2011 Harley-Davidson Flhx

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.

FRONT BRAKE LEVER IS FROZEN IN OPEN POSITION MAKING STOPPING MORE DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID

11413860

Incident

Mar 17, 2021

Mileage

19,000 mi

FRONT BREAK LEVER COMPLETELY STIFF. WAS ABOUT TO GO FOR A RIDE WHEN I NOTICED IT. . LUCKILY I WAS NOT RIDING THE BIKE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. FROM WHAT I'VE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE ABS MODULES ON THESE BIKES. INSTEAD OF ISSUING A RECALL HARLEY HAS OPTED TO REPLACE BRAKE FLUID AT NO CHARGE AND RECOMMEND CHANGING FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS AFTER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND NOT A FLUID PROBLEM. THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER VEHICLES WITH ABS AND DOT 4 FLUID THAT ARE NOT HAVING THIS ISSUE. I HAD ROAD THE BIKE TWO WEEKS BEFORE AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS VERY QUICKLY WITH NO WARNING. THIS COULD BE DEADLY ON THE ROAD!

NHTSA ID

11133214

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

Mileage

21,000 mi

WHILE RIDING MY HD MOTORCYCLE, I TURN ONTO AN OFF RAMP FROM I-95. AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION, I EASED INTO THE REAR BRAKE. I WAS GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT THE INTERSECTION, AND AS I APPROACHED I RAN OVER A ROUGH SPOT IN THE ROAD, THIS MADE THE REAR TIRE LOCK UP VERY BRIEFLY AND I COULD FEEL THE ABS AT WORK. I THEN WENT TO PULL IN THE FRONT BRAKES FOR MORE AGGRESSIVE STOPPING AND THE BRAKE LEVER WAS COMPLETELY FROZEN IN PLACE. I COULD NOT PULL IT IN, I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS NOT IN AN EMERGENCY STOP OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE BEEN DOOMED. AFTER A SPLIT SECOND OF "THINKING THIS THROUGH" I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO BRAKE VERY AGGRESSIVELY WITH MY REAR BRAKE TO KEEP FROM RUNNING INTO CROSS TRAFFIC. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO PULL THE LEVER AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT PULL NOT MATTER HOW MUCH I TRIED. I HAD NEVER HAD ANY ISSUE WITH THIS BEFORE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS AND ALL THE TALK BY HD THAT IT IS BECAUSE OF NEGLECTED MAINTENANCE IS BULL!! I HAVE NOW HEARD OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH BIKES THAT HAVE RECEIVED THE REGULAR 2 YR INTERVAL SERVICE. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW!!! I NOW HAVE MY MOTORCYCLE AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WAS SUPPOSED TO PICK IT UP TODAY BUT THE SAID THEY HAVE RECEIVED A BAD HCU UNIT AND HAD TO ORDER ANOTHER. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THEY HAVEN'T CHANGED ANYTHING ABOUT THE MODULE SO NOW I HAVE A $20000 DEATH TRAP! IT IS DESPICABLE HOW HARLEY HAS HANDLED THIS. I GOOD ANALOGY WOULD BE TO HAVE A CAR THAT HAS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH BLOWING ENGINES AND THE MANUFACTURER SAYS "OH BRING IT IN, WE KNOW THE ENGINE IS BLOWN BUT WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THE OIL FOR FREE". THE DIFFERENCE IS, A BLOWN ENGINE USUALLY WON'T GET YOU KILLED! NHTSA SHOULD PUT THEIR FOOT DOWN ON THIS ONE!

NHTSA ID

11076560

Incident

Dec 20, 2017

Mileage

33,000 mi

I HAVE A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) FAILED LAST WEEK AND I ALMOST COLLIDED WITH A CAR THAT HAD STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. THE FRONT BRAKE FROZE AND WAS UNUSABLE. HARLEY REQUIRES YOU CHANGE THE BRAKE FLUID EVERY 2 YEARS WHICH I DO, ACTUALLY AT ABOUT EVERY $10K MILES. I'M ADAMANT ABOUT FLUID CHANGES. I CHANGE ENGINE OIL EVERY 5K MILES (AMSOIL) AND REPLACE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, PRIMARY AND BRAKE FLUID EVERY $10K MILES. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. NHTSA IS CURRENTLY INVESTIGATING 2008 - 2011 MODELS WITH ABS AND HAS RECEIVED 43 COMPLAINTS AND AT LEAST 3 CRASHES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A BID PROBLEM READING HARLEY FORUMS. HARLEY CLAIMS THAT THE MOISTURE FOUND IN OLD, CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID CAN DAMAGE THE ACTUATOR VALVES FOUND IN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. NTHSA STATES ABS FAILURE WHICH COULD LEAD TO A SAFETY RECALL IN THE US, POSSIBLY FOLLOWED BY WORLDWIDE RECALLS OF UP TO 430,000 MOTORCYCLES. AFTER THE ABOVE INCIDENT I HAD A LOCAL MOTORCYCLE SHOP CHECK IT OUT, THEY FLUSHED THE BRAKE SYSTEM, TOOK IT OUT FOR A RIDE AND THE FRONT BRAKE FAILED AGAIN. I CALLED HARLEY, THEY STATED IT HAD TO BE CONFIRMED BY A HARLEY DEALER AND PROVIDED ME WITH A HARLEY ABS CASE FILE NUMBER: 2951309. THE LOCAL HARLEY DEALER PICKED IT UP TODAY AND CONFIRMED THE ABS MODULE NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY CALLED HARLEY CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD: MOISTURE IN THE BRAKE FLUID CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR IT. I ASKED THE LOCAL HARLEY DEALER HOW CORPORATE COULD CLAIM THAT AND THE ANSWER WAS I HAD NO SERVICE RECORDS WITH THE HARLEY DEALER. I CALLED CORPORATE AND STATED I'VE BEEN DOING AS STATED ABOVE. BASICALLY I WAS TOLD I CAN'T PROVIDE INFO TO SUBSTANTIATE MY CLAIM. COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE BBB AS WELL: BBB COMPLAINT ID 11933554

NHTSA ID

10944679

Incident

Jan 11, 2017

Mileage

49,000 mi

SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 THE REAR BRAKES (ANTI-LOCK) LOCKED UP FOR THE SECOND TIME LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. MAY 27, 2016 WAS THE FIRST TIME THEY LOCKED UP AND CAUSED A FIRE. ULTIMATELY COSTING $3500.00 IN DAMAGES GEICO COVERED. BILOXI HARLEY DAVIDSON REPAIRED THE BIKE IN MAY OF 2016 AND IS NOW IN POSSESSION OF THE BIKE.

NHTSA ID

10903719

Incident

Sep 2, 2016

Mileage

20 mi

REAR BRAKE PEDAL BOTTOMED, RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF REAR BRAKING. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

10887735

Incident

May 21, 2016

Mileage

21,000 mi

LEG BURNS DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM REAR ENGINE CYLINDER. MEASURE RADIANT HEAT AT 340 DEGREES. THIS HAS CAUSED RED BURN ON THE BACK OF THE RIGHT LEG. HEAT IS FELT WHILE IN MOTION ON 80 DEGREE DAYS. INCREASES DURING STOPS FOR LIGHTS. HAVE BROUGHT TO DEALER AND MANUFACTURERS ATTENTION OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS.

NHTSA ID

10885325

Incident

Jun 11, 2016

Mileage

100 mi

I HAD A CRASH WITH INJURIES BACK ON MARCH 15 2016 WHERE AS I RAN INTO THE RIGHT REAR CORNER OF A SUV THAT STOPPED FOR A CAR THAT WAS TURNING LEFT SUDDENLY IN FRONT OF ME AS WE TRAVELED DOWN A RURAL TWO LANE ROAD AND I COULDN'T STOP IN TIME BECAUSE, I FEEL THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKES DIDN'T REACT IN TIME OR FAST ENOUGH, IF AT ALL. I HAD JUST LEFT THE HOUSE GOING TO WORK WHEN THIS HAPPENED NOT EVEN A MILE FROM THE HOUSE. ..UPDATED 02/10/17 *BF *JS

NHTSA ID

10884505

Incident

Mar 15, 2016

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.

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 25.8.9): 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 25.8.9 Release Date: Week of September 2, 2025. Changes: LiveWire 2024 S2MH: Removal of incorrect Electro Hydraulic Control Unit (EHCU) reflash support; EHCU Module (Part No. 41100123): Addressed issue where module became unrecoverable after failed reflash attempted. NOTE: Digital Technician II (DT II) supports additional Harley-Davidson motorcycle models and model years outside of those listed.

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 25.8.7): 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 25.6.4, Release Date: Week of August 19, 2025. Includes New Features and Changes for the Models & Model Years listed. NOTE: Digital Technician II (DT II) supports additional Harley-Davidson motorcycle models and model years outside of those listed.

SERVICE BULLETIN M1391A (REV T): MIDTRONICS GRX-3110 AND DCA-8000 SOFTWARE. PURPORSE: Revision T. 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 T] Updated: New Software Update, Previous Software Updates and DCA-8000. Added: 192-210335P. Software update 192-210335P for GRX-3110 and DCA-800 to add new battery part numbers.