2011 Harley-Davidson Fltru Owner Complaints

riding down a hill i applied the brakes and come across some dirt on the road the anti lock brake activated so i did not skid about a half mile down the road was a stop sign when i applied therear brake again they did not work. There were no warning of the failure until i needed brakes,there were no warning lights before or after the failure . the ABS had to be replaced at a total cost of 1417.59 dollars . the brake system is now working fine after repair.

NHTSA ID

11477993

Incident

Jun 25, 2022

The contact owns a 2011 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Ultra (FLTRU). The contact stated while riding at undisclosed speeds and attempting to apply the front brakes, the motorcycle failed to respond. The contact stated that the brake lever seized during the failure. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V076000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact was informed that the brake fluid needed to be flushed. While the mechanic was flushing the brake fluid, the contact was informed that the brake module needed to be replaced as well for the vehicle to operate as designed. The contact was informed that replacing the brake module was not included in the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.

NHTSA ID

11456802

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

Mileage

31,000 mi

ABS Module goes bad and completely disables brakes Very dangerous. Got on my bike only to have a rock hard pedal with no brakes. Harley should fix this for free.

NHTSA ID

11433448

Incident

Sep 8, 2021

THROTTLE BY WIRE IS NOT DEPENDABLE AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE . MY WIFE PURCHASED THE BIKE FOR ME IN 2011. I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE WHILE NEGOTIATING INTERSECTIONS AND WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH UNCOMMANDED FULL THROTTLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS . BIKE HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIR OF THE TBW FIVE TIMES. IT IS CURRENTLY BACK IN SHOP FOR TBW ISSUES. TO DATE ECM, BATTTERY, TPS, ABS SENSORS, THROTTLE BODY HAVE BEEN REPLACED. OTHER RIDERS HAV HAD THE SAME ISSUES. I LOVE THE BIKE BUT NO LONGER FEEL SAFE RIDING IT NOT KNOWING HOW THE THROTTLE WILL RESPOND WITH THE NEXT TWIST. THE UNCOMMANDED FULL THROTTLE ISSUES WERE LUCKILY ALL WHILE NEGOTIATING LOW SPEED MANUEVERS IN PARKING AREAS AND WHILE PARKING IN THE GARAGE. LUCKILY AS WELL THE BIKES ARE STILL MANUAL SHIFT, WHICH SAVED ME FROM INJURY DURING THE UNCOMMANDED FULL THROTTLE EPISODES.

NHTSA ID

11088332

Incident

Apr 10, 2018

LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF FRONT BRAKES. BRAKE LEVER IS FROZEN OPEN AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEPRESS TO SLOW OR STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. AFTER MUCH TROUBLESHOOTING, REPLACING BRAKE PARTS AND BLEEDING BRAKES, I WAS INFORMED OF A HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT PATTERN OF FAILURE, THE SYMPTOMS OF WHICH EXACTLY DESCRIBE MY SITUATION. THE REAR BRAKES OPERATE NORMALLY. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN USED FOR RECREATIONAL RIDING AND OWNED BY ME SINCE NEW. I DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE WHEN PREPARING FOR THE 2017 RIDING SEASON AND HAVE NOT HAD A SAFE, FUNCTIONAL MOTORCYCLE THIS YEAR.

NHTSA ID

11025189

Incident

May 12, 2017

Mileage

41,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT OF THE MOTORCYCLE EMITTED A TICKING NOISE AND VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT WHEEL COVER SEPARATED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500.

NHTSA ID

11016547

Incident

Aug 20, 2017

Mileage

15,500 mi

SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT.

NHTSA ID

10994390

Incident

Jun 10, 2017

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE LEAVING A PUBLIC PARKING GARAGE I ATTEMPTED TO STOP FOR THE CAR IN FRONT. FRONT BRAKE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE NEARLY CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE ABS MODULATOR. ..UPDATED 02/10/17 *BF *CN

NHTSA ID

10865252

Incident

May 2, 2016

Mileage

1 mi

I WAS RIDING ALONG AT 70 MILES AN HOUR ON I 95, I STARTED TO FEEL SHAKING COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. IT STARTED GETTING WORSE, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK WHAT WAS WRONG AND SAW THAT HALF THE BALL BEARINGS WERE MISSING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL HUB.

NHTSA ID

10840402

Incident

Mar 4, 2016

Mileage

18,023 mi

NOTICED A GRINDING AND JERKING MOTION IN THE FRONT WHEEL PULLED OVER TO INSPECT. DIDN'T NOTICE THE BEARING AT THE TIME. BRAKE PADS WERE A LITTLE THIN SO THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THEM. ROAD THE BIKE HOME AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION NOTICED THAT THE SEALED BEARING ON THE FRONT WHEEL WAS COMING APART AND WAS MISSING SEVERAL OF THE BALL BEARINGS. GOT ON A COUPLE OF FORUMS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 2009 AND NEWER BIKES WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT BEARING FOR MINE ARE ONLY SOLD BY HARLEY SO I'LL BE PUTTING IN THE SAME PROBLEMATIC BEARING THAT THEY PLACED IN IT TO START WITH !!!! THIS IS A DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN. LUCKY NO ONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED YET !!! *JS

NHTSA ID

10579457

Incident

Apr 30, 2013

Mileage

38,245 mi

THROTTLE BY WIRE (TBW) SAFETY . I PURCHASED THE BIKE IN JUNE OF 2012. THE FIRST ISSUE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE BIKE. TO DATE I HAVE HAD 7 INCIDENCES WITH THE TBW, EITHER GOING FULL THROTTLE OR NO THROTTLE. HAVE HAD THE BIKE BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS. AT THE MOMENT I DON' ??T THINK I CAN SAFELY RIDE THE ROAD GLIDE. WILL IT RESPOND THE WAY I WANT IT TOO WHEN I PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, CRUISING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, NEGOTIATING AN INTERSECTION, MERGING OR PASSING A VEHICLE? JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF HARLEY DAVIDSON TBW ISSUES. I DO NOT WANT MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED, DUE TO THE LACK OF THROTTLE CONTROL. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT RIDER SAFETY AND DO NOT FEEL THAT TBW TECHNOLOGY, AT LEAST FOR MOTORCYCLES, HAS BEEN PERFECTED ENOUGH TO BE SAFE. IF YOU GOGGLE THE PROBLEM YOU WILL FIND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE ON ALL HARLEY DAVIDSON. TOURING MODELS EQUIPPED WITH TBW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543287

Incident

Jul 25, 2012

Mileage

4,700 mi

I WAS RIDING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AROUND 60MPH AND I TOOK MY HANDS OFF THE HANDLEBARS TO READJUST SOMETHING, AND THE HANDLEBARS STARTED TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY, AND MOVE FROM SIDE TO SIDE, AND THEN VERY VIOLENTLY. I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE UNTIL I GRIPPED THE HANDLEBARS AGAIN. I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE A LOW TIRE, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE AIR PRESSURE AND TIRES, ALL LOOKED OK. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST THE ROAD I WAS ON AT THE TIME, SO I TRIED IT AGAIN ON A DIFFERENT ROAD AT THE SAME SPEED, SAME RESULTS. I TRIED AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, AND IT HAPPENED AT 45MPH ALSO. I TOOK IT TO THE HARLEY DEALER, BECAUSE THE BIKE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THE SPOKES ON MY WIRE WHEELS ARE COMING LOOSE, AND THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT, WILL NOT WARRANTY THE WHEELS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD TRY TO "TIGHTEN" UP THE SPKES FOR AROUND $200 DOLLARS, BUT HE SAID THEY WILL LOOSEN UP AFTER A WHILE! I HAVE BEEN FORCED FOR MY OWN SAFETY TO REMOVE THESE DEFECTIVE SPOKE WHEELS AND PUT DIFFERENT ONES ON THE BIKE. I HAVE BEEN RIDING FOR OVER 40 YEARS, AND I AM AFRAID A LESS EXPERIENCED RIDER UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS WILL NOT SURVIVE IF THEY EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING I DID. DOES IT TAKE SOME ONE DYEING FOR HARLEY TO REPAIR A KNOWN DEFECT? *TR

NHTSA ID

10522611

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

6,500 mi

DUNLOP MOTORCYCLE TIRE D408F REPEATEDLY CRACKS PREMATURELY ON HARLEY DAVIDSON. TOURING BIKES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510203

Incident

Apr 30, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE ULTRA MOTORCYCLE (N.A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,200. UPDATED 10/24/12*LJ UPDATED 10/31/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10470409

Incident

Aug 24, 2011

Mileage

7,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FL TRUSE (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE THAT BURNT HIS LEG THROUGH HIS PANTS. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES, BUT THERE WAS REDNESS OF THE SKIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LONGER HE DROVE THE MOTORCYCLE, THE HOTTER IT WOULD BECOME. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE CONTACT USED A HANDHELD INFRARED SCANNER AND DETERMINED THAT THE EXHAUST PIPE HEATED UP TO APPROXIMATELY 300 TO 320 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THIS TEST WAS CONDUCTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLED AT 2,000 RPM FOR ABOUT THREE MINUTES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,550 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 08/23/12*LJ UPDATED 09/24/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10466031

Incident

Mar 1, 2012

Mileage

6,550 mi

I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP SIGN AND BEGAN DECELERATING. AT ABOUT 40MPH, I MOMENTARILY TOOK MY HANDS OFF THE HANDLEBARS TO ZIP UP MY JACKET AND THE STEERING FORKS BEGAN TO SHAKE BACK AND FORTH. THE SHAKING GREW MORE VIOLENT IN JUST A SECOND OR TWO. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY HANDS BACK ON THE HANDLEBARS AND THE SHAKING STOPPED AND OPERATION WAS NORMAL. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE BUT FELT THAT IF I HAD NOT REGAINED CONTROL I WOULD HAVE CRASHED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10445746

Incident

Jan 28, 2012

Mileage

8,013 mi

AS THE MOTORCYCLE DECELERATES BETWEEN 40 AND 36 MPH, THE HANDLE BARS BEGIN TO WOBBLE AND SHAKE IF HAND PRESSURE IS REDUCED OR REMOVED FROM THE HANDLEBARS. IF YOU DON' T GRIP THE HANDLEBARS TIGHTLY, THE STEERING WOBBLE INTENSIFIES VIOLENTLY TO THE POINT WHERE YOU WOULD LOSE CONTROL. THIS STARTED THE DAY I PICKED UP THE BIKE (BRAND NEW). AT THE 1000 MILE CHECK-UP, THEY CLAIM TO HAVE ADJUSTED THE STEERING HEAD BEARING, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. AFTER FURTHER COMPLAINTS, THEIR RESPONSE RANGES FROM "IT DOESN'T DO IT FOR US" TO "THERE'S IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT". I HAVE NOTICED HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER RIDERS ON VARIOUS H-D OWNER FORUMS, BUT THE COMPANY IS IN DENIAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444827

Incident

Apr 22, 2011

2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE ULTRA (FLTRU) FRONT END SHAKE WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS BETWEEN 37-42 MPH. AIR PRESSURE FOR TIRES AT RECOMMENDED VALUE FROM OWNERS MANUAL. THIS IS HAPPENING FROM NEW, VERY UNSAFE TO RIDE IN THAT MPH RANGE. HARLEY HAS DENIED THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. DEALER ADMITS THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10418443

Incident

Jul 29, 2011

Mileage

10 mi

I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ON 5/4//2011 & HAD STOP FOR FUEL & WAS LOOKING OVER MY 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTRX MOTORCYCLE & NOTIFIED WHAT TO BE A SMALL CRACK IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES. I WAS ABOUT 50 MILES FROM THE CLOSEST HD DEALERSHIP. I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY HAD NO TIRES IN STOCK & WOULD BE AT LEAST 1 WEEK. THEY CALLED AHEAD TO THE NEXT CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. THEY NOTED THAT THE TIRE WAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES ON THE SIDEWALLS. I WAS ABLE TO GET A BETTER LOOK AT THAT TIME. I TRAVEL TO THE NEXT DEALERSHIP & THEY INSPECTED THE TIRE & REPLACED IT TO ME AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE TIRE WAS DEFECTED. THE BIKE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN OCT 2010 & HAD APX. 3,800 MILES WHEN I SPOTTED THE CRACKS. & 3919 WHEN IT WAS REPLACED. I KEPT THE PROPER AIR IN TIRES. THE TIRE SIZE IS D408F 130/70B18 BW I DIDN'T SEE 130 IN TIRE SIZE & ALSO MY BIKE MODEL SO I USED ON SIMILAR MINE IS FLTRX THANKS YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10411690

Incident

May 4, 2011

Mileage

3,800 mi

WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE FRONT STEERING MECHANISM WILL RADICALLY SWERVE LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT AND SO FORTH WHEN YOU CROSS 42 MPH. IF CRUISING AT 55 AND YOU ENTER A TOWN AND LET GO OF THE HANDLE BAR TO ADJUST YOUR HAT AS THE BIKE CROSSES 42 MPH THE STEERING HEAD WILL SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND ONLY QUICK REFLEXES TO GRAB THE BAR WILL SAVE YOU FROM A CRASH. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY PEOPLE ON THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR OF BIKE. THE PROBLEM IS THE STEERING HEAD BEARINGS ARE MAL-ADJUSTED FROM THE FACTORY. YOU CAN READ ALL ABOUT THIS HERE: HTTP://WWW.ROADGLIDE.ORG/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=3582

NHTSA ID

10403171

Incident

Apr 30, 2011

Mileage

198 mi

2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE CUSTOM (FLTRX) FRONT END SHAKE WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS BETWEEN 37-42 MPH. AIR PRESSURE FOR TIRES AT RECOMMENDED VALUE FROM OWNERS MANUAL. THIS IS HAPPENING FROM NEW, VERY UNSAFE TO RIDE IN THAT MPH RANGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10402083

Incident

Apr 15, 2011

Mileage

325 mi

STRONG GASOLINE FUMES COMING FROM THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE GARAGE INTO THE HOUSE. I HAD TO AIR OUT THE HOUSE IT WAS SO BAD. I JUST PARKED THE BIKE IN THE GARAGE FROM A LESS THAN 20 MILE TRIP AND HALF A TANK OF GAS. I COULD NOT FIND ANY LEAKS AND THE GAS CAP WAS ON SECURELY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10384673

Incident

Feb 27, 2011

Mileage

459 mi