RoadVitals

2013 Harley-Davidson Flhtk 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.
9
Latest Jan 14, 2021
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.
64%
of 14 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.
1
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 2013 Harley-Davidson Flhtk submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Jan 14, 2021

ABS BRAKE ISSUES. LOCKING UP

NHTSA ID
11388215
Incident
Nov 15, 2020
Mileage
42,956 mi
Brakes
Filed May 29, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 25 MPH, WHILE APPLYING THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHSIDE HARLEY-DAVIDSON LOCATED AT 385 N WITCHDUCK RD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23462, (757) 499-8964, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE AND FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11326501
Incident
May 3, 2020
Mileage
13,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed May 22, 2020

MY FRONT BRAKES ON MY 2013 HARLEY DOSE NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME AND IT IS HARD TO PULL IN THE BRAKE LEVER TO WHERE WHEN I PULL THE BRAKE LEVER IN AND CAN NOT MOVE THE LEVER WITH NO BRAKES...AND SOME TIMES THE FRONT WHEEL LOCKS UP BY JUST SITTING OR AT A STOP LIGHT AND MY SPEED CONTROL STOPS WORKING ON AND OFF AND HAVE A ENGINE LIGHT THAT GOES ON AND OFF VIN #[XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *CC

NHTSA ID
11325581
Incident
Mar 1, 2020
Brakes
Filed Jan 5, 2020

BOTH BRAKES FAILURE DURING STOP ARRIVING HOME LOW SPEED. ABS SYSTEM DEAD

NHTSA ID
11297271
Incident
Jan 4, 2020
Mileage
10,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 16, 2019

ABS MODULATOR LOCKED MY FRONT WHEEL, GOOD THING I WAS GOING SLOW 35 MPH, IF NOT, ME AND MY WIFE WOULD HAVE GONE DOWN. AFTER TAKING THE BIKE TO THE SHOP, AND FLUSHING THE SYSTEM AGAIN, NOW THE FRONT BRAKE WILL NOT WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
11180518
Incident
Dec 15, 2018
Mileage
47 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 8, 2018

ABS FAILURE WHILE RIDING. NO WARNING. NEAR COLLISION WITH VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. FRONT BRAKE LEVER STUCK.

NHTSA ID
11083866
Incident
Mar 17, 2018
Mileage
31,000 mi
BrakesSteering
Filed Sep 22, 2017
Crash reported

WHILE OUT RIDING WITH MY MEETUP MOTORCYCLE GROUP ALONG BACK COUNTRY ROADS ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND. WE WERE APPROACHING A SHARP RIGHT HAND TURN IN THE ROAD WHEN I FIRST APPLIED MY BRAKES THE BRAKES NEVER COMPLETELY ENGAGED. AFTER REAPPLYING THE BRAKES IN A PANIC STOP CONDITION THE ABS SYSTEM NEVER KICKED IN, HOWEVER THE REAR BRAKES DID EVENTUALLY ENGAGE RESULTING IN THE BIKE LAYING DOWN A LONG SKIDMARK AND THE REAR TIRE GOING INTO A FISHTAIL MOTION. THE RESULT WAS I CROSSED OVER THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LINE AND END UP OFF OF THE ROAD ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE STREET. PRIOR TO ALL OF THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES DURING OUR RIDE THE FRONT END OF THE BIKE WOULD OSCILLATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ONE OF THE RIDERS HAD A GOPRO VIDEO RUNNING, WHICH CAUGHT PORTIONS OF THE INCIDENT. THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM BRAKE FLUID WAS REPLACED A COUPLE OF MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THE REAR BRAKE FLUID WAS REPLACED A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT, HOWEVER I HAVE NOT YET LOCATED THE SERVICE RECEIPT FOR THE LATTER. I LOOKED AT THE FRONT BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR WINDOW AND DID NOT SEE ANY FOAMING. IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME AT THE TIME TO CHECK THE REAR BRAKE RESERVOIR. ALL OF THE RIDERS STOPPED IN THAT TURN I WAS MORE CONCERN WITH GETTING US OUT OF THAT CORNER THERE IS ONLY ONE LANE OF TRAFFIC EACH WAY.

NHTSA ID
11025031
Incident
Sep 9, 2017
Mileage
17,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 21, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE HANDLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ROUTE 66 HARLEY-DAVIDSON LOCATED IN TULSA, OK WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CITED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE16009 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AS THE DESCRIPTION AND CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,800. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11024799
Incident
Sep 15, 2017
Mileage
25,800 mi
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Oct 17, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTHTK MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND UPON ENGAGEMENT. THE FRONT BRAKES WERE OPERABLE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE A BLEEDING OF THE BRAKES WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. UPDATED 10/29/13*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOWER PANEL COVERS WERE FALLING OFF. UPDATED 10/30/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID
10548204
Incident
Aug 28, 2013
Mileage
10 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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .