FaultScore

FaultScore report

2010 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg problems

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the 2010 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg with NHTSA between 2010 and 2025. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 4 worst.

D

FaultScore 71/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg.

How this is worked out

The numbers

10

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

4

Injuries reported

2,241 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

100%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 41 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 100 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 41
Against the median year of the Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
50% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 100
100% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2010 compares with every other Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2010 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 4 40.0%

Median failure at 1,200 miles

Electrical System 2 20.0%

Median failure at 1,448 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 10.0%

Median failure at 3,116 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 10.0%

Median failure at 2,582 miles

Body & Structure 1 10.0%
Brakes 1 10.0%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 5,200 mi

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Mar 2010 peak 2 Jul 2025

NHTSA investigations into the 2010 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE16009 Opened 6 Jul 2016 Closed 23 Apr 2018 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation in July 2016 based on forty-three (43) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ).During the course of this investigation ODI received a total of 145 VOQs related to the alleged defect on the subject motorcycles.Owners allege they experience a sudden and complete loss of brakes on one or both wheels.To better understand the cause of the braking issue on the subject motorcycles, ODI requested NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) conduct inspections and testing of affected vehicle braking systems.Through its work, VRTC determ...

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Mesa, AZ 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSES SEVERE BURNS TO UNDERSIDE OF RIGHT THIGH, KNEE AND CALF. PAINFUL BLISTERING OF THE SKIN IN MANY PLACES ON RIDER'S RIGHT LEG FROM HEAT, (NOT FROM CONTACT WITH HEATED OR HOT COMPONENTS) WHILE WEARING LONG JEANS OR OTHER RIDING GEAR. BURNS ARE SEVERE, WHICH MAKES RIDING IMPOSSIBLE WHILE BURNS ARE PRESENT (RUNNING RISK OF INFECTION AS WELL AS INCREASING NUMBER OF AND SEVERITY OF BURNS). SCARRING HAS OCCURED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10432972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,116 miles Versailles, KY 1 injured

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE MOTORCYCLE HAS RUN VERY HOT FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT 5/10/2011. EVERY TIME I HAD SERVICE, I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HEAT FROM THE PIPES. I STOPPED AT A HD DEALER IN ALEXANDRIA, LA ON 9/17/2010, AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BIKE. I WAS TOLD AT INSTALLATION THE PIPES HAD BEEN INSTALLED WITH NO REMAP OR HIGH FLOW FILTER. I WAS CHARGED $413.57 TO INSTALL THE NEEDED FILTER AND DOWNLOADED A NEW REMAP. I LEFT ABOUT 5:30 P.M. TO RETURN TO MADISON, MS. THE ONLY STOPS WERE AT GAS STATIONS TO FILL UP. THE VENTS ON THE FAIRINGS WERE WIDE OPEN. I RODE WITH MY LEGS UP FROM THE PEDALS BUT COULD FEEL MY RIGHT LEG GETTING UNCOMFORTABLY HOT. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION, I PULLED UP MY PANT LEG. I SAW MY RIGHT CALF WAS BLISTERED FROM THE EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE PIPES. (I HAVE A PICTURE OF MY BLISTERED LEG.) I CALLED HD HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SAID I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT COOPERATIVE WHEN I CALLED TO TALK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY SAID THE TRIKES RUN HOT . APRIL 2011, I WENT TO WILDCAT HD IN LONDON, KY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TRIKE DYNAMOMETER. THEY TESTED THE BIKE AND IT SHOWED IT RAN A FEW DEGREES ABOVE ACCEPTABLE LIMITS. HD HEADQUARTERS REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE BIKE. IT COST ME $1470 TO INSTALL POWER DUAL HEADPIPES AND A SUPER TUNER AS WELL AS THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE DYNAMOMETER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRIKE THAT IT HAS BEEN A COMFORTABLE RIDE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE PIPES. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY YET, HARLEY DAVIDSON DOESN'T CONSIDER THIS TO BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I HAVE LOOKED AT THE WEB PAGES AT HDFORUMS.COM AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH OTHER TRIKE OWNERS. THEY HAVE RECEIVED NO HELP FROM HD HEADQUARTERS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10400369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,200 miles Chicago, IL Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I WAS IN A ACCIDENT DO TO THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 HARLEY TRIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP. ON 6-5-10 I REAR ENDED A FORD EXPLORER AT 50 MPH. AFTER LOCKING UP THE FRONT BRAKES, THE REAR BRAKES DIDN'T LOCK UP OR HELP STOP MUCH AT ALL. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THEM SQUEALING, AND THEM NOT ABLE TO STOP LIKE THEY SHOULD ,BUT I NEVER HAD TO STOP LIKE I NEEDED TO THAT DAY.. IT IS TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK UP THE REAR BRAKES OR TO STOP HARD WITH THE REAR BRAKES. AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES LOOKED AT 6 TIMES AT LEAST AND TWO DEALERS DOING WHAT THEY COULD, INCLUDING REPLACING THE PADS WITH NEW STOCK PADS. STILL NOT HAPPY I HAD THEM REPLACED WITH LYNDALL BRAKES. THEY STOPPED THE SQUEALING BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP WITH THE STOPPING BUT DIDN'T HURT ANYTHING EITHER. I CALLED H.D. ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY MADE IT SEEM LIKE I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH ANY PROBLEMS AND DIDN'T HEAR FROM THEM AFTER. MY INJURIES CONSISTED OF 4 BROKEN RIBS, TORN MENISCUS IN MY KNEE THAT NEEDS TO BE SCOPED OUT, I HAD PRIOR HIP PAIN BUT BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT I NEED A HIP REPLACEMENT 15-20 YEARS SOONER. FRACTURED A BONE OFF IN MY SPINE BUT THEY SAID WERE IT WAS WASN'T IN A SPOT THAT NEEDED SURGERY. ROAD RASH ON BOTH ARMS. HAD TO HAVE A TATTOO REDONE. MY BACK, LOWER BACK, HIP AND RT FOOT WAS BRUISED BADLY. THREE MONTHS OFF OF WORK, 17,000 DAMAGE TO BIKE, AND 18,000 DAMAGE TO MYSELF. I JUST GOT MY BIKE BACK 10-8-10 I KNEW AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT I HAD PLENTY OF DISTANCE. I ALWAYS SAID I JUST COULDN'T STOP. IT WAS SAID THAT I MUST HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING TO CLOSE. I REMEMBERED THE FRONT BRAKE LOCKING UP AND PUSHING AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE REAR PEDAL. I KNEW FOR 3-5 SEC. I WAS GOING TO HIT THE TRUCKS BUMPER. 10-8-10 I PICKED THE BIKE UP AND ON THE WAY HOME I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE REAR BRAKES. LONG STORY SHORT ON MY WAY BACK TO THE DEALER I HAD TO STOP FAST AND ONCE AGAIN COULDN'T STOP. I KNOW FOR A FACT MY ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM NOT BEING BIG ENOUGH TO STOP THE TRIKE.

NHTSA complaint #10362084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 315 miles Corwith, IA 2 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A HARLEY DAVIDSON TRI GLIDE ULTRA CLASSIC THAT WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING, THE LEFT SIDE SUDDENLY A HAD A TREMENDOUS DRAG I BELIEVED CAUSED BY THE REVERSE COMING ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT AROUND 55 MILES PER HOUR. WE WERE THROWN INTO THE ON COMING TRAFFIC JUST MISSING A PICKUP AND WENT DOWN INTO THE DITCH JUST MISSING A LARGE CULVERT. MY WIFE WAS THROWN OFF AND RECEIVED MANY BROKEN BONES AND BRUISES. SHE WILL BE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 6 WEEKS AND THEN MANY MONTHS OF TERAPHY. I WAS ABLE TO STAY ON AND ONLY RECEIVED A LITTLE BACK PAIN. WE WERE BOTH VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE KILLED. HARLEY HAS A BIG PROBLEM THAT NEED ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10342784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Knoxville, TN

STRUCTURE:BODY

One of the bolts holding the floorboard sheared off causing it to collapse. This happened when I placed my weight on the floorboard. If this had occurred when driving at speed (30 to 70 mph) I would have sustained serious injury or resulted in my death. I have researched this and discovered this is a common occurrence as noted on motorcycle forums. This raises the question how many cyclists have lost their lives or been injured when the foot support fails and results in the loss of control of the motorcycle. There was no indication the bolt was going to fail.

NHTSA complaint #11674201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,900 miles Glens Falls, NY

ENGINE

VEHICLE ENGINE AND EXHAUST PRODUCES EXCESSIVE HEAT WHICH I BURNED MY PANTS ON AND THE HEAT IS OVERWHELMING . I TALKED TO HD AND THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WANT TO BRUSH IT UNDER THE RUG. PLEASE HELP THIS IS A MAJOR INCIDENT BURN JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #10713538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mesa, AZ 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSES SEVERE BURNS TO UNDERSIDE OF RIGHT THIGH, KNEE AND CALF. PAINFUL BLISTERING OF THE SKIN IN MANY PLACES ON RIDER'S RIGHT LEG FROM HEAT, (NOT FROM CONTACT WITH HEATED OR HOT COMPONENTS) WHILE WEARING LONG JEANS OR OTHER RIDING GEAR. BURNS ARE SEVERE, WHICH MAKES RIDING IMPOSSIBLE WHILE BURNS ARE PRESENT (RUNNING RISK OF INFECTION AS WELL AS INCREASING NUMBER OF AND SEVERITY OF BURNS). SCARRING HAS OCCURED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10432972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2 miles Hannawa Falls, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

EXTREME HIGH HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, CAUSING BURNS TO RIDER AND PASSENGER RIGHT LEGS.

NHTSA complaint #10421848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,116 miles Versailles, KY 1 injured

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE MOTORCYCLE HAS RUN VERY HOT FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT 5/10/2011. EVERY TIME I HAD SERVICE, I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HEAT FROM THE PIPES. I STOPPED AT A HD DEALER IN ALEXANDRIA, LA ON 9/17/2010, AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BIKE. I WAS TOLD AT INSTALLATION THE PIPES HAD BEEN INSTALLED WITH NO REMAP OR HIGH FLOW FILTER. I WAS CHARGED $413.57 TO INSTALL THE NEEDED FILTER AND DOWNLOADED A NEW REMAP. I LEFT ABOUT 5:30 P.M. TO RETURN TO MADISON, MS. THE ONLY STOPS WERE AT GAS STATIONS TO FILL UP. THE VENTS ON THE FAIRINGS WERE WIDE OPEN. I RODE WITH MY LEGS UP FROM THE PEDALS BUT COULD FEEL MY RIGHT LEG GETTING UNCOMFORTABLY HOT. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION, I PULLED UP MY PANT LEG. I SAW MY RIGHT CALF WAS BLISTERED FROM THE EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE PIPES. (I HAVE A PICTURE OF MY BLISTERED LEG.) I CALLED HD HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SAID I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT COOPERATIVE WHEN I CALLED TO TALK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY SAID THE TRIKES RUN HOT . APRIL 2011, I WENT TO WILDCAT HD IN LONDON, KY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A TRIKE DYNAMOMETER. THEY TESTED THE BIKE AND IT SHOWED IT RAN A FEW DEGREES ABOVE ACCEPTABLE LIMITS. HD HEADQUARTERS REFUSED TO PAY FOR ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE BIKE. IT COST ME $1470 TO INSTALL POWER DUAL HEADPIPES AND A SUPER TUNER AS WELL AS THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE DYNAMOMETER. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRIKE THAT IT HAS BEEN A COMFORTABLE RIDE WITHOUT EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE PIPES. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY YET, HARLEY DAVIDSON DOESN'T CONSIDER THIS TO BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I HAVE LOOKED AT THE WEB PAGES AT HDFORUMS.COM AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT WITH OTHER TRIKE OWNERS. THEY HAVE RECEIVED NO HELP FROM HD HEADQUARTERS. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON NEEDS TO ADDRESS AND FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10400369 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,200 miles Chicago, IL Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I WAS IN A ACCIDENT DO TO THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 HARLEY TRIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP. ON 6-5-10 I REAR ENDED A FORD EXPLORER AT 50 MPH. AFTER LOCKING UP THE FRONT BRAKES, THE REAR BRAKES DIDN'T LOCK UP OR HELP STOP MUCH AT ALL. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THEM SQUEALING, AND THEM NOT ABLE TO STOP LIKE THEY SHOULD ,BUT I NEVER HAD TO STOP LIKE I NEEDED TO THAT DAY.. IT IS TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK UP THE REAR BRAKES OR TO STOP HARD WITH THE REAR BRAKES. AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES LOOKED AT 6 TIMES AT LEAST AND TWO DEALERS DOING WHAT THEY COULD, INCLUDING REPLACING THE PADS WITH NEW STOCK PADS. STILL NOT HAPPY I HAD THEM REPLACED WITH LYNDALL BRAKES. THEY STOPPED THE SQUEALING BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP WITH THE STOPPING BUT DIDN'T HURT ANYTHING EITHER. I CALLED H.D. ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY MADE IT SEEM LIKE I WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH ANY PROBLEMS AND DIDN'T HEAR FROM THEM AFTER. MY INJURIES CONSISTED OF 4 BROKEN RIBS, TORN MENISCUS IN MY KNEE THAT NEEDS TO BE SCOPED OUT, I HAD PRIOR HIP PAIN BUT BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT I NEED A HIP REPLACEMENT 15-20 YEARS SOONER. FRACTURED A BONE OFF IN MY SPINE BUT THEY SAID WERE IT WAS WASN'T IN A SPOT THAT NEEDED SURGERY. ROAD RASH ON BOTH ARMS. HAD TO HAVE A TATTOO REDONE. MY BACK, LOWER BACK, HIP AND RT FOOT WAS BRUISED BADLY. THREE MONTHS OFF OF WORK, 17,000 DAMAGE TO BIKE, AND 18,000 DAMAGE TO MYSELF. I JUST GOT MY BIKE BACK 10-8-10 I KNEW AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT I HAD PLENTY OF DISTANCE. I ALWAYS SAID I JUST COULDN'T STOP. IT WAS SAID THAT I MUST HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING TO CLOSE. I REMEMBERED THE FRONT BRAKE LOCKING UP AND PUSHING AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE REAR PEDAL. I KNEW FOR 3-5 SEC. I WAS GOING TO HIT THE TRUCKS BUMPER. 10-8-10 I PICKED THE BIKE UP AND ON THE WAY HOME I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE REAR BRAKES. LONG STORY SHORT ON MY WAY BACK TO THE DEALER I HAD TO STOP FAST AND ONCE AGAIN COULDN'T STOP. I KNOW FOR A FACT MY ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM NOT BEING BIG ENOUGH TO STOP THE TRIKE.

NHTSA complaint #10362084 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 315 miles Corwith, IA 2 injured

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A HARLEY DAVIDSON TRI GLIDE ULTRA CLASSIC THAT WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING, THE LEFT SIDE SUDDENLY A HAD A TREMENDOUS DRAG I BELIEVED CAUSED BY THE REVERSE COMING ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT AROUND 55 MILES PER HOUR. WE WERE THROWN INTO THE ON COMING TRAFFIC JUST MISSING A PICKUP AND WENT DOWN INTO THE DITCH JUST MISSING A LARGE CULVERT. MY WIFE WAS THROWN OFF AND RECEIVED MANY BROKEN BONES AND BRUISES. SHE WILL BE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 6 WEEKS AND THEN MANY MONTHS OF TERAPHY. I WAS ABLE TO STAY ON AND ONLY RECEIVED A LITTLE BACK PAIN. WE WERE BOTH VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE KILLED. HARLEY HAS A BIG PROBLEM THAT NEED ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10342784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,200 miles Atlanta, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

EXCESSIVE HEAT COMING FROM THE EXHAUST BURNS LEG WHEN RIDING EVEN THOUGH I'M RIDING WITH JEANS ON.

NHTSA complaint #10325600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,582 miles Medina, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

I OWN A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOM CLASSIC TRIKE. THIS BIKE IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (SO CALLED FLY BY WIRE) ON MARCH 18 WHILE RIDING IN MEDINA COUNTY IN OHIO AT 50 MPH THE ETC HAD SOME FORM OF FAILURE AND THE THROTTLE CUT THE RPM TO LESS THAN 1000 AND THE BIKE ABRUPTLY SLOWED TO A CRAWL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY SHUT DOWN THE BIKE AND AFTER FIVE MINUTES RESTART AND THE THROTTLE WORKED AS DESIGNED. I ROAD THE BIKE TO CENTURY HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY ADVISED I HAD A CODE WHICH VERIFIED THE ETC HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THEY ADVISED THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT IS WRONG BUT THEY REPORTED THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE H D ETC. I AM SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED AND REPAIRED ON MARCH 29, 2010. I WAS ADVISED THE BIKE IS SAFE TO RIDE AS IS. ON MARCH 21, THE EXACT SAME THING OCCURRED. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF I WERE RIDING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE LANE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THIS HAPPENS I WOULD BE A SITTING DUCK AND COULD BE KILLED. I BELIEVE HARLEY DAVIDSON IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT IS DOING NOTHING TO GET THE WORD OUT AND TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10321280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,582 miles Medina, OH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I OWN A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOM CLASSIC TRIKE. THIS BIKE IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (SO CALLED FLY BY WIRE) ON MARCH 18 WHILE RIDING IN MEDINA COUNTY IN OHIO AT 50 MPH THE ETC HAD SOME FORM OF FAILURE AND THE THROTTLE CUT THE RPM TO LESS THAN 1000 AND THE BIKE ABRUPTLY SLOWED TO A CRAWL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY SHUT DOWN THE BIKE AND AFTER FIVE MINUTES RESTART AND THE THROTTLE WORKED AS DESIGNED. I ROAD THE BIKE TO CENTURY HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY ADVISED I HAD A CODE WHICH VERIFIED THE ETC HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THEY ADVISED THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT IS WRONG BUT THEY REPORTED THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE H D ETC. I AM SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE SYSTEM CHECKED AND REPAIRED ON MARCH 29, 2010. I WAS ADVISED THE BIKE IS SAFE TO RIDE AS IS. ON MARCH 21, THE EXACT SAME THING OCCURRED. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF I WERE RIDING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE MIDDLE LANE, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THIS HAPPENS I WOULD BE A SITTING DUCK AND COULD BE KILLED. I BELIEVE HARLEY DAVIDSON IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT IS DOING NOTHING TO GET THE WORD OUT AND TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10321280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.