ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABS System failure causing brakes to fail
NHTSA complaint #11458977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Harley-Davidson Flhtcu electrical problems
35 of the 333 complaints filed about the Harley-Davidson Flhtcu are about the electrical system — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2009.
35
Complaints
11%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
Electrical System complaints by model year
What owners said
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER RIDING IN THE RAIN. BIKE WAS STATIONARY. . ALL GAUGES (SPEEDO, TACH, FUEL & VOLT) WENT OUT. NEXT DAY CAME BACK ON. BIKE WAS STATIONARY. BUT A WEEK LATER WENT OUT AGAIN AND STILL OUT. BIKE WAS STATIONARY.
NHTSA complaint #11316843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. SCREEN FOR GPS AND RADIO STOPPED WORKING
NHTSA complaint #11048522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2009 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu
Maysville, NC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 30 MPH, IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS, CONNECTING THE THROTTLE AND CARBURETOR, WAS FAULTY. THE PINS ON THE HARNESS WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 11/07/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10904281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER USING THE USB AS A MEDIA SOURCE, THE NEXT TIME THE MOTORCYCLE IS POWER CYCLED THE STEREO DEFAULTS TO FM AND RESETS THE FADE CONTROL. HARLEY INITIALLY SAID THIS WAS DUE TO SOFTWARE, BUT THEN CHANGED TO SAYING IT WAS NORMAL OPERATION. ON NOVEMBER 16TH, I SPOKE WITH CASE MANAGER (JOHN), WHO ADVISED THAT THIS IS DUE TO THE SYSTEM SENSING A VOLTAGE CHANGE WHEN SHUTTING DOWN. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEAD UNIT TWICE; ONCE WITH A FACTORY REFURBISHED DEVICE, AND THEN WITH A 2015 MODEL. I MUST NOTE THAT I DID NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE FOR THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. SINCE HARLEY HAS CHANGED THEIR CAUSE ANALYSIS TWICE, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A WIDESPREAD ISSUE. JOHN STATED THAT HARLEY HAS NOT ISOLATED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IS NOW PRESENTING THIS THE "THE WAY THE UNIT SHOULD WORK". MY CONCERN IS THAT I RODE FOR 2 YEARS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS, AND NOW HAVE ONE THAT THE COMPANY CANNOT RESOLVE. SINCE THIS OCCURS APPROXIMATELY 60 - 65% OF THE TIME, I WORRY THAT THIS IS NOT REALLY A STEREO PROBLEM, BUT IS SYMPTOMATIC OF A LARGER PROBLEM WITHIN THE CENTRAL ELECTRICAL/WIRING SYSTEM OF THE MOTORCYCLE. SINCE AUGUST I HAVE WORKED WITH 3 SEPARATE DEALERS, AND WITH HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. I FEEL THAT THIS MAY BECOME A DEGRADING ISSUE THAT COULD CREATE MORE SERIOUS ELECTRICAL TROUBLES THAT MAY LEAD TO MAJOR FAILURES.
NHTSA complaint #10794565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE RIDDING MY FLHTCU THE BIKE GOES TO "LIMP MODE" NO THROTTLE,AT MULTIPLE SPEEDS, WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING. AFTER TONES OF RESEARCHING, HOUR OF LABOR, AND A TONE OF MONEY, THE ISSUE STILL EXIST AND I AM AT BUT A LOSE. DURING RESEARCH I FOND THIS ISSUE TO BE A VERY COMMON ONE WITH MULTIPLE HD MODELS. DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY OF THE MATERIALS, PARTS, AND ENGINEERING DESIGNED USED TO CAUSE SUCH A EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD, ANY WHERE ON THE ROAD. I AM REQUESTING HD TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND TO GENERATE A RECALL TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THEIR COSTUMERS. YOU CAN NOT HAVE A MOTORCYCLE QUIT ON YOU IN FRONT OF A TRACTOR TRAILER ON THE INTERSTATE OR ANY WHERE ON THE ROAD ALL BY ITS SELF. EXTREAMLY DANGERIOUS.
NHTSA complaint #10759798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RIDING MY 09 HARLEY ULTRA, WHEN AT LOW SPEED I HAD TO STOP FOR A CAR STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WAS FROZEN AND COULD NOT APPLY THE BRAKE. I SWERVED OFF INTO THE GRASS TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR. THE REAR BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT AT SLOW SPEEDS I USE THE FRONT SO I CAN PUT MY FEET DOWN WHEN THE BIKE COMES TO A STOP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AT HIGHER SPEEDS THIS WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE FATAL!! HARLEY CLAIMS THAT IF THE ABS FAILS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THAT IT WILL " FAIL SAFE" WITH NORMAL, NON ABS BRAKING. THIS IS NOT THE CASE!! WHEN THE ABS FAILS ELECTRONICALLY, IT FAILS CRITICAL. NO BRAKES. WHEN I CALLED THE HARLEY DEALERS IN MY AREA I GOT THE SAME STORY FROM BOTH OF THEM. ALMOST WORD FOR WORD LIKE IT WAS REHEARSED. "WE'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT HAPPENING BEFORE. YOU'RE THE FIRST ONE WE'VE SEEN WITH THAT PROBLEM. WE DON'T SEE PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS." I BOUGHT IT TO THEM AND THEY FOUND THE ABS MODULE DEFECTIVE. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO "FAIL SAFE" AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT WASN'T TRUE. HE SAID "THIS IS THE 3RD OR 4TH ONE WE'VE HAD AND THE ALL FAIL THE SAME WAY. CAN'T SQUEEZE THE LEVER AND NO BRAKES!" HE CLAIMED THAT BECAUSE THEY SEE SUCH A LOW NUMBER OF BIKES WITH THIS ISSUE THAT IT'S NOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I DISSAGREE! MOST PEOPLE THAT EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM ARE DEAD!! I WAS RIDING SLOW IN A NON PANIC SITUATION. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS MY BIKE IS SAFE TO RIDE TO RIDE, BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IF THE PROBLEM RETURNS I WOULD AGAIN, BE LEFT WITHOUT BRAKES. I BOUGHT A NEW HARLEY BECAUSE I WANTED THE ADDED SAFETY OF ABS BRAKES. BUT NOW IT SEEMS THAT HARLEY ABS MAY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING ME KILLED THAN THEY DO OF SAVING MY LIFE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SITUATION IMMEDIATELY!! MANY LIVES COULD BE LOST BY YOUR DELAY ON THIS MATTER. IF YOU FIND OUT I DIED IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT PLEASE CHECK OUT MY BRAKE SYSTEM!
NHTSA complaint #10721585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AS PER SERVICE BULLETIN ; TT418-A ,ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CORROSION AND FRETTING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN DUE TO VIBRATION . THIS SITUATION IS HAZARDOUS AS THE BIKE CAN FAIL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND INTERSECTIONS . HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION SENSE 2008 . AS TO DATE THERE IS NO RECALL PLANNED.
NHTSA complaint #10584426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRAVELING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THE SPEED DROPS TO 15 MPH HARLEY DAVIDSON CALLS IT LIMP MODE , SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED NOT FUN ON THE HIGHWAY. HARLEY DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.
NHTSA complaint #10515560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
RIDING ALONG AT 60 MPH WHEN THE BIKE WENT INTO "LIMP MODE". I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE AND MY SPEED INSTANTLY DROPPED TO 10 MPH. ONCE THE BIKE GOES INTO THIS "LIMP MODE", THE SPEED IS AUTOMATICALLY LIMITED TO 10 MPH. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD TO RIDE AT 10 MPH DOWN A BUSY STREET WITH MY FLASHERS ON TO PREVENT GETTING REAR ENDED BY ALL THE CARS. THIS "LIMP MODE" IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON (CHECK IT OUT ON GOOGLE OR AT HDFORUMS.COM. HARLEY IS APPARENTLY REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE WITH THE BIKES. THROTTLE BY WIRE (TBW) IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSTIC ISSUES THAT "THROW CODES" (DTC) DIAGNOSTIC TECHNICAL CODES AND CAUSE THE BIKE TO IMMEDIATELY GO INTO THIS DANGEROUS LIMP MODE. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AND CREATE THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING HIT IN THE REAR END BY TRAFFIC THAT IS BEHIND YOU. IMAGINE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND HAVING YOUR MOTORCYCLE IMMEDIATELY DROP TO 10 MPH. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES ON HDFORUMS.COM AND ON THE INTERNET RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. *JS
NHTSA complaint #10455951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SUDDENLY ACTS ERRATIC SOMETIMES REVVING THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY AND SOMETIMES GOING INTO "LIMP MODE" CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IN TRAFFIC AND CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10438369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2009 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu
Lake Charles, LA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD CRACKING NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE STARTER CLUTCH WOULD CAUSE THE STARTER GEAR TO DISENGAGE AND THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPENSATOR ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK WITH THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10397038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MULTIPLE INCIDENTS. WHILE MAINTAINING A CRUISE SPEED OF 65 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO IDLE RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED. ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND TO THROTTLE CONTROL. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SHOULDER OF ROAD. RETURNED MOTORCYCLE TO DEALER. DEALER CLAIMED THEY CLEARED FAILURE CODES BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE SYMPTOMS. THEY CALLED TECH SERVICES AND WERE TOLD OF A SERVICE BULLETIN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION CORROSION FOR THROTTLE CONTROL. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SUDDEN LOSS OF ABILITY TO MAINTAIN FLOW WITHIN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10396505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.