2011 Harley-Davidson Flhx Owner Complaints

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

REAR BRAKES CAUGHT FIRE. DUE TO BRAKE DRAG

NHTSA ID

10883607

Incident

May 27, 2016

Mileage

20 mi

2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE FLHX MOTORCYCLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUE WITH VEHICLE HANDLEBARS. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE RIDING THE BIKE, HE NOTICED THE FAIRING WAS SLIGHTLY CROOKED. WHEN HE TOOK THE BIKE TO THE REPAIR SHOP, FOR A RADIO PROBLEM, HE REQUESTED THAT THE TECHNICIAN INSPECT THE FAIRING. THE TECHNICAN STATED THE HANDLEBARS WERE BENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10488224

Incident

Aug 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX EQUIPPED WITH DUNLOP D408F TIRES, SIZE 130/70/R18, DOT DA4Y. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT TIRE WAS CRACKING. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TIRE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ID

10466013

Incident

Jul 15, 2012

Mileage

3,000 mi

FRONT TIRE ON MOTORCYCLE SIDEWALL CRACKING AND SPLITTING DUNLOP D408F I HAVE HAD ONE REPLACED NOW THE 2ND TIRE IS DOING THE SAME THING. I DO NOT HAVE THE DATE CODES FOR THESE TIRES BUT THEY WERE LESS THEN A YEAR OLD. THIS IS A NEWER LINE OF TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463280

Incident

Feb 22, 2012

Mileage

13,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX MOTORCYCLE. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH DUNLOP D408F TIRES, TIRE SIZE 130/70/18. THE DOT NUMBER WAS DA4Y4B1M1712. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FRONT TIRE WAS SEVERELY DEFECTIVE WITH NUMEROUS CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALL. THE FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TIRE ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS EACH TIME. THE ORIGINAL TIRE WAS INCLUDED IN ONE OF THE REPLACEMENTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,400.

NHTSA ID

10462077

Incident

Jun 6, 2011

Mileage

1,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS A STRESS FRACTURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE WINDSHIELD DESPITE THE VEHICLE BEING UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,327.

NHTSA ID

10459372

Incident

May 14, 2012

Mileage

6,327 mi

I HAVE A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE (MODEL FLHX). I REALIZED AFTER I PURCHASED IT THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE A SEPARATE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. THE TURN SIGNALS FUNCTION AS TURN SIGNALS, RUNNING LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THOSE BEHIND ME TO DETERMINE WHEN I AM BRAKING SINCE THE TURN SIGNALS ONLY CHANGE IN INTENSITY - THEY DO NOT TURN OFF AND ON. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, I BELIEVE THE LACK OF A BRAKE LIGHT CONTRIBUTED TO AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING ANOTHER MOTORCYCLIST WHO WAS RIDING BEHIND ME. HE DID NOT REALIZE I WAS BRAKING TO AVOID AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE FOR HIM TO COMPLETELY STOP, HE HIT THE ANIMAL AND SUFFERED $4500 IN DAMAGE TO HIS MOTORCYCLE. I UNDERSTAND THIS BIKE CANNOT BE SOLD IN CANADA BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE A SEPARATE BRAKE LIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10422955

Incident

Aug 10, 2011

Mileage

3,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS FRACTURING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED A LIFE THREATENING CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,279.

NHTSA ID

10422608

Incident

Aug 28, 2011

Mileage

15,279 mi

FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. BEARING CAME APART WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70 MPH). *TR

NHTSA ID

10422602

Incident

Aug 28, 2011

Mileage

15,279 mi

VISUAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH TAIL LIGHTS. TAIL/BRAKE/TURN SIGNALS CAN NOT BE SEEN IN DAYTIME. THE REAR END LIGHTING ON THE HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE AND ROAD GLIDE CUSTOM IS USELESS. I CAN NOT SEE HOW IT CAN POSSIBLY MEET DOT STANDARDS. THERE ARE TWO SMALL LIGHTS FOR TAIL/BRAKE/TURN SIGNALS, AND ONE LED MODULE LOW ON THE FENDER. I WAITED UNTIL THE 2012 MODEL YEAR TO SEE IF HARLEY DAVIDSON WAS GOING TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THEY DID NOT. I DON'T FEEL THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD HAVE TO MODIFY THEIR MOTORCYCLE TO MAKE IT SAFE TO RIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10415325

Incident

Mar 23, 2011