2010 Harley-Davidson Flhtk Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 Harley-Davidson Flhtk, 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
- Brakes1643.2%
- Other / unspecified718.9%
- Powertrain (other)410.8%
- Steering410.8%
- Electrical25.4%
- Suspension12.7%
- Driver assistance12.7%
- Engine12.7%
- Fuel system12.7%
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
And module locked up the rear tire. Break pedal became hard and not operational.
Lost brakes to rear wheel with abs failure
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. (MISSING BALLS - LOSS OF CONTROL). *TR
FRONT AND REAR WHEEL BEARINGS PREMATURELY FAILING. MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING FAILURES ON THESE BEARINGS WITH LESS THAN 2000 MILES. I HAVE REPORTED MY COMPLAINTS DIRECTLY TO HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE LOGGED AGAINST MY VIN. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT REPLACING WHEEL BEARINGS AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE FAILURE. THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURED FOR TOURING, WHICH MY WIFE AND I RIDE WITH LUGGAGE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO US AT 65 MILES PER HOUR AND HAVING A BEARING FREEZE UP, CHEWING THREW AND AXLE. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HARLEY DAVIDSON MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE ARE TWO BOLTS THREADED INTO TRANSMISSION CASE THAT HOLDS MUFFLER BRACKET, ,BOLT BACKS OUT CAUSING TRANSMISSION OIL TO LEAK ONTO MUFFLER BRACKET WHICH IS EXTREMELY HOT CAUSING A POSSIBLE FIRE. *TR
ENGINE COMPENSATOR WORE OUT, MADE LOTS OF NOISE. IF THE PART HAD COMPLETELY BROKE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL ON THE MOTORCYCLE TO LOCK UP. HARLEY DAVIDSON UPGRADED THE PART ON THE 2011 MODELS. UNDER WARRANTY THEY WILL REPLACE PART WITH UPGRADED PART BUT CHARGE AROUND A 100.00 TO DO IT. THEY CHANGED THE PART FOR THE 2011 MODEL BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. WHY DID I HAVE TO PAY A 100.00 DOLLARS FOR THEIR MISTAKE? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I TURNED ONTO NORTHBOUND US HIGHWAY 281 FROM EASTBOUND SOUTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY 26 AND ACCELERATED NORMALLY TO 65 MPH AND ACTIVATED THE ELECTRONIC CRUISE CONTROL IN 6TH GEAR. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS I HEARD A NUMBER OF SQUEALS FROM THE FRONT END AND THE HANDLEBARS BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO RAPIDLY SLOW THE MOTORCYCLE DOWN. AT 50 MPH THE SHAKING STOPPED. I DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH AND DIDN'T FEEL ANY NOTICEABLE RESISTANCE. I STOPPED AND INSPECTED THE FRONT WHEEL AND SAW THE BEARING SHIELD HAD MOVED AWAY FROM THE BEARING . I WAS ABOUT 2 MILES FROM REDFIELD SOUTH DAKOTA SO I RODE TO REDFIELD AT A VERY SLOW RATE WITHOUT THE HANDLEBARS SHAKING. I WENT TO THE SUPER 8 MOTEL AND CALLED THE HARLEY OWNERS GROUP ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. *TR
MY FRONT WHEEL BEARING ON MY FLHTK CAME APART AND FRONT AXLE SEIZED. CAUSING FRONT END TO WOBBLE. ALMOST CAUSING ME AND MY PASSENGER TO CRASH. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID ONLY BECAUSE I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR. THIS FLHTK IS EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I'M EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY TBW. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NOVEMBER AT THE END OF A CHARITY RIDE AND I THOUGHT PERHAPS THE PACK RIDE CAUSED IT TO OVERHEAT, AFTER SHUTTING THE BIKE OFF IT WENT AWAY BRIEFLY. DID SOME TROUBLESHOOTING ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PLUGS ON THE ECM AND TB WERE TYPICALLY THE ISSUE SO CLEANED, ADDED DIELITHIUM GREASE TO THE CONNECTORS AND ISSUES WENT AWAY. HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME I PULLED THE CEL CODES TO DISCOVER THE TGS AND ETC CODES WERE IN FAULT. AFTER MORE RESEARCH DECIDED TO ELIMINATE THE GREEN QUICK CONNECT PLUGS IN THE HANDLEBARS AND FAIRING BY SODERING AND HEAT SHRINKING CONNECTIONS AS IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT THE CONNECTORS WERE A POSSIBLE CULPRIT FOR SAID CEL CODES. THAT RESOLVED THE ISSUES TEMPORARILY LIKE THE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS. BACK TO THE SEEMINGLY COMMON ISSUE OF THE DREADED LIMP MODE, TO WHICH I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE EXIT RAMP AFTER THE BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. ALL THE ARTICLES ARE HITTING THE SAME SPOT, 08-13YRS, 96, 103, 110CI ENGINES EFFECTED BY THIS SAME ISSUES, HOW MANY OF US HAVE TO GO INTO LIMP MODE OR WORSE BE STRUCK AND KILLED FOR A FACTORY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURE.
AFTER PURCHASING A 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA-GLIDE ULTRA CLASSIC LIMITED IN OCT 2009, I EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING WHILE ON A RIDE FROM MY HOME TO RICHMOND VA: ?STEREO CONSTANTLY WENT ON AND OFF WITH INTERMITTENT INTERCOM AND VOLUME CONTROL PROBLEMS. ?BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TRIP. ?BIKE WOULD NOT START UNLESS THE FUSE PANEL WAS PRESSED ON TWO (2) OCCASIONS. ?LOST ALL ACCELERATION ABILITY WITH THE THROTTLE AT 65MPH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE EMERGENCY LANE WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT. I STARTED THE BIKE ONCE AGAIN BY PRESSING ON THE FUSE PANEL. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE BIKE FOR 2 WEEKS AND REPLACED THE ECM, VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND FINALLY HARLEY HEADQUARTERS TOLD THEM TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS. IT APPEARS THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR 09 THROUGH 10 TOURING BIKES. I APPEARS THAT THEY NEED THE BIKE ANOTHER WEEK TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2011. IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED AT INTERMITTENT SPEEDS AND NON-SPECIFIC CONDITIONS THE FRONT END WILL START TO WOBBLE IN EVER INCREASING INTENSITY, IF HANDS ARE OFF THE HANDLE BARS. WITH HAND ON THE BARS, THE CONDITION CAN BE FELT BUT IS KEPT UNDER MORE CONTROL OF THE RIDER. HAT HIGH SPEEDS IT IS MORE PRESENT EVEN WITH HANDS ON THE HANDLE BARS. THIS CONDITION DID NOT EXIST IN HARLEY MOTORCYCLES UNTIL THE FRAME ENGINEERING AND MAJOR REDESIGN CHANGE IN THE 2009, 2010 AND 2011 (AND PRESUMABLY UP) MOTORCYCLES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ON MY 2010, AND MY FRIENDS 2011 TOURING HD MOTORCYCLES.ANOTHER FRIEND HAS A 2009 AND EVERYONE I KNOW WHO HAS A 2009 UP COMPLAINS OF THE SAME ISSUE. EVERY IS TOLD BY HD DEALERS THAT "YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON TO COMPLAIN IF THIS" AND IS USUALLY TOLD IT IS PERHAPS DO TO UNDER INFLATED TIRES WHICH THEN SCALLOP. CHICKEN AND EGG. HOWEVER AFTER REPLACING MY REAR TIRE, AND CHECKING MY FRONT END "FLOP" SWING TOLERANCES - I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER FRIEND SAID HE WAS GOOD FRIENDS WITH A HARLEY TECH, WHO REPLACED HIS NECK BEARINGS AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED THE ISSUE. MANY THINGS CAN CAUSE A RIDER TO REMOVE HANDS FROM THE BARS - SOME TIMES EMERGENCIES, SOMETIMES JUST HABIT FROM YEARS OF BEING ABLE TO RIDE BRIEF PERIODS LIKE THIS. WHATEVER - IT IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE FIXED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I TURNED ONTO NORTHBOUND US HIGHWAY 281 FROM EASTBOUND SOUTH DAKOTA HIGHWAY 26 AND ACCELERATED NORMALLY TO 65 MPH AND ACTIVATED THE ELECTRONIC CRUISE CONTROL IN 6TH GEAR. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS I HEARD A NUMBER OF SQUEALS FROM THE FRONT END AND THE HANDLEBARS BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO RAPIDLY SLOW THE MOTORCYCLE DOWN. AT 50 MPH THE SHAKING STOPPED. I DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH AND DIDN'T FEEL ANY NOTICEABLE RESISTANCE. I STOPPED AND INSPECTED THE FRONT WHEEL AND SAW THE BEARING SHIELD HAD MOVED AWAY FROM THE BEARING . I WAS ABOUT 2 MILES FROM REDFIELD SOUTH DAKOTA SO I RODE TO REDFIELD AT A VERY SLOW RATE WITHOUT THE HANDLEBARS SHAKING. I WENT TO THE SUPER 8 MOTEL AND CALLED THE HARLEY OWNERS GROUP ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
I'M EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY TBW. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NOVEMBER AT THE END OF A CHARITY RIDE AND I THOUGHT PERHAPS THE PACK RIDE CAUSED IT TO OVERHEAT, AFTER SHUTTING THE BIKE OFF IT WENT AWAY BRIEFLY. DID SOME TROUBLESHOOTING ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PLUGS ON THE ECM AND TB WERE TYPICALLY THE ISSUE SO CLEANED, ADDED DIELITHIUM GREASE TO THE CONNECTORS AND ISSUES WENT AWAY. HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME I PULLED THE CEL CODES TO DISCOVER THE TGS AND ETC CODES WERE IN FAULT. AFTER MORE RESEARCH DECIDED TO ELIMINATE THE GREEN QUICK CONNECT PLUGS IN THE HANDLEBARS AND FAIRING BY SODERING AND HEAT SHRINKING CONNECTIONS AS IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT THE CONNECTORS WERE A POSSIBLE CULPRIT FOR SAID CEL CODES. THAT RESOLVED THE ISSUES TEMPORARILY LIKE THE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS. BACK TO THE SEEMINGLY COMMON ISSUE OF THE DREADED LIMP MODE, TO WHICH I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE EXIT RAMP AFTER THE BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. ALL THE ARTICLES ARE HITTING THE SAME SPOT, 08-13YRS, 96, 103, 110CI ENGINES EFFECTED BY THIS SAME ISSUES, HOW MANY OF US HAVE TO GO INTO LIMP MODE OR WORSE BE STRUCK AND KILLED FOR A FACTORY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I'M EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY TBW. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NOVEMBER AT THE END OF A CHARITY RIDE AND I THOUGHT PERHAPS THE PACK RIDE CAUSED IT TO OVERHEAT, AFTER SHUTTING THE BIKE OFF IT WENT AWAY BRIEFLY. DID SOME TROUBLESHOOTING ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PLUGS ON THE ECM AND TB WERE TYPICALLY THE ISSUE SO CLEANED, ADDED DIELITHIUM GREASE TO THE CONNECTORS AND ISSUES WENT AWAY. HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME I PULLED THE CEL CODES TO DISCOVER THE TGS AND ETC CODES WERE IN FAULT. AFTER MORE RESEARCH DECIDED TO ELIMINATE THE GREEN QUICK CONNECT PLUGS IN THE HANDLEBARS AND FAIRING BY SODERING AND HEAT SHRINKING CONNECTIONS AS IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT THE CONNECTORS WERE A POSSIBLE CULPRIT FOR SAID CEL CODES. THAT RESOLVED THE ISSUES TEMPORARILY LIKE THE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS. BACK TO THE SEEMINGLY COMMON ISSUE OF THE DREADED LIMP MODE, TO WHICH I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED ON THE INTERSTATE EXIT RAMP AFTER THE BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. ALL THE ARTICLES ARE HITTING THE SAME SPOT, 08-13YRS, 96, 103, 110CI ENGINES EFFECTED BY THIS SAME ISSUES, HOW MANY OF US HAVE TO GO INTO LIMP MODE OR WORSE BE STRUCK AND KILLED FOR A FACTORY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURE.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .