Motorcycle, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from May 29, 2012 to May 31, 2022.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11V-506 | Oct 19, 2011 | Rear brake light switch may be exposed to excessive heat from the exhaust system | Lighting | 250,757 | Repair or modification |
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
19 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
Rear brake failed, & no ABS. Push hard on pedal and NO BRAKES!!! Brake pedal very stiff and applies no brakes!! Almost got into wreck. It was close and I am calling it a wreck. Thank god I was going slow! This issue is highly dangerous!! Why doesn't the NHTSB give a [XXX]? (Rear brake has never worked well since new. Had it in the Harley shop when new, and they say nothing is wrong. Nothing wrong??? No brakes on a motorcycle is not a good thing!!!!!! ) Found that 2011 & earlier bikes have a recall on the ABS. My 2012 has the same system. Why is there not a recall? Also found that Harley will not fix the brake issue on the recalled bikes. WHY??? Also, air suspension system fails. This leads to a loss of control of the bike, somewhat. Also triple trees feel loose which effects handling. This may be related to the air suspension issues. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint 11466705REAR BRAKE PADDLE HARD TO PRESS IN MOTION,AND ON HIGHWAY
NHTSA complaint 11391035FRONT BRAKE LEVER IS VERY HARD TO PULL, FRONT BRAKES WON'T ENGAGE. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY AND GETTING READY TO EXIT. I TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND IT GOT BETTER BUT ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME IT WAS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. HE SAID IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON'S FAULTY DESIGN. THIS SEEMS TO STILL BE HAPPENING EVEN WITH BIKES NEWER THAN MINE. HOW MANY MORE LIVES HAVE TO BE LOST BECAUSE OF HARLEY DAVIDSON'S FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT MY MECHANIC USE TO DO ALL THE WARRANTY WORK FOR THE HARLEY DEALERSHIP IN AUGUSTA, GA HE IS A VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND REPUTABLE AND HONEST MECHANIC. *TR
NHTSA complaint 11321235WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE I COULD NOT DEPRESS THE FRONT BRAKE HANDLE, IT WAS COMPLETELY STUCK AND WOULD NOT MOVE.
NHTSA complaint 11307034FRONT BRAKE LEAVER FROZE UP AS I WAS PREPARING TO STOP. LUCKY REAR BRAKES WORKED. THE BRAKE LEAVER IS FROZE IT WILL NOT OPERATE.
NHTSA complaint 11202668WHILE RIDING MY BIKE, I OBSERVED TRAFFIC STOPPING/SLOWING AHEAD. I TRIED TO PULL MY FRONT BRAKE LEVER AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. NO GIVE WHATSOEVER. LUCKILY I WAS NOT IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKE SITUATION SO I DOWN SHIFTED MORE RAPIDLY, USED MY REAR BRAKE AND CAME TO A STOP. AT THE NEXT RAMP, I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AND PULLED INTO A GAS STATION. WHEN I TRIED MY FRONT BRAKE LEVER AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS PULLING BACK, BUT NEEDED A LOT OF FORCE. IN ANOTHER MINUTE I TRIED AGAIN AND IT FELT NORMAL, AND ENGAGED THE BRAKE. I CONTINUED HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE NEXT COUPLE TIMES I RODE IT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. THEN LAST WEEK IT FELT FINE AND WAS WORKING FINE. THE ALL OF THE SUDDEN I TRIED TO BRAKE W/THE FRONT AND IT JAMMED AGAIN. I TRIED A LITTLE MORE PRESSURE, AND IT BEGAN TO MOVE. AFTER ABOUT AN INCH OF TRAVEL, IT GAVE ALL THE WAY AND LOCKED THE BRAKE. I WAS GOING SLOW ENOUGH THAT THE WHEEL DIDN'T SKID, BUT I ENDED UP ON MY GAS TANK UP AGAINST MY FAIRING! I WAS NOT INJURED, AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO MY BIKE, BUT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, MY WELL BEING WOULD HAVE BEEN AT A HUGE RISK. AFTER SEEING A MECHANIC, AND GOING ONLINE TO RESEARCH THIS, I FOUND OUT THAT THE ABS MODULE, IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS AS I HAVE HEARD THIS FROM QUITE A FEW PEOPLE OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THIS, BUT I WANTED TO GET THIS OUT THERE, SO YOU HAVE A REPORT ON THIS, SO MAYBE YOU FOLKS CAN LOOK INTO THIS. BRAKE SYSTEMS AREN'T SUPPOSE TO KILL RIDERS, IN MY OPINION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
NHTSA complaint 11162130THE REAR DUNLOP TIRE ON MY 2012 HARLEY ELECTRA GLIDE STARTED TO LOSE AIR. UPON A CLOSER INSPECTION THE TIRE WAS SPLITTING IN NUMEROUS SPOTS. THE TIRE IS NOT DRY ROTTED . FOR SAFETY REASONS IT WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO INSTALLED THE TIRE. HE STATED HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. A NEW TIRE HAD TO BE INSTALLED . UOPN INSPECTION THE MECHANIC AND DEALER STATED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE MOTORCYCLE TO CAUSE THE ISSUE. DUNLOP STATED IT WAS DUE TO EITHER HEAVY LOAD(THIS IS A MOTORCYLCE NOT A TRUCK) OR RUNNING IT AT LOW PRESSURE. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE SINCE EVERY TIME THE BIKE IS RIDDEN A FULL SAFETY CHECK IS DONE BEFORE RIDING! OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT. THE DUNLOP REP (COMPLAINT LINE I CALLED) STATED THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE THE RECIEPTS FOR WHEN THIS TIRE WAS PUT ON AND ALSO FOR THE NEW ONE. THIS TIRE SHOULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST HALF IT'S LIFE LEFT BUT DUE TO IT'S FAILURE IT WORE UNEVENLY AND CRACKED. THIS HAPPENED AT THE MAXIMUM OF 100 MILES.
NHTSA complaint 11151141TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ULTRA LIMITED (NA). WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GATEWAY HARLEY-DAVIDSON (3600 LEMAY FERRY RD, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63125) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 3338038. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
NHTSA complaint 11082510ABS REAR BRAKE PEDAL IS STUCK AND WILL NOT DEPRESS. I HAVE NO REAR BRAKE AT ALL. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET APPROX. 40MPH. COMING TO A STOP, I TRIED TO APPLY REAR BRAKES AND FOUND THE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS. I HAD NO REAR BRAKE.
NHTSA complaint 11067410TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE WOBBLE WHEN BEING OPERATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE WILKINS HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR SHOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. TWO DAYS LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED AT APPROXIMATELY 6-10 MPH TURNING A SHARP CORNER, THE FRONT END WOBBLED SEVERELY AND THE MOTORCYCLE CRASHED INTO THE CURB. THE MOTORCYCLE LANDED ON THE CONTACT. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PICKED UP BY A FAMILY MEMBER. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE ANKLE AND HAND, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ASKED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO THEIR LOCATION FOR INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint 10994926TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS MODULE FAILED AND RESULTED IN A LACK OF FRONT BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
NHTSA complaint 10939730PURCHASED 4/30/2013 WITH 4075 MILES. FORCED TO REPLACE BATTERY ($167.00) MAY 2015 DUE TO DEAD CELL PREVENTING MAINTAINING FULL CHARGE, EVEN ON MAINTAINER. EVEN AFTER REPLACING BATTERY, STILL WOULD NOT MAINTAIN A FULL CHARGE. WHILE RIDING AFTER BATTERY-CHARGER ACTION, ABS, BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ONE ONE AFTER ANOTHER. CONTINUING ON TO HD FOR REPAIR, LIGHTS WENT OFF IN REVERSE ORDER AS CAME ON. THEY REPLACE REGULATOR. HEALTH PREVENTED ME FROM RIDING OFTEN BUT SHE IS STORED IN A WEATHER PROOF SHED WITH THE BATTERY MAINTAINER RUNNING 24/7 TO KEEP BATTERY IN GOOD ORDER. NO SUCH LUCK. CHANGED BATTERIES IN FOBS, STILL DEAD.
NHTSA complaint 10850170TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE FALLS OFF OF THE TRANSMISSION SPLINE BOLT. IT HAPPENED TO ME WITH LESS THAN 9000 MILES. APPARENTLY IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I GOT STUCK IN 6TH GEAR AND THERE WERE MANY TIMES ON THE WAY HOME I NEEDED TO NOT COME TO A STOP WITH TWO ON THE BIKE. THERE WAS A FEW TIMES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFER TO DOWN SHIFT ON THE ROAD. THE ISSUE IS A VERY POOR DESIGN WHERE THE SHIFT ARM LEVER MATES TO THE TRANSMISSION SPLINE BOLT.
NHTSA complaint 10846312WHEN SLOWING DOWN RAPIDLY, THE FRONT END WOBBLES FIERCELY, YOU HAVE TO BE HOLDING ON VERY TIGHTLY AND MAKE IT STOP FASTER FOR IT TO BE CORRECTED, I HAVE HAD THE BIKE IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES AND NO RESOLUTION. IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10701901THIS IS CONCERNING MY 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC LIMITED. WITHOUT WARNING, MOST PREDOMINANTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE BIKE WILL GO INTO LIMP MODE. BY THAT I MEAN, THE THROTTLE-BY-WIRE WILL DISCONNECT THE ENGINE'S RPM'S AND DECREASE TO 1200 RPM RESULTING IN MAKING THE HANDLEBAR THROTTLE CONTROL USELESS. (CREATING INSTANT PANIC FOR FEAR OF VEHICLES BEHIND ME RUNNING OVER ME, ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC) THEREFORE I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND GO THROUGH TO PROCEDURE OF RESTARTING THE ENGINE. TO DATE, BY MY COUNT, THE BIKE HAS DONE THIS 29 TIMES. HARLEY DAVIDSON SERVICE HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM 8 TIMES, FOR WHICH I HAVE DOCUMENTS. PLEASE CALL [XXX] FOR MORE INFO. I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE ON 12/18/2012. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC
NHTSA complaint 10583274WHILE RIDING MY HARLEY MOTOR CYCLE ON VACATION ACROSS NEBRASKA ON HIGHWAY 76 I NOTICED EXTREME HEAT ON THE INSIDE OF MY RIGHT LEG AND LOSS OF POWER. THE INSIDE OF MY RIGHT WAS BURNED AND GOT INFECTED, TOTAL BILL FOR DOCTOR AND TIME OFF FROM WORK WAS APPROXIMATELY $1500.00-$2000.00. THE WORK DONE ON THE MOTOR CYCLE BILL WAS $1487.00. THIS IS SUPPOSE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM OF OVER HEATING. NEW HEAD PIPES $524.95, KIT,SESTAGE 1 AIC %)MM$139.95, KIT-EFI SUPER TUNER,SCREA $459.95, JOB CODE;0 TEC: JDK $81.00, DYNO TUNE$275.40. I HAVE PAID ALL EXPENSES. I BOUGHT THIS HARLEY IN FULL FAITH THAT THE ENGINEERS WERE IN GOOD FAITH OF HIGH QUALITY SUPERIOR WORK ETHICS FOR THE CUSTOMER. I BELIEVE HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS FAULT WITH THIS OVER HEATING PROBLEM. TRYING TO BLAME IT ON EPA OR SOMEONE ELSE IS NOT TRUE. THEY ENGINEERED THE PRODUCT, THEN THE SHOULD MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS AND STILL HAVE A SUPERIOR PRODUCT. *TR
NHTSA complaint 104824782012 FLHTK ULTRA LIMITED PURCHASED 03/2012. ON MAY 25TH 2012 THE FRONT BRAKE FAILED. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WAS HARD AND WOULD NOT MOVE TO ENGAGE THE FRONT BRAKES. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY I WAS TOLD THE ABS MODULATOR HAD A STUCK VALVE OR SOME UNKNOWN FAILURE AND HD WAS SHIPPING OUT A PART TO FIX IT. THURSDAY THAT SAME WEEK THEY CALLED AND SAID THE BIKE WAS FIXED. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND SPENT 5 HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH HD CORPORATE OFFICE CUSTOMER SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO BE INFORMED OF WHAT EXACTLY THE FAILURE WAS. I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A TECH WHO CAN EXPLAIN WHY THE ABS SYSTEM DID NOT WARN ME OF A FAILED VALVE AND WHY THE ABS WAS ABLE TO DISABLE THE FRONT BRAKES ON A MOTORCYCLE. THE ABS SOLE REASON FOR BEING ON THAT BIKE IS ADDED SAFETY, NOT TO MAKE IT LESS SAFE. HAD THIS FAILURE HAPPENED A FEW HOURS LATER, I WOULD HAVE BEEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON THE INTERSTATE WITH NO WAY TO STOP THE BIKE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY! I UNDERSTAND THINGS BREAK, I GET IT. BUT HD DID NOT TEST THE REST OF THE COMPONENTS IN THE ABS SYSTEM FOR OTHER CONTRIBUTING ISSUES. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO ABS LIGHT, NO CODES, NOTHING. JUST GO TO GRAB THE BRAKES AND THEY ARE NOT THERE, THE ENTIRE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. I SEEM TO BE THE ONLY ONE WHO SEES JUST HOW SERIOUS THIS ISSUE IS AND NO ONE AT HD WILL HELP ME IN GETTING ANSWERS. THE ABS SYSTEM ON HD MOTORCYCLES IS SERIOUSLY FLAWED IF IT IS ABLE TO LOCK YOU OUT OF USING THE BREAKS AND GIVE NO WARNING EVEN THOUGH IT DID IT'S SELF CHECKS AT START UP. I AM STILL TRYING TO GET ANSWERS BUT AS OF THIS WRITING, I STILL HAVE NO ANSWERS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED OR IF IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS IS THE SECOND BRAKE FAILURE ON 2 BRAND NEW HARLEYS I BOUGHT THIS YEAR. THE OTHER IS A 2012 DYNA FXDC, FRONT MASTER CYLINDER FAILED THE DAY AFTER WE BOUGHT IT! *TR
NHTSA complaint 10461323WHILE RIDING HOME FROM WORK THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WAS APPARENT FROM WATCHING THE VOLT METER THAT THE BIKE WAS RUNNING ON THE BATTERY. AFTER LEAVING AT THE LOCAL DEALER THEY FOUND THE VOLTAGE REGULAR WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD TO ORDER A NEW ONE WHICH WAS ON BACKORDER BECAUSE IT APPEARS HD IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THESE UNITS. ONE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR WAS REPLACED (A WEEK LATER) THE BIKE IS RUNNING FINE. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10460714REGULATOR FAILED IN HOT CLIMATE. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10459905Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.