APPROACHED INTERSECTION. BACK BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. CONTINUED HOME CHECKED FOR LEAKS, NONE. FLUID FULL. MASTER CYLINDER WORKING, BUT NO FLUID @ CALIPERS. STILL CANNOT DEPRESS BRAKE LEVER. WAS INFORMED MAYBE ABS MODULE HOWEVER STILL SHOULDN'T CAUSE TOTAL FAILURE. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID
10937459
Incident
Dec 23, 2016
Mileage
12,545 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR ABS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10924953
Incident
Oct 18, 2016
Mileage
60,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 13, 2016
Crash reported

WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WOULD NOT COMPRESS SO THE MOTORCYCLE ONLY HAD BACK BRAKES. IT CONTRIBUTED TO A COLLISION WITHOUT INJURIES. I'M TOLD IT IS BECAUSE THE ABS FAILED. I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HAD HAPPENED AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION SO THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THE POLICE REPORT. IT SHOULD HAVE FAILED "SAFE" WHICH MEANS THAT THE ABS SHOULD HAVE "SWITCHED OFF" SO THAT THE BRAKES WOULD STILL FUNCTION BUT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. I STILL CANNOT COMPRESS THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER. ..UPDATED 02/10/17 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID
10915783
Incident
Sep 8, 2016
Mileage
40,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 12, 2016

WHILE RIDING AND COMMING TO A STOP SIGN REAR BRAKE PEDDEL GOT VERY HARD TO PUSH DOWN RESULTING IN NO REAR BRAKES, STIL HAD FRONT BRAKES. TOOK TO HARLEY SHOP AND THEY DIAGNOISED THAT THE ABS MODULE HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT TOOK 2.5 WEEKS TO GET THE NEW MODULE IN AS HATRLEY DAVIDSON HAD NONE IN THEIR SYSTEM. WHAT BOTHERE ME THE MOST IS THAT WE WERE TOLD WHEN WE BOUGTH THE BIKES WITH ABS THAT IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THE BABS UNIT WE WOULD HAVE REGULAR BRAKES WITCH WAS NOT TRUE AS I HAD NO REAR BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
10915518
Incident
Sep 17, 2016
Mileage
103,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 28, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HANDLES AND FRONT BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WHEN APPLIED. A REPAIR SHOP RECOMMENDED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE BE TAKEN TO A DEALER AND PERFORMED AN INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,796. UPDATED 12/21/16*LJ THE DEALER REPAIRED THE MOTORCYCLE AT NO CHARGE. UPDATED 12/27/16.*JB

NHTSA ID
10910145
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Mileage
16,796 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 23, 2016

DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HWY WHEN II WENT TO APPLY BRAKES THE FRONT BRAKE HANDLE WOULD NOT WORK. WOULDN'T COMPRESS. .JUST MISSED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND SLOW THE BIKE DOWN BEFORE I CAME TO A DRAINAGE DITCH. THIS IS INSANITY. NO WARNING NO MECHANICAL TAKE OVER. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HURT OR MAYBE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS IS NOT NORMAK . WHERE IS CONSUMER PROTECTION? WHERE IS CUSTOMER AWARENESS OR CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION. MAYBE NEXT TIME I WON'T BE SO LUCKY. HAVING IT TOWED TO TREASUR COAST TOMOROW. DISAPPOINTED IN HARLEY

NHTSA ID
10898031
Incident
Aug 22, 2016
Mileage
7,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 9, 2016

WHEN I RODE MY MOTORCYCLE TO WORK IN THE MORNING MY FRONT BRAKES WORKED FINE. WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE DOWN THE INTERSTATE HOME FROM WORK, I WENT TO APPLY MY FRONT BRAKES AND FOUND THE BRAKE LEVER ON THE HANDLE BAR WAS FROZEN. THE MOTOR CYCLE IS IN MY GARAGE AND I STILL CANNOT APPLY THE FRONT BRAKE.

NHTSA ID
10894278
Incident
Jul 24, 2016
Mileage
43,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 12, 2016

I OWN AND OPERATE A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU ULTRA CLASSIC. WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY, EXITED ON THE OFF RAMP AND TRIED TO USE MY BRAKES TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LEVERS WERE HARD AS A ROCK (INOPERATIVE) AND WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT FUNCTION TO STOP THE BIKE. I IMMEDIATELY DOWN SHIFTED AND KILLED THE ENGINE AT A SLOW SPEED TO STOP THE BIKE. I CONTACTED A FRIEND TO BRING A TRAILER TO RETURN THE BIKE TO THE HOUSE. THE MALFUNCTION OF THE ABS BRAKES OCCURRED WITHOUT NOTICE AND IT IS A HAZARDOUS CONDITION. WHEN I CONTACTED THE LOCAL HD DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY SUCH MALFUNCTION ON MY 2009 FLHTCU (EVEN THOUGH THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED A FEW OF THEM). THEY ALSO ADVISED THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS. WHEN I SPOKE WITH OTHER HARLEY OWNERS, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HD BIKES BEGINNING IN 2008 WHEN ABS BRAKES WERE FIRST INTRODUCED BUT THE MANUFACTURER, HARLEY DAVIDSON, DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION WHICH COSTS OVER $1,000.00 TO REPAIR. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. BRAKE FAILURE CAN HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES AND CAN RESULT IN A CASUALTY BECAUSE FAILURE TO STOP ON A TWO WHEEL VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND CAN BE DEADLY.

NHTSA ID
10884215
Incident
Nov 11, 2015
Mileage
9,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PUT HIS FEET DOWN AND SLOWED TO A HALT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS BLOCK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ID
10884058
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
17,000 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.

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