2010 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu Owner Complaints

I PURCHASED A 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC LAST JUNE. I WAS RIDING HOME LAST WEEK AND WENT TO USE THE REAR BREAK PEDAL AND THE BRAKE WAS ROCK HARD. I SCHEDULED A SERVICE TO DIAGNOIS THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THE ABS MODULE CAN CAUSE THE ISSUE. I WAS NOTIFIED TODAY THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE FLUID CHANGE. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE ONGOING WITH NUMEROUS HARLEYS FROM THE YEAR 2009-2014. THIS ISSUE OF A HARD PETAL WHILE RIDING HOME COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY DEATH AS THEY DID FUNCTION CORRECT ON THE WAY TO HARLEY DEALER AND FAILED ON MY RIDE HOME. THIS PART SHOULD BE COVERED BY HARLEY AS THIS COULD RESULT IN DEATH.

NHTSA ID

11519295

Incident

Apr 12, 2023

on Saturday 8/20/22 i was driving to work when i got in the parking lot i lost throttle control it went to limp mode. shut bike off started it back up worked fine. after work i was riding home got bout 2 mile my engine light came on and i lost power to my throttle. it would not rev up. shut bike off for few seconds it ran fine the rest of the way home. this is very dangerous if someone would of been behind me i could of been hit..ive see a lot of forums with thesame issues. this was the first time it happened to me. ive only had the bike since 6/17/22. called talked to a harley store they said it could be my tps (throttle positioning sensor). this issue need to have a recall this could cause a major accident. bike has 63,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11481105

Incident

Aug 20, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO BLUE RIDGE HARLEY-DAVIDSON (2002 13TH AVE DR. SE, HICKORY, NC 28602) WHERE THE RECALL WAS REPAIRED ALONG WITH SOME OTHER UNKNOWN BRAKE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE REPAIRS THAT HE PAID FOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,250. *LN *TT

NHTSA ID

11097969

Incident

May 5, 2018

Mileage

21,250 mi

REAR BRAKES WOULD NOT OPERATE. I WAS RIDING AND WHEN I WENT TO APPLY THE REAR BRAKES, IT WAS AS IF I WAS AS IF THE PEDAL WAS FROZE AND NO STOP AT ALL. THE FRONT DID WORK BUT THE REAR WAS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. FLUSHING THE BRAKE SYSTEM DID NOT WORK AND I ENDED UP REPLACE THE ABS BRAKE MODULE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IN THE OWNERS MANUAL IT STATES IF THE ABS SYSTEM FAILS YOU WILL STILL HAVE ADEQUATE BRAKING OTHER THAN ANTI-LOCK. THAT IS NOT CORRECT....THE ABS MODULE CAN FREEZE AND NOT LET ANY BRAKE FLUID GO TO THE REAR BRAKES.

NHTSA ID

11073800

Incident

Jan 17, 2018

Mileage

70,000 mi

ABS MODULE FAILURE AT SPEED. HD STATES THAT WITH ABS FAILURE, BRAKES ARE OPERABLE WITHOUT ABS FEATURE. REAR PEDAL HAS NO RESISTANCE AND FRONT LEVER IS LOCKED. BRAKE OPERATION IS NORMAL WITH SWITCH OFF, BUT WITH BIKE RUNNING OR SWITCH IN ON POSITION, SYMPTOMS RETURN.

NHTSA ID

11039230

Incident

Oct 16, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

FRONT BRAKE LEVER LOCKED UP, NO FRONT BRAKES. INVESTIGATED HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. FOUND THAT HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WAS NOT ALLOWING FLUID TO FLOW, THEREBY CAUSING FRONT BRAKES NOT TO APPLY. INVESTIGATED CONCERN ON HARLEY FORUM THAT I AM A MEMBER OF, MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS CONCERN. I AM REQUESTING THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY BE INVESTIGATED AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11019863

Incident

Aug 19, 2017

Mileage

38,505 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WERE DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A PAVEMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, RIBS, LEFT FOOT, NECK AND LEFT LUNG INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE CRASH SCENE TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V506000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 08/30/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10884028

Incident

May 21, 2011

Mileage

9,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ACCELERATION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. ...UPDATED 07/13/16 *BF

NHTSA ID

10873475

Incident

Jun 8, 2016

Mileage

26,000 mi

I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE AND EXITING THE FREEWAY RAMP DISCOVERED I HAD NO REAR BRAKES. COULD NOT DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, LIKE IT WAS FROZEN. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ABS MODULE. IF ABS FAILS IT SHOULD GO TO NON ABS BRAKES (FAIL SAFE) INSTEAD OF NO BRAKES. ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS PROBLEM CAUSES LOSS OF LIFE

NHTSA ID

10863506

Incident

Apr 30, 2016

Mileage

24,000 mi

WHILE RIDING BIKE AND TRIED TO STOP ON A CITY STREET. REAR BRAKE PEDAL WENT ROCK HARD AND WOULD NOT ACTIVATE THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER. CHECKED REAR CALIPER TO SEE IF IT WAS LOCKED UP AND CALIPER WAS FINE. CALIPER PISTONS MOVED FREELY. TOOK BIKE TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND THE ABS DISTRIBUTION BLOCK WAS BAD AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FULL OF FLUID IT WOULD NOT ALLOWING FLUID TO TRAVEL TO REAR CALIPER. THEY REPLACED BLOCK. MY CONCERN IS A TOTAL REAR BRAKE FAILURE. I HAD NO REAR BRAKES AND MADE IT DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO STOP AN 800 LB MOTORCYCLE AT ANY SPEED. I HAVE FOUND ON SEVERAL FORUMS USERS DESCRIBE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH VARYING YEARS AND MODELS OF HARLEY DAVIDSON BIKES WITH ABS.

NHTSA ID

10825939

Incident

Jan 30, 2016

Mileage

21,230 mi

AFTER RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE NORMALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES, I STOPPED AT MY DESTINATION AND SHUT DOWN THE BIKE NORMALLY. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER, I GOT BACK ON THE BIKE TO GO BACK HOME. AT THIS POINT, I FOUND MY RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LEVER WAS FROZE UP AND WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I HAD THE BIKE TOWED TO MY HARLEY DEALER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP CALLED ME A FEW DAYS LATER AND TOLD ME THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT WAS BAD. HE ALSO TOLD ME WHEN THE BIKE WAS BROUGHT IN, THE REAR BRAKE WAS ALSO FROZE UP. I AUTHORIZED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT TO FIX THE BIKE. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WAS ALSO BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES. MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN RIDING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED. I THINK THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ABS SYSTEM. IF THE SYSTEM FAILED, THE BIKE SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST REVERT TO NORMAL BRAKING INSTEAD OF ABS. IN MY CASE, I HAD NO BRAKES AT ALL WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER.

NHTSA ID

10808898

Incident

Nov 6, 2015

Mileage

18,670 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKET, BEARING ROLLER, RETAINING RING, AND INNER PRIMARY BEARING RACE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,438. MA 10/29/2015 *CN

NHTSA ID

10760952

Incident

Apr 30, 2014

Mileage

40,438 mi

MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE RIDDING MY FLHTCU THE BIKE GOES TO "LIMP MODE" NO THROTTLE,AT MULTIPLE SPEEDS, WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING. AFTER TONES OF RESEARCHING, HOUR OF LABOR, AND A TONE OF MONEY, THE ISSUE STILL EXIST AND I AM AT BUT A LOSE. DURING RESEARCH I FOND THIS ISSUE TO BE A VERY COMMON ONE WITH MULTIPLE HD MODELS. DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY OF THE MATERIALS, PARTS, AND ENGINEERING DESIGNED USED TO CAUSE SUCH A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD, ANY WHERE ON THE ROAD. I AM REQUESTING HD TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND TO GENERATE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THEIR COSTUMERS. YOU CAN NOT HAVE A MOTORCYCLE QUIT ON YOU IN FRONT OF A TRACTOR TRAILER ON THE INTERSTATE OR ANY WHERE ON THE ROAD ALL BY ITS SELF. EXTREAMLY DANGERIOUS.

NHTSA ID

10759798

Incident

Nov 25, 2014

Mileage

3,700 mi

ON 06/24/2014 AT 16,948 MILES WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT STOP ON MY 2010 FLHTCU, I GOT TO 30 MPH AND THE THROTTLE CUT OUT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I LIMPED THE BIKE 4 MILES HOME AND SHUT IT DOWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT RESET ON THE SECOND RESTART AND THROTTLE RESUMED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A FAULTY TWIST GRIP SENSOR. THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR AND THEY SAID IT WAS ALL SET. ON 08/15/2014 AT 18,600 MILES WHILE MERGING ONTO ROUTE 6 EAST IN BREWSTER, MA THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, THE THROTTLE CUT OUT AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. TRAFFIC HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING ME AS I PULLED OFF INTO A TWO FOOT WIDE SHOULDER. I HAD TO RIDE IN THIS NARROW SHOULDER AREA FOR FIVE MILES TO THE NEXT EXIT AT 10 MPH WITH A PASSENGER WHILE TRAFFIC RUSHED BY AT 65 MPH JUST INCHES AWAY. I GOT OFF THE NEXT EXIT AND SHUT THE BIKE DOWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THROTTLE RESET ON THE NEXT RESTART. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT CODE AND AS DIRECTED BY A FACTORY TECH TIP REPLACED A PIN IN THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HARNESS AND PACKED IT WITH DIELECTRIC GREASE. THEY CLEARED THE CODE AND SAID IT WAS ALL SET. I'M CURRENTLY RIDING THE BIKE AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER EITHER BY RECALL OR PRODUCT PROGRAM. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE AS SEEN HERE ON THE NHTSA SITE AND OTHER FORUMS. PLEASE HAVE THIS ADDRESSED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628276

Incident

Jun 24, 2014

Mileage

16,948 mi

BIKE WENT INTO THE "LIMP-MODE" WHILE RIDING ON INTERSTATE 80 NEAR JOLIET, ILLINOIS. WHEN IN THE "LIMP-MODE" THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN BUT THERE IS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ONTO. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND HARLEY-DAVIDSON DENIES A PROBLEM EXISTS. HOWEVER, HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS ISSUED TWO SERVICE BULLETIN'S TO THEIR DEALERS (TT418 AND TT418A TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. I GUESS A FEW PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY HAVE A RECALL TO FIX THEIR FAULTY PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621048

Incident

May 6, 2013

Mileage

18,500 mi

I WAS ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE PASSING LANE TRAVELING AT 55MPH WHEN I LOST MY THROTTLE RESPONSE AND THE BIKE WENT TO AN IDLE MODE. I ALMOST WAS HIT WHILE COASTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THIS BIKE ALSO WENT TO THE IDLE MODE AFTER STARTING IT ONE TIME LAST YEAR AND I HAD TO RESTART IT 3 TIMES TO GET IT TO RESPOND. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A COMPUTER GLITCH. WHEN THIS OCCURRED AT 55MPH I FEARED FOR MY LIFE AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON JUNE 10. THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT. MY DEALER DOES NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT PART (FUEL INDUCTION MODULE) NOR DOES HARLEY DAVIDSON MFG. THEY MUST BE GOING THROUGH THEM LIKE HOT CAKES. THE DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT GET ONE UNTIL JUNE 19. I CALLED HD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COMPLAIN AND THEY CONFIRMED. NOW THE SHIP DATE HAS BEEN MOVED TO JUNE 30! HAVING CHECKED THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I SEE THIS IS NOTHING NEW. THERE ARE LAW SUITES DATING BACK TO 2008 ON THIS PROBLEM! PLEASE FORCE HD TO MAKE THE RECALL BEFORE ANYONE ELSE IS HURT OR KILLED!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10605492

Incident

Jun 6, 2014

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY DECELERATED TO 15 MPH AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,400.

NHTSA ID

10597579

Incident

Jun 8, 2014

Mileage

23,400 mi

AS PER SERVICE BULLETIN ; TT418-A ,ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CORROSION AND FRETTING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN DUE TO VIBRATION . THIS SITUATION IS HAZARDOUS AS THE BIKE CAN FAIL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND INTERSECTIONS . HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION SENSE 2008 . AS TO DATE THERE IS NO RECALL PLANNED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10584426

Incident

Apr 22, 2014

Mileage

23,000 mi

RIDING IN NEBRASKA ON I-80 WESTBOUND, VEHICLE WENT INTO AN ALMOST UNCORRECTABLE FRONT WHEEL WOBBLE, AFTER GAINING CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE I WAS ABLE TO GET ONTO ROAD SHOULDER AND FOUND THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAD "DISINTEGRATED", NO BALL BEARINGS WERE VISIBLE AND THE SEAL WAS MISSING. THIS INCIDENT WAS VERY UNNERVING. THE H-D DEALER IN GRAND ISLAND, NE WAS ABLE TO FIX THE BEARING IN QUESTION WITHIN SIX HOURS I WAS BACK ON THE ROAD. THE CRUX OF MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT MOST OF THE 2009, 2010 AND 2011 MODEL TOURING BIKES HAD SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE BEARINGS FAILING PREMATURELY. ONE WOULD THINK THE MANUFACTURER AND OR THE NHTSA WOULD BE ALERTING THE OWNERS OF SAID MODELS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF FATAL CRASHES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FAULTY PRODUCT SO THEY MAY RECTIFY THEIR KNOWN DEFICIENCIES. I BELIEVE THE ROOT CAUSE TO BE OF APATHY ON THE PART OF THE NHTSA AND GREED ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER. I RECOMMEND AS A CORRECTIVE ACTION THAT A CONCERTED EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE NHTSA TO LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE BEFORE A DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY OCCURS DUE TO THIS KNOWN DEFICIENCY. I ALSO SENT A SIMILAR POSTED LETTER TO THE H-D HOME OFFICE SINCE THEY HAVE NO CONTACT INFORMATION VIA E-MAIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10541902

Incident

Jun 12, 2013

Mileage

15,000 mi

AS I PROCEEDED TO LEAVE ,STARTED MOTORCYCLE.ENGAGE CLUTCH TO SHIFT. TURN THE THROTTLE TO MOVE...NO RESPONSE.HARLEY DAVIDSON THROTTLE BY WIRE..DIDN'T RESPOND..DID RESEARCH ON COMPUTER FOUND THAT MANY INCIDENT'S WHERE IT WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON FREEWAY SPEEDS. THERE IS NO RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONLY NUMEROUS BULLETINS DESCRIBING WHAT TO LOOK FOR. I AM AFRAID NOW THAT IF I LOSE THROTTLE CONTROL I AM AT RISK OF CAUSING A DEATH OR ACCIDENT CAUSE I CANT RESPOND TO THE SITUATION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10537068

Incident

Aug 20, 2013

Mileage

16,000 mi

WHILE RIDING I BEGAN TO FEEL A VIBRATION IN THE HANDLEBARS I HADN'T FELT BEFORE TODAY. IT DIDN'T SEEM TO AFFECT ANYTHING ELSE. AFTER PARKING THE BIKE AND CONDUCTING A VISUAL INSPECTION I FOUND A SEAL ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAD SEPARATED EXPOSING THE BALL BEARINGS. IT APPEARED TO HAVE LOST 1-2 BALLS DUE TO THE METAL RINGS THAT RETAIN THE BALLS HAD BROKEN IN SEVERAL PLACES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515839

Incident

Jun 8, 2013

Mileage

17,000 mi

ABS BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, WILL NOT ACTIVATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503346

Incident

Mar 17, 2013

Mileage

8,805 mi

THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED @ 23K MILES. HD'S MAINTENANCE SCHEDUULE DOES NOT LIST BEARINGS UNTIL 40K MILES. A HD MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE NEW SEALED BEARINGS HAVE BEEN ARRIVING WITH VERY LITTLE GREASE. HE RECOMMENDED GENTLY PRYING THE SEAL OFF, ADDING GREASE, RE-SEATING THE SEAL, THEN INSTALLING THE BEARINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10472017

Incident

Aug 8, 2012

Mileage

23,000 mi

RIDING ALONG AT 60 MPH WHEN THE BIKE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE". I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE AND MY SPEED INSTANTLY DROPPED TO 10 MPH. ONCE THE BIKE GOES INTO THIS "LIMP MODE", THE SPEED IS AUTOMATICALLY LIMITED TO 10 MPH. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO RIDE AT 10 MPH DOWN A BUSY STREET WITH MY FLASHERS ON TO PREVENT GETTING REAR ENDED BY ALL THE CARS. THIS "LIMP MODE" IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON (CHECK IT OUT ON GOOGLE OR AT HDFORUMS.COM. HARLEY IS APPARENTLY REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE WITH THE BIKES. THROTTLE BY WIRE (TBW) IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSTIC ISSUES THAT "THROW CODES" (DTC) DIAGNOSTIC TECHNICAL CODES AND CAUSE THE BIKE TO IMMEDIATELY GO INTO THIS DANGEROUS LIMP MODE. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND CREATE THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING HIT IN THE REAR END BY TRAFFIC THAT IS BEHIND YOU. IMAGINE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND HAVING YOUR MOTORCYCLE IMMEDIATELY DROP TO 10 MPH. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES ON HDFORUMS.COM AND ON THE INTERNET RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. *JS *TR

NHTSA ID

10455951

Incident

Apr 20, 2012

Mileage

17,900 mi

COMPENSATOR FAILURE. THE COMPENSATOR ON MY H-D HAS DEVELOPED A BANGING NOISE ON STARTUP AND CONTINUES TO MAKE NOISE UP TO THE 3500 RPM RANGE. HARLEY DAVIDSON IN MIAMI, FLORIDA SERVICED MY MOTORCYCLE AND FOUND THE MOUNTING BOLT TO BE LOOSE. AFTER SERVICE THE COMPENSATOR THE NOISE RECURRED AFTER 100 MILES. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE IF THIS UNTIL SHOULD COME APART AND LOCK UP THE DRIVE TRAIN WHILE RIDING WHICH WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS RECOGNIZED THIS ISSUE AND HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THE 2011 MODELS AND THEY REFUSE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE ON THE 2009-2010 MOTORCYCLES.

NHTSA ID

10431148

Incident

Dec 1, 2010

Mileage

2,500 mi