63 of the 210 complaints filed about the Harley-Davidson Flhtk are about the braking system — 30% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2010.
63
Complaints
30%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
SERVICE BRAKES
And module locked up the rear tire. Break pedal became hard and not operational.
NHTSA complaint #11593078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2011 Harley-Davidson FLHTK Electra Glide Ultra. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V076000 (Services Brakes, Hydraulic) was performed; however, while riding and coming to a complete stop, the front brake was engaged but failed to respond. The contact was able to stop the motorcycle by engaging the rear brake. The contact stated that the front brake was inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure and charged a fee for the repair. The motorcycle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.
NHTSA complaint #11553821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
The ABS module has failed on my HD FLHTK causing the rear brake to stop working with no warning. The dealer has my bike but said the module is out of stock and is back ordered until April of 2024. Doing an internet search reveals this is a known problem, sometimes causing both front and rear brakes to fail without warning. They said the brake fluid should have been replaced every two years to avoid this problem. I did not know this. The risk is obvious. The diagnosis was done by Henderson Harley-Davidson, in Henderson, Nevada. My bike remains there. There was no warning before the failure.
NHTSA complaint #11553453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
The coolant pump failed causing the engine to over heat which I was informed is a known issue with this year model. Plus my ABS system failed which makes the bike unable to operate.
NHTSA complaint #11510017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
Lost brakes to rear wheel with abs failure
NHTSA complaint #11481917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
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 #11466705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKE PADDLE HARD TO PRESS IN MOTION,AND ON HIGHWAY
NHTSA complaint #11391035 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS BRAKE ISSUES. LOCKING UP
NHTSA complaint #11388215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WE WERE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES INSTANTLY LOCKED UP. WE WENT FROM 70 TO 0 IN SECONDS. WE BARELY MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER AS WE NEEDED TO CLEAR OTHER BIKES. PEOPLE BEHIND US CLAIM THE BRAKE LIGHTS NEVER CAME ON NOR DID THE ABS LIGHT TO INDICATE AN ISSUE. THE BRAKES REMAINED LOCKED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE WE COULD EVEN MOVE THE BIKE. THE BIKE WAS TRAILER TO HD IN FREDERICK WHERE THEY CLAIM IT'S A FAULTY ABS MODULE. NOW HD IS FIGHTING THE REPAIR. SEARCHING ONLINE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ABS MODULES. THIS ISSUE COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY AND A LESSER EXPERIENCED RIDER WOULD HAVE DROPPED THE BIKE WHEN IT BIT DOWN HARD, THE FRONT END OF THE BIKE DROPPED DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11339520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AT 25 MPH, WHILE APPLYING THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHSIDE HARLEY-DAVIDSON LOCATED AT 385 N WITCHDUCK RD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23462, (757) 499-8964, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MODULE AND FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.*DT
NHTSA complaint #11326501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
MY FRONT BRAKES ON MY 2013 HARLEY DOSE NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME AND IT IS HARD TO PULL IN THE BRAKE LEVER TO WHERE WHEN I PULL THE BRAKE LEVER IN AND CAN NOT MOVE THE LEVER WITH NO BRAKES...AND SOME TIMES THE FRONT WHEEL LOCKS UP BY JUST SITTING OR AT A STOP LIGHT AND MY SPEED CONTROL STOPS WORKING ON AND OFF AND HAVE A ENGINE LIGHT THAT GOES ON AND OFF VIN #[XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11325581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN I WENT TO APPLY THE REAR BRAKE THE PEDAL WAS SOLID AND BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I NARROWLY AVOIDED CRASHING BUT NOT MY BIKE IS NOT SAFE TO RIDE. AFTER RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT HARLEY HAS BEEN AWARE OF ABS FAILURE FOR MANY YEARS THAT WAS CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN OF THEIR ABS SYSTEM. HOWEVER IT IS UP TO THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE THE PART. THEIR RECALL STATES TO CHANGE BRAKE FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS. HOWEVER OTHER VEHICLES WITH TH ESAME BRAKE FLUID HAVE NO ISSUES.
NHTSA complaint #11323169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS FAILURE, NO ABS FAILURE LIGHT ON. RIDING ON I82 BETWEEN KENNEWICK WA AND UMATILLA OR. RIDING AT 70 MPH, ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE FOR SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC AND DISCOVERED REAR BRAKE PEDAL IN HYDRAULIC LOCK CONDITION, UNABLE TO PUSH PEDAL DOWN...SO NO REAR BRAKE. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. WAS ABLE TO GET HARLEY HOME SAFELY. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 EXIST FOR EARLIER MODELS WITH SAME ABS PROBLEM. COST OF REPAIR $1500 TO $2000. NEED SAME RECALL FOR LATER YEARS
NHTSA complaint #11321876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
FRONT 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.
NHTSA complaint #11321235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE I COULD NOT DEPRESS THE FRONT BRAKE HANDLE, IT WAS COMPLETELY STUCK AND WOULD NOT MOVE.
NHTSA complaint #11307034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
BOTH BRAKES FAILURE DURING STOP ARRIVING HOME LOW SPEED. ABS SYSTEM DEAD
NHTSA complaint #11297271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
THE 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SERVICE MANUAL TOURING MODELS (99483-14) CONTAINS A PROCEDURE FOR BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER UNLESS AIR IS INTRODUCED INTO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. SUBSEQUENT TO THE PUBLICATION OF THIS MANUAL, SOME 2008-2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE MODELS WERE INVOLVED IN AN NHTSA RECALL FOR ABS BRAKE ISSUES. AFTER THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, HARLEY-DAVIDSON NOW REQUIRES THAT ALL YEAR MODEL MOTORCYCLES WITH ABS HAVE THE BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT PERFORMED USING THE DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (HD-48650), WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE TO OWNERS. THE DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II ACTIVATES THE ABS MODULE DURING A BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT TO ENSURE ALL CONTIMANATED BRAKE FLUID IS FLUSHED FROM THE ABS MODULE AND BRAKE LINES. AS I STATED, THE 2014 SERVICE MANUAL DOES NOT REQUIRE THIS STEP. HARLEY-DAVIDSON ALLOWS OWNERS TO PURCHASE SERVICE MANUALS IN ORDER FOR OWNERS TO PERFORM THEIR OWN SERVICE AND REPAIRS TO THEIR HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLES TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND REPAIRS. THEREFORE, OWNERS WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT A CRITICAL BRAKE SERVICE PROCEDURE HAS BEEN CHANGED WHICH, IF DONE AS OUTLINED IN THE OLDER SERVICE MANUAL, COULD END UP CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE THE RIDER AND/OR PASSENGER. I FEEL IT IS NEGLIGENT OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE THIS PROCEDURE WITHOUT NOTIFYING OWNERS.
NHTSA complaint #11217354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
FRONT 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 #11202668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
I RECENTLY TOOK MY MOTORCYCLE IN FOR THE RECALL BY HARLEY DAVIDSON. EVEN AFTER HAVING THE RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED, ON A SUDDEN BRAKE, THERE IS A VERY DISTINCT PULL ON THE REAR BRAKE. THIS OCCURS AT 35 MPH, 55 MPH, AND 65 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #11193499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN LA AND TEXAS ON IH10 WEST I APPLIED REAR BRAKES,DUE TOO RIDING IN A RAIN STORM ,WHERE AS THERE WAS NO PEDAL WENT TO FOOT BOARD ,APPLIED FRONT BRAKES AND SLOWED BIKE(ALMOST HIT THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME),TRIED REAR BRAKES AND HAD A PEDAL SO CONTINUED ON,LATER I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING SO I GOT OFF HIGHWAY TO CHECK, GOT SMOKE FROM MY REAR BRAKES , PROCEEDED TO NEAREST HARLEY DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD IT WAS TO LATE FOR THEM TO LOOK AT (CLOSING TIME) PROCEEDED HOME ANOTHER 100 MILES,NEXT DAY I REMOVED REAR BRAKE CALIBER FOUND THE PADS BURNT UP ,GOT SO HOT THEY WHERE WHITE ,THE ONLY THING THAT KEEP THEM FROM CATCHING FIRE I THINK WAS IT WAS RAINING ,FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND ONE PISTON STUCK IN THE OUT POSITION ,GOT REPLACEMENT PADS AND AFTER MARKET CALIPER KIT (HARLEY DOES NOT SELL REPAIR KITS FOR CALIPERS) REPLACED PADS AND REBUILD KIT COST ME 346$ AND BRAKES HAVE WORKED FINE EVER SINCE (3K MILES AGO), KIT CONTAINED 4 PISTONS AND SEAL REPLACEMENTS,
NHTSA complaint #11181760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.