2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg

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.

THE BRAKES SEEM TO BE LOCKED UP AT TIMES WHEN YOU PUT THE REVERSE DRIVE IN. YOU CAN STEP DOWN ON THE FOOT BRAKE, AND IT FREES UP. THIS TRIKE HAS LESS THAN 14000 MILES ON IT THE TRIKE IS A 2011 TRIGLIDE, AND IT IS NOW NOV 2015. THE PARK BRAKE IS ADJUSTED ALL THE WAY OUT, AND DOES NOT HOLD AT ALL. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WITH THIS COMPLAINT.. MOST OF MY RIDING IS ALL HIGHWAY WITHOUT THE FREQUENT STOP, AND GO ALONG WITH THE VERY FEW USE OF THE BRAKES ON A 100 MILE TRIP. I MIGHT AD THAT I HAVE THE CRUISE SET AT 65 FOR THE FULL TRIP, AND THAT THE FUEL ECONOMY IS A FAR CRY FROM THE ADVERTISED MPG. IT'S FEW, AND FAR BETWEEN THAT I GET 30 MPG IN IDEAL RIDING CONDITIONS. THE BRAKE PADS SHOW A LOT OF WEAR FOR A VEHICLE UNDER 14,000 MILES O IT. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP BEFORE FOR THE PARK BRAKE NOT HOLDING.

NHTSA ID

10795009

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

THE EXHAUST BURNS MY LEG WHEN I STOP FOR A LIGHT OR ANYTHING ELSE. $35,000.00 AND CANT USE IT WHEN AMBIENT TEMP IS ABOVE 80 UNLESS I WANT TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL WITH 2ND DEGREE BURNS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653696

Incident

Aug 22, 2011

Mileage

50 mi

ON JULY 7, 2013, WHILE TRAVELING EASTBOUND IN THE LEFTHAND LANE OF US HIGHWAY 64 JUST OUTSIDE NASHVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, WELL BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON TRI-GLIDE (MODEL FLHTCUTG) DETACHED AND SWERVED AWAY FROM THE TRI-GLIDE. THE TRI-GLIDE VEERED LEFT OFF THE ROAD, STRIKING THE LEFT SIDE GUARD RAIL, EJECTING BOTH THE HELMETED DRIVER AND THE HELMETED PASSENGER OVER THE GUARD RAIL. THE DRIVER, DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF HIS INJURIES, DIED AND THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED. THE DETACHED LEFT REAR TIRE SPUN AWAY TO AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE RIGHTHAND LANE. THE TIRE WAS LOST DURING THE INCIDENT, AS WERE ALL FOUR LUG-NUTS THAT PREVIOUSLY HELD THE TIRE IN PLACE. THE TRI-GLIDE WAS BEING RIDDEN AS PART OF AN ORGANIZED RIDE AND WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH IN A 70 MPH ZONE WHEN THE TIRE AND LUG NUTS SEPARATED. FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION OF THE CRASH, NORTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL STATED MECHANICAL FAILURE AS THE CRASH'S ONLY APPARENT CAUSE. THE TRI-GLADE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN MAY 2011. SINCE THEN IT HAD BEEN SERVICED ONLY AT THE DEALERSHIP, INCLUDING SERVICE FOR THE WARRANTY RECALL ON THE BRAKE SWITCH, AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10534542

Incident

Jul 7, 2013

DRIVING 70 MPH ON HIGHWAY PUT ON BRAKES TO EXIT AT OFFRAMP BIKE DIES COMPLETE SHUT OFF NO THROTTLE NO ANYTHING COAST TO STOP ON OFF RAMP BIKE WILL NOT START AT ALL TROUBLE CODE P1511 WHICH IS THE THROTTLE MANAGMENT SYSTEM IS DEAD 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED FIRST TIME WAS AT 30 MPH AFTER SITTING BIKE STATRTED AGAIN THIS IS HAPPING TO ALL EFI HARLEY DAVIDSONS SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10521801

Incident

Jun 23, 2013

Mileage

4,064 mi

WHILE ON A RIDE WITH MY WIFE ON A COUNTY ROAD IN IDAHO I STARTED FEELING A VIBRATION. WITHIN 5 SEC. THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF MY HARLEY TRI-GLIDE CAME OFF CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. THE BIKE SLIDE INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC AND INTO A DITCH. THE TIRE TRAVELED APPOX. 50 YARDS DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE STOPPING. I HAD NEVER REMOVED THE TIRES SINCE I PURCHASED THE BIKE FROM THE LONE WOLF HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER IN SPOKANE VALLEY WASHINGTON. WE HAVE RESEARCHED OTHER TRI-GLIDE OWNERS TO LEARN THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE HARLEY DAVIDSON MANF. IN WEST CONN. (CASE#[XXX]) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10482753

Incident

Oct 5, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON TRIKE FLHTCUTG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BLOCK AND THE ELECTRICAL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42.

NHTSA ID

10473737

Incident

Sep 1, 2012

Mileage

42 mi

AFTER A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF RIDING USUALLY 10-30 MINUTES, THE HEAT IS SO INTENSE COMING OFF THE ENGINE THAT IT WILL BURN MY LEG. HARLEY REPS SAY THIS IS NORMAL! HOW CAN THIS BE NORMAL? I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO DISCONNECT THE CONVERTER WHICH IS ILLEGAL AND EXPENSIVE. THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457976

Incident

May 1, 2012

THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE RUNS EXTREMELY HOT ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC AND HOT WEATHER. THE CONDITION WILL ACTUALLY CAUSE MILD BURNS TO LEGS DURING RIDING. MANY CASES HAVE BEEN NOTED ON LINE IN DIFFERENT FORUMS AND BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERS. SOME RESOLVE TO PROBLEM HAS BEEN DONE BY CHANGING HEADER EXHAUST PIPES WITHOUT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND CHANGING THE FUEL MIXTURE TO RICHER ADJUSTMENTS TO RUN COOLER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454903

Incident

Apr 16, 2011

Mileage

575 mi

SERVICE BULLETIN M1508 (REV D): 2009-2025 TRIKE PLATFORM - REVERSE MOTOR. PURPOSE: Revision C. To inform dealers of a running change for the new reverse motor (Part No. 83388-09C) for Trike models. As of January 28, 2020 all Trike platform vehicles will be manufactured using the new reverse motor. The new reverse motor will be used to replace reverse motor assemblies (Part No. 83388-09, 83388-09A,83388-09B) that have failed diagnostics. Refer to Table 3. This motor contains several improvements for better motor durability. A new procedure has been added, Refer to PINION EXTENDS BUT REVERSE MOTOR STALLS OR SPINS SLOWLY. REV D: Updated: Guide. Add link to: PINION EXTENDS BUT REVERSE MOTOR STALLS OR SPINS SLOWLY

GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1182: TRIKE SADDLEBAGS KIT INFORMATIONAL UPDATE. PURPOSE: Initial release. This bulletin informs dealers that the Trike Saddlebags kit (Part No. 84031-11) has an informational update: The drill template that is inside the kit, is only used for 2009-2025 Trike models. The electronic version of this instruction sheet which is located in Service Information Portal (SIP), will have the drill template as an attachment for 2026 and later Trike models (see service bulletin M1714). It will not be included inside the kit or directly attached to the instruction sheet.

SERVICE BULLETIN M1508 (REV C): 2009-2025 TRIKE PLATFORM - REVERSE MOTOR. PURPOSE: Revision C. To inform dealers of a running change for the new reverse motor (Part No. 83388-09C) for Trike models. As of January 28, 2020 all Trike platform vehicles will be manufactured using the new reverse motor. The new reverse motor will be used to replace reverse motor assemblies (Part No. 83388-09, 83388-09A,83388-09B) that have failed diagnostics. Refer to Table 3. This motor contains several improvements for better motor durability. A new procedure has been added, Refer to PINION EXTENDS BUT REVERSE MOTOR STALLS OR SPINS SLOWLY. REV C: Update Removal and Assembly (R&I) of the Solenoid. Updated: DISASSEMBLE, ASSEMBLE and Install Electrical Kit.

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.