97 of the
333 complaints filed about the Harley-Davidson Flhtcu
are about the braking system —
29% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2009.
While riding my 2009 ultra classic cvc Harley davidson motorcycle the front brake level became stiff and eventually did not compress, no front brakes, while attempting to stop. The rear brake still operated normally. In an emergency, this could cause serious injury or death with front brake failing and possible rear brake failure at same time. a local repair shop inspected the brakes and attempted to bleed system and determined the ABS mudule failed. there were no warning lamp indications of ABS failure. When ABS module fails on HD motorcycles, brakes can also fail. This is a major safety issue with the braking system that shoud still operate to stop motorcycle when ABS module fails.
NHTSA complaint #11725017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS Module failure. Brake pedal solid when depressed with no brakes available. I will request the bad module from the dealer. No brakes is an extremely dangerous condition. The motorcycle is in a Harley Davidson getting the module replaced. This catastrophic failure happened with no warnings or symptoms.
NHTSA complaint #11665136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC LAST JUNE. I WAS RIDING HOME LAST WEEK AND WENT TO USE THE REAR BREAK PEDAL AND THE BRAKE WAS ROCK HARD. I SCHEDULED A SERVICE TO DIAGNOIS THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THE ABS MODULE CAN CAUSE THE ISSUE. I WAS NOTIFIED TODAY THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL FOR THE FLUID CHANGE. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE ONGOING WITH NUMEROUS HARLEYS FROM THE YEAR 2009-2014. THIS ISSUE OF A HARD PETAL WHILE RIDING HOME COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY DEATH AS THEY DID FUNCTION CORRECT ON THE WAY TO HARLEY DEALER AND FAILED ON MY RIDE HOME. THIS PART SHOULD BE COVERED BY HARLEY AS THIS COULD RESULT IN DEATH.
NHTSA complaint #11519295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS module failure resulting in front brake locking up. ABS module failed resulting in brake failure. While I was not involved in any incident the failed part showed no signs of beginning to fail. One day I I got onto the motorcycle and when I went to squeeze the front brake it was hard as a rock and it locked up my front wheel. This particular failure happened in my driveway so nobody was in danger but it also had no warning lights on or gave any signs of failure prior to this incident. If this were to happen while riding the motorcycle it could potentially be deadly for the rider and passenger depending on riding conditions. The part failure has been verified by a Harley Davidson dealership. Parts to correct this are currently back ordered over a month. I do not have the part in my possession as the bike is at a local dealership. I do plan on asking for the failed part once it is repaired. I did have brake work done on this bike in June of 2022, (pad replacement and system flush), and rode this bike on several occasions since the service but prior to failure. The bike had sat for about a month with no activity (covered) prior to this failure. The service was not preformed at a Harley Davidson dealership. There was a prior recall on this system for earlier model bikes for this same type of failure. But my specific year/model was not included. I have read several complaints from other owners in the same date range as mine having the same failure. This is a potentially deadly situation that needs to be corrected as Harley Davidson simply wants to replace the parts and make money off of their poorly engineered design. This type of failure does not occur in a passenger vehicle ABS system.
NHTSA complaint #11494224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When approaching an intersection I went to apply brakes and could not because lever was frozen this resulted in my bike to coast into the intersection I was fortunate the vehicle coming was able to stop.I was told my abs system had failed and would need replaced! The issue was blamed on fluid and lack of flushing and replacement it.The fluid was replaced by dealer 5 months earlier so I’m not buying the fluid is the culprit.Bike has 12,000 miles on it.
NHTSA complaint #11441177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was riding my motorcycle with a group of bikes and had to make an emergency stop. When the brakes were applied, as directed in the owners manual, the ABS failed and caused the rear tire to lock and skid. The resulting skid caused a loss of control of the motorcycle and ultimately laying the bike down on the asphalt highway. This resulted in the rider and passenger sustaining injuries. The passenger received a Tramatic Brain Injury which a month and a half later she is still in recovery. The motorcycle has not yet been repaired or looked at by any Police or Technical personnel. There were no warnings or lights prior to the accident.
NHTSA complaint #11428227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION NEAR MY HOME. I HAD TO STOP QUICKLY AS A CAR TURNED INTO MY LANE JUST A HEAD OF ME. I APPLIED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES OF MY MOTORCYCLE BUT THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER DID NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT WAS AS IF IT WAS FROZEN IN PLACE. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE FRONT BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW USING THE REAR BRAKE AND AVOIDED A COLLISION BY STEERING OUT OF THE WAY. AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND INVESTIGATING, I FOUND THE ABS MODULE HAD FAILED. I ALSO FOUND THIS IS AN ISSUE KNOWN BY HARLEY DAVIDSON OF THEIR 2008-2014 MOTORCYCLES WITH ABS. THEIR SOLUTION, IS TO BLEED THE BRAKE FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS NO MATTER WHAT. I DO THAT MYSELF EVERY TWO YEARS. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT IF I REPLACE THE ABS MODULE, AT SIGNIFICANT COST, THAT A FAILURE WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11322224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA FLHTCUI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GREELEY HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND WILD WEST MOTORSPORTS, INC. LOCATED AT (3010 29TH ST, GREELEY, CO 80631 (970) 351-8150) TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED REFILLED WITH PLATINUM DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN SOUGHT PERMISSION FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO AUTHORIZE AN ADDITIONAL REPAIR HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO AUTHORIZE A SECOND REPAIR. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT PART AND REPAIRED THE MOTORCYCLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11317570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS SYSTEM MODULE FAILURE. BACKING OUT OF GARAGE WITH IGNITION ON, PULLED FRONT BRAKE LEVER AND IT WAS LOCKED, COULD NOT PULL. HAD NO FRONT BRAKE. HAD TO STOP BIKE BY APPLYING REAR BRAKE. REAR BRAKE FUNCTIONED AS IT SHOULD. IF YOU TURN BIKE OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A FEW HOURS, BRAKE PRESSURE IN FRONT EQUALIZES. YOU CAN THEN PULL FRONT BRAKE LEVER AND BRAKE WORKS AS IT SHOULD WITH IGNITION OFF. AS SOON AS YOU TURN IGNITION ON AND ABS MODULE POWERS UP THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER LOCKS UP AND IS UNUSABLE. WHEN RIDING THE FRONT WHEEL TURNS FREELY AS THE BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED, BUT FRONT BRAKE LEVER CANNOT BE PULLED. DIAGNOSIS TO ABS MODULE FAILURE! I LET BIKE SIT OVERNIGHT. PULLED BRAKE LEVER TO ENSURE BRAKES FUNCTIONED WITH IGNITION OFF, BRAKES WORKED FINE. PULLED FUSE 21 FOR ABS SYSTEM. TURNED ON IGNITION, ABS LIGHT COMES ON STEADY AS SYSTEM HAS NO POWER. BRAKES WORKED FINE ON TEST RIDE BUT WHEELS CAN BE LOCKED UP AS ABS IS NON FUNCTIONING. SHUT BIKE OFF, RE-INSTALLED FUSE, TURNED IGNITION BACK ON, ABS SYSTEM POWERED UP AND FRONT BRAKE LEVER LOCKED AND CANNOT BE USED. REPEATED SAME PROCEDURE AS ABOVE AND NOW HAVE FUNCTIONAL BRAKES TO BE ABLE TO OPERATE BIKE, BUT ABS SYSTEM FUSE PULLED AND ABS IS DISABLED. HARLEY DAVIDSON ABS MODULE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN LIFE ENDING IF I HAD FOUND THIS OUT AT THE WRONG TIME WHEN I REALLY NEEDED THE BRAKES. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD FAIL ON THE SAFE SIDE AND BE ABLE TO HAVE OPERATIONAL BRAKES WITH NO ABS FUNCTION, BUT INSTEAD IT FAILS TO THE BAD AND DOES NOT ALLOW THE USE OF THE BRAKES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. VERY POOR DESIGN ABS SYSTEM. WARRANTS A FULL RECALL AT HD EXPENSE! THIS COULD KILL PEOPLE.
NHTSA complaint #11269970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE RIDING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND WERE INOPERABLE. MOMENTS LATER, BOTH THE REAR AND FRONT BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE MOTORCYCLE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP, NEARLY CAUSING A CRASH. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO CENTENNIAL PARK HARLEY-DAVIDSON (12477 E. BROAD ST SW, PATASKALA, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC UNIT AND MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V016000 (SERVICE BRAKES) WITHOUT REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER AND HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.
NHTSA complaint #11256221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HANNUM'S HARLEY-DAVIDSON (1011 W BALTIMORE PIKE, MEDIA, PA 19063, (610) 566-5562) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
NHTSA complaint #11186861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU (ULTRA CLASSIC). WHEN REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF GREENVILLE (30 CHROME DR, GREENVILLE, SC 296615) DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11183127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER COULD NOT BE PRESSED TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON EASTGATE (699 CINCINNATI POTAVIA PIKE, CINCINNATI, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE IN THE ABS MODULE MALFUNCTIONED AND THE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000(SERVICE BRAKES) IN JULY OF 2018, BUT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,176.
NHTSA complaint #11155634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ULTRA-GLIDE FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT BRAKES SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO ENGAGE THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. WITH THE HELP OF A FRIEND, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME. SIX BENDS HARLEY-DAVIDSON (9501 THUNDER RD, FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, (239) 275-4647) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,444.
NHTSA complaint #11131584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED TO FULLY ENGAGE AND FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH WAR HORSE HARLEY-DAVIDSON (5331 N US HWY 441, OCALA, FL 34475, 1-(352) 732-2488) AND WAS PROVIDED WITH A REMEDY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR FROM THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE, INDICATING THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11130210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I,M LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS. OWNER OF A HARLEY DAVIDSON. MY STEEL REAR BRAKELINE WAS SANDED THROUGH.( RESULT NO BRAKE WHILE RIDING) I WENT TO MY DEALER IN BELGIUM, I REPORTED BY THE AFTERSALES MANAGER MR. ANDERSON HARLEY DAVIDSON BENELUX. I ASKED THEM TO TAKE ACTION. (SAFETY RESEARCH) I SENT A E-MAIL TO HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY. ( MILWAUKEE) NO REACTION. IN MY E-MAIL I ASK SEVERAL TO DO RESEARCH, I TOLD THEM THAT THEIR ARE RESPONSIBLE, TAKE CARE ABOUT SAFETY OF ALL ROAD USERS. ( NO REACTION. I WROTE THAT I TAKE RESPONSIBILTY AND I REPORT IT BY COMPETENT AUTHORITIES. I REPORT IT BY : N.H.T.S.A. ( COUNTRY OF MANUFACTERING), BELGIUM, OFFICE OF HOMOLOGATIE VAN VOERTUIGEN, NETHERLANDS, R.D.W. ( NATIONAL ROAD SECURITY) I HAVE THE BROKEN BRAKELINE IN MY POSSESSION. I OFFER THE BELGIUM OR DUTCH INSPECTION THIS BRAKELINE FOR A CHECK WHEN REQUIRED. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. PLEASE INFORM ME.
NHTSA complaint #11123476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO SANDY'S HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORT CENTER (11940 N MAPLE ISLAND RD, FREMONT, MI 49412, (231) 924-3020) FOR SERVICING. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS BLEEDING THE BRAKE FLUID PER THE RECALL, THE ABS MODULE BECAME DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.
NHTSA complaint #11120388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.