2011 Harley-Davidson Flhx 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 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhx, 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
- Brakes840.0%
- Tires & wheels315.0%
- Other / unspecified210.0%
- Exterior lighting210.0%
- Engine15.0%
- Steering15.0%
- Suspension15.0%
- Electrical15.0%
- Visibility15.0%
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
FRONT BRAKE LEVER IS FROZEN IN OPEN POSITION MAKING STOPPING MORE DANGEROUS.
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!
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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 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
FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. BEARING CAME APART WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70 MPH). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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 .