28 of the
333 complaints filed about the Harley-Davidson Flhtcu
are about the throttle and cruise control —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2009.
28
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
on Saturday 8/20/22 i was driving to work when i got in the parking lot i lost throttle control it went to limp mode. shut bike off started it back up worked fine. after work i was riding home got bout 2 mile my engine light came on and i lost power to my throttle. it would not rev up. shut bike off for few seconds it ran fine the rest of the way home. this is very dangerous if someone would of been behind me i could of been hit..ive see a lot of forums with thesame issues. this was the first time it happened to me. ive only had the bike since 6/17/22. called talked to a harley store they said it could be my tps (throttle positioning sensor). this issue need to have a recall this could cause a major accident. bike has 63,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11481105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
KNOWN DEFECT IN THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WIRING IS NOT BEING CORRECTED BY LOCAL DEALERS WHEN PROBLEM VEHICLES ARE PRESENTED FOR SERVICE. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS WARRANTED TO ENSURE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS ALREADY IDENTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER ARE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE MORE OPERATORS/RIDERS ARE PLACED IN DANGER. THIS DEFECT CAN BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AS THE MOTORCYCLE INSTANTLY REDUCES THE ENGINE POWER AVAILABLE WITHOUT PREVIOUS NOTICE TO THE RIDER, WHICH CAN RESULT IN THE MOTORCYCLE FAILING TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SPEED TO MAINTAIN STABILITY IN A TURN. THIS SO-CALLED "LIMP MODE" CONTINUES UNTIL THE MOTORCYCLE IS BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. THIS "LIMP MODE" BEHAVIOR MAY IN AND OF ITSELF ALSO CAUSE A HAZARD TO BOTH THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR AND NEARBY VEHICLES SHOULD THE FAILURE OCCUR WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS ON A ROADWAY WITH LIMITED OR NON-EXISTENT EMERGENCY OR BREAKDOWN AREAS. (A WEB SEARCH FOR "LIMP MODE HARLEY" RESULTS IN OVER 400,000 RESULTS, MOST OF WHICH WILL REFER TO THIS ISSUE.) TO HELP TECHNICIANS RESOLVE THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM NATURE OF THIS DESIGN ISSUE (BY REPLACING TERMINALS IN THE WIRING HARNESS WITH A MORE RESILIENT TYPE) THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED MULTIPLE THEORY AND DIAGNOSTICS PAPERS (TT418 IN 2009 AND TT418A IN 2011) DESCRIBING ACTIONS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. OF NOTE IS THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) WHICH IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM ARE UNIQUE AND CAN ONLY BE REMOVED FROM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) MANUALLY. MY MOTORCYCLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS EPISODES OF THIS FAILURE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. IN THE LATEST CASE, I ALMOST DROPPED THE BIKE LEAVING A PARKING LOT AS THE LIMP MODE KICKED IN. ALTHOUGH THE DTC CODES (P2135 AND P1511) WERE PRESENT IN THE ECM THE DEALER CHARGED ME FOR THEIR TECHNICIAN TIME WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE REPAIRS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED IN THE TT418A PAPER.
NHTSA complaint #11113923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR TO THE EFI/ECM IS FAULTY, CAUSING MULTIPLE CODES DEALING WITH LOW VOLTAGE TO THE THROTTLE BY WIRE, THESE LOW VOLTAGES CAUSES THE THROTTLE TO FAIL DURING RIDING AND LOSS OF SPEEDOMETER. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN IN MULTIPLE ACCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ISSUE WHICH HAS OCCURED WELL OVER 30 TIMES IN 8 YEARS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000 USD IN REPAIRS, YET THE DESIGN FLAW CONTINUES TO KEEP CAUSING THE SAME ISSUES YEAR AFTER YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #10971524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE ACCELERATION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOUR OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE ACTUATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. ...UPDATED 07/13/16
NHTSA complaint #10873475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIDING ALONG AND THE THROTTLE GOES INTO IDLE MODE AND WILL NOT SPEED UP. MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING RUN OVER AND WAIT FOR A FEW MINUTES. IT FIRED UP OK AND MANAGE TO GO ANOTHER 20 OR SO MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. WAITED AT THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE FOR A WHILE STILL WOULD NOT WORK AND FIRED UP AND LIMPED ALONG TO AN EXIT. THE SHOP REPLACED GRIP SENSOR. WORKED FINE NOW LESS THAN A YEAR AND ONLY 3000 MILES IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY A SEMI ON THE INTERSTATE BEFORE I COULD GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10717731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE RIDING IN RESIDENTIAL AREA BIKE BEGAN LURCHING AND UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONSTANT SPEED OR RPM. TOOK TO SHOP AND THEY STATED BIKE DID NOT HAVE ANY CODES DISPLAYING. THEY LUBRICATED ALL CONNECTIONS ON THROTTLE ASSEMBLY AND IT TEMPORARY RESOLVED ISSUE. NOW WHEN I START THE BIKE THE THROTTLE IS UNRESPONSIVE AND BIKE IS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. SOMETIMES SHUTTING DOWN AND RESTARTING WILL TEMPORARILY RESOLVE ISSUE, HOWEVER, BIKE IS NOT SAFE TO RIDE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WARRANTS A RECALL, HOWEVER NOT RECALLS TO DATE.
NHTSA complaint #10649933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE WENT INTO IDLE MODE AND HAD NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BY WIRE TBW. CAN HAPPEN AT ANY OPERATING SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #10629530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 06/24/2014 AT 16,948 MILES WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A RED LIGHT STOP ON MY 2010 FLHTCU, I GOT TO 30 MPH AND THE THROTTLE CUT OUT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I LIMPED THE BIKE 4 MILES HOME AND SHUT IT DOWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT RESET ON THE SECOND RESTART AND THROTTLE RESUMED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A FAULTY TWIST GRIP SENSOR. THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR AND THEY SAID IT WAS ALL SET. ON 08/15/2014 AT 18,600 MILES WHILE MERGING ONTO ROUTE 6 EAST IN BREWSTER, MA THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, THE THROTTLE CUT OUT AND THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. TRAFFIC HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY TO AVOID HITTING ME AS I PULLED OFF INTO A TWO FOOT WIDE SHOULDER. I HAD TO RIDE IN THIS NARROW SHOULDER AREA FOR FIVE MILES TO THE NEXT EXIT AT 10 MPH WITH A PASSENGER WHILE TRAFFIC RUSHED BY AT 65 MPH JUST INCHES AWAY. I GOT OFF THE NEXT EXIT AND SHUT THE BIKE DOWN. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THROTTLE RESET ON THE NEXT RESTART. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT CODE AND AS DIRECTED BY A FACTORY TECH TIP REPLACED A PIN IN THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HARNESS AND PACKED IT WITH DIELECTRIC GREASE. THEY CLEARED THE CODE AND SAID IT WAS ALL SET. I'M CURRENTLY RIDING THE BIKE AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER EITHER BY RECALL OR PRODUCT PROGRAM. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE AS SEEN HERE ON THE NHTSA SITE AND OTHER FORUMS. PLEASE HAVE THIS ADDRESSED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON.
NHTSA complaint #10628276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BIKE WENT INTO THE "LIMP-MODE" WHILE RIDING ON INTERSTATE 80 NEAR JOLIET, ILLINOIS. WHEN IN THE "LIMP-MODE" THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN BUT THERE IS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ONTO. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR AND HARLEY-DAVIDSON DENIES A PROBLEM EXISTS. HOWEVER, HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS ISSUED TWO SERVICE BULLETIN'S TO THEIR DEALERS (TT418 AND TT418A TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. I GUESS A FEW PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THEY HAVE A RECALL TO FIX THEIR FAULTY PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10621048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE PASSING LANE TRAVELING AT 55MPH WHEN I LOST MY THROTTLE RESPONSE AND THE BIKE WENT TO AN IDLE MODE. I ALMOST WAS HIT WHILE COASTING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THIS BIKE ALSO WENT TO THE IDLE MODE AFTER STARTING IT ONE TIME LAST YEAR AND I HAD TO RESTART IT 3 TIMES TO GET IT TO RESPOND. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A COMPUTER GLITCH. WHEN THIS OCCURRED AT 55MPH I FEARED FOR MY LIFE AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON JUNE 10. THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT. MY DEALER DOES NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT PART (FUEL INDUCTION MODULE) NOR DOES HARLEY DAVIDSON MFG. THEY MUST BE GOING THROUGH THEM LIKE HOT CAKES. THE DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT GET ONE UNTIL JUNE 19. I CALLED HD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COMPLAIN AND THEY CONFIRMED. NOW THE SHIP DATE HAS BEEN MOVED TO JUNE 30! HAVING CHECKED THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I SEE THIS IS NOTHING NEW. THERE ARE LAW SUITES DATING BACK TO 2008 ON THIS PROBLEM! PLEASE FORCE HD TO MAKE THE RECALL BEFORE ANYONE ELSE IS HURT OR KILLED!!!!!!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10605492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRIC RIDE FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE WHEN THE FRONT BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED A SENSOR FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
NHTSA complaint #10598833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PURCHASED THE 2014 H-D ELECTRAGLIDE ULTRA CLASSIS THE DAY BEFORE REALIZING THE EXISTENCE OF THE DEFECT DESCRIBED HEREIN. WHILE RIDING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TO DISENGAGE UPON APPLICATION OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: FRONT BRAKE/BACK BRAKE/CLUTCH/ROLLING THE THROTTLE FORWARD. UPON NEARING A VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME, I 'TAPPED' THE FRONT BRAKE; THIS ACTION, HOWEVER DID NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. I TRIED AGAIN, USING MORE FORCE ON THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER...AGAIN, THE CRUISE CONTROL REMAINED ENGAGED. I THEN DETERMINED THAT IT WOULD DISENGAGE USING THE THREE OTHER METHODS (BACK BRAKE/ROLLING THROTTLE FORWARD/CLUTCH). THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE SELLING DEALER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SOME ELECTRONIC COMPONENT HAD FAILED. IT WAS REPLACED AT NO COST. I AM SUBMITTING THIS REPORT BECAUSE THE FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE UPON APPLICATION OF THE FRONT BRAKE CREATED A SITUATION IN WHICH I WAS APPROACHING A VEHICLE AHEAD AT HIGH SPEED, WHEN MY BIKE SHOULD HAVE THEN BEEN 'COASTING', WHICH NECESSITATED TRYING ALTERNATE METHODS TO DISENGAGE THE SYSTEM. HAD I NOT FOUND AN ALTERNATE WAY TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, A COLLISION WOULD LIKELY HAVE RESULTED.
NHTSA complaint #10598041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I PROCEEDED TO LEAVE ,STARTED MOTORCYCLE.ENGAGE CLUTCH TO SHIFT. TURN THE THROTTLE TO MOVE...NO RESPONSE.HARLEY DAVIDSON THROTTLE BY WIRE..DIDN'T RESPOND..DID RESEARCH ON COMPUTER FOUND THAT MANY INCIDENT'S WHERE IT WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN ON FREEWAY SPEEDS. THERE IS NO RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONLY NUMEROUS BULLETINS DESCRIBING WHAT TO LOOK FOR. I AM AFRAID NOW THAT IF I LOSE THROTTLE CONTROL I AM AT RISK OF CAUSING A DEATH OR ACCIDENT CAUSE I CANT RESPOND TO THE SITUATION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
NHTSA complaint #10537068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DOING 60 MPH IN TRAFFIC AND MOTOR CUT OUT. IT WENT INTO 'LIMP MODE' ONLY ALLOWING ABOUT 1500 RPM. FROM THE MOTOR, W/ NO RESPONSE OR POWER FROM THE ENGINE IF I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND/OR THERE HAD BEEN A VEHICLE RIGHT BEHIND ME I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE EXPERIENCED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. APPARENTLY THROTTLE BY WIRE (TBW) CONNECTION @ THE FUEL INJECTION BODY WAS NOT SEALED @ THE FACTORY AND THE CONNECTORS CORRODE UNTIL NO VOLTAGE WILL GO FROM THE THROTTLE WIRES TO THE EFI. DEALER STATES IT'S COMMON PROBLEM W/ HD TBW AND THERE ARE ALOT OF POSTS ON THE INTERNET RE: OTHER RIDERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. HD MOCO. REFUSES TO RECALL IT. SEEMS SOMEONE (OR SEVERAL SOMEONE'S) WILL HAVE TO DIE FOR A RECALL TO HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #10532149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY,BIKE SHUT DOWN AND I HAD NO THROTTLE CONTROL.JUST ABOUT GOT HIT FROM BEHIND, THE BIKE WOULD IDLE AND THAT'S IT. SEAT ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY FOR 15 MINUTES, STARTED BIKE BACK UP AND WENT ANOTHER 100 YARDS AND IT DID IT AGAIN. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS TILL I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET HOME. THIS IS A VERY BAD SITUATION AND VERY DANGEROUS. WHAT IS HARLEY DAVIDSON GOING TO DO ABOUT IT. I CANT GO AROUND THE BLOCK MUSH LESS CROSS COUNTRY.
NHTSA complaint #10521224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING IN THE THROTTLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT GUARANTEE A REMEDY TO THE FAILURE AND IF THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE THROTTLE WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,500.
NHTSA complaint #10511056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVISON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,000.
NHTSA complaint #10463045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE RIDING AT 60MPH, THE ENGINE SLOWED THE BIKE DOWN TO 25MPH. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC WHERE A SURPRISE SLOW DOWN WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS ABLE TO RIDE THE BIKE ON THE SHOULDER AT 25MPH, AND LET TRAFFIC GO AROUND ME UNTIL THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAFELY GET OFF OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WAITED 4 TO 5 MINUTES. I THEN RESTARTED THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE RESPONDED NORMALLY, AND I RODE HOME WITH NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS. THE LAST TIME WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS FOR ME AS I WAS IN 55MPH, ALMOST BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKY THAT THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY TO EXIT THE ROAD WHERE I GOT OFF AND FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10448488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF, WHEN IT UNEXPECTEDLY STARTED AND ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PUSH TO START IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,486.
NHTSA complaint #10447291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS TRAVELING UP A MOUNTAIN, WHEN THE BIKE SUDDENLY WENT TO IDLE SPEED. THE THROTTLE HAD NO EFFECT ON THE BIKE. THIS WAS ON A TWO LANE ROAD WITH NO PLACE TO PULL OFF.THE BIKE WAS STOPPED ON THE ROADWAY. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I RESTARTED AND THEN THE THROTTLE AGAIN WAS WORKING. I CONTINUED FOR ABOUT A TENTH OF A MILE BEFORE THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I RESTARTED AND I PROCEEDED . THIS SITUATION REPEATED ONE MORE TIME GOING UPHILL WHERE A GENTLEMAN FOLLOWED ME WITH FLASHERS ON TO INSURE MY SAFETY. AFTER REACHING THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, IT DID IT ONE ADDITIONAL TIME. AFTER THE FOURTH TIME I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME ABOUT FIVE MILES AWAY. HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE DANGEROUS. THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE BIKE FROM INFORMED THEY HAVE RECEIVED FEW COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE BUT I HAVE READ MANY IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON ONLINE FORUMS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10443471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.