53 of the
238 complaints filed about the Harley-Davidson Flhx
are about the braking system —
22% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2010.
after Harley Davidson performed the recall, the brakes are now lock up due to deposits in brake hydraulic control unit making the motorcycle unsafe to ride. they are stating this is not part of the recall, in the first paragraph of the recall it states that that is the problem that happens from the defective brake fluid. This is exactly why the recall is out there, they had me using defective brake fluid for 10 years before they release the new fluid in February of 2018. This a complete band aid fix from a manufacture if i have ever seen one.
NHTSA complaint #11728727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yes, a triangle on the bottom right side I was not aware of it. The dealership never told me that it needs to be serviced or looked at if that symbol popped up. I tried to get help but no one that Harley Davidson helped me on two separate occasions. The symbol appear approximately one month after purchase maybe two but I purchased a bike in November. The crash happened in January. It happened a few weeks before the crash. Complete brake failure the bike wobbles and threw me off of 30 ft
NHTSA complaint #11726246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brakes are not working properly. There is a pulse when applying the brakes. The brakes do not squarely apply pressure. There is a shutter when applying brakes.
NHTSA complaint #11667686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Front Brakes do not work. I can not operate brake lever will not pull in, brakes have been service to manufacture recommendations, Rear brakes work, the front brake has failed in ABS unit and failed not working.
NHTSA complaint #11612138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I hit my brakes and I felt the abs system kick in and after I let off the brakes the next time I attempted to use the rear brake the pedal was extremely hard to push and I had no braking power on the rear of the motorcycle.
NHTSA complaint #11502301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I took my bike in to Myrtle Beach Harley Davidson for the repair as described in the recall. My bike had no issues with brakes or ABS light. The service department hooked it up to their computer and the ABS light was triggered. The service caused the ABS Module to fail. They refuse to repair the damage they caused. They want me to sign a statement that I know I am leaving their shop without antilock brakes.
NHTSA complaint #11491305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My front brake lever froze and can not be pulled in on my 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle. Dealership is saying brake pistons are froze up and ABS module will need to be replaced. I’ve owned the bike 6 years and have never been told the brake fluid needed to flushed every 2 years. There was a recall on this issue but only for years 2008-2011 and my bike is 2012, but was built on 2011. I never received recall notice.
NHTSA complaint #11489040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2009 Harley-Davidson Street Glide (FLHX). The contact stated while driving out of his driveway at 10 MPH, the front hand-brake pedal was depressed, however felt hard. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. There was no crash. The contact stated he researched the failure online and found a failure related to the ABS module. The contact stated that he contacted the dealer and was awaiting appointment. The contact stated that the dealer informed him that a year ago NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V076000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) was serviced on the motorcycle. The contact believed that the failure was related to the recall. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.
NHTSA complaint #11441475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ABS Module failed causing loss of all brakes on motorcycle. Brakes were working. Brought cycle to Harley Dealer for brake fluid flush as part of recall. Upon mechanic using Digitech to perform service it caused ABS module to fail. Because of failure motorcycle was left with zero brakes. Had to pay out of pocket for new ABS module. Due to design of module when it fails it causes brakes not to function leaving rider and other motorists at risk. I had to pay $641.61 out of pocket to remedy this failure that Harley Davidson was aware of.
NHTSA complaint #11423726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2012 HARLEY STREET GLIDE ABS CONTROL MODULE IS FAILING. CAUSING THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER TO BECOME ROCK HARD AND UNUSABLE. SAME EXACT MODULE THAT WAS RECALLED ON 2008-2010 WAS ALSO USED IN 2011-2013. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU CAN NOT STOP IF SOMEONE PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF YOU.
NHTSA complaint #11390099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT BRAKES COMPLETE FAILURE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. ABS FAILED & INSTEAD OF REVERTING TO NON ABS IT LOCKED OUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM RESULTING IN NO BRAKES. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW ON 2008 & UP HARLEY'S WITH ABS. I BELIEVE THAT AN INVESTIGATION & RECALL ARE IN ORDER PLEASE. I WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED, THIS CAN LEAD TO FATALITIES!!
NHTSA complaint #11338998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON ABS BRAKE SYSTEMS. THERE WAS NO INDICATOR LIGHT OR WARNING THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTED JUST SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE. LUCKILY I WAS JUST MOVING THE MOTORCYCLE AROUND THE YARD WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY ROLL TO A STOP. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR IN TRAFFIC THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 8,000 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGE KEPT IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED BUILDING. ANY HELP OR ADVISE WOULD BE APPRECIATED AND I HOPE THIS CAN HELP OR POSSIBLY SAVE THE LIVES OF OTHER RIDERS.
NHTSA complaint #11229574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE (FLHX). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE BRAKE FLUID WAS PURGED, THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BUMPUS HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF JACKSON (326 CARRIAGE HOUSE DRIVE, JACKSON, TN 38305, (731) 248-0091) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID NEEDED TO BE CHANGED EVERY TWO YEARS. IF NOT, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
NHTSA complaint #11219330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FRONT BRAKES WERE FINE GOING TO WORK BUT WHEN I LEFT WORK THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WAS STIFF AS A BOARD AND HAD NO FRONT BRAKES. THE BIKE WAS NOT IN MOTION WHEN I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11219337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON A 45 MPH 6 LANE COUNTY ROAD AND A CAR CUT IN FRONT OF ME. I DOWNSHIFTED ONE GEAR AND GRABBED THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER AND STEPPED ON REAR BRAKE PEDAL. THEY WERE BOTH AS HARD AS A ROCK AND I HAD NO BRAKES. I JUMPED THE CURB AND ROLLED INTO A GRASSY EMBANKMENT AND THE BIKE FELL ON ME. I HAD NO BRAKES AND RODE HOME WITH A CAR BEHIND ME WITH FLASHERS ON, LESS THAN ONE MILE HOME.
NHTSA complaint #11155622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY- DAVIDSON FLHX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES WAS ENGAGED TO GET THE MOTORCYCLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
NHTSA complaint #11144015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT BREAK LEVER COMPLETELY STIFF. WAS ABOUT TO GO FOR A RIDE WHEN I NOTICED IT. . LUCKILY I WAS NOT RIDING THE BIKE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. FROM WHAT I'VE READ AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS A ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE ABS MODULES ON THESE BIKES. INSTEAD OF ISSUING A RECALL HARLEY HAS OPTED TO REPLACE BRAKE FLUID AT NO CHARGE AND RECOMMEND CHANGING FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS AFTER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND NOT A FLUID PROBLEM. THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER VEHICLES WITH ABS AND DOT 4 FLUID THAT ARE NOT HAVING THIS ISSUE. I HAD ROAD THE BIKE TWO WEEKS BEFORE AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS VERY QUICKLY WITH NO WARNING. THIS COULD BE DEADLY ON THE ROAD!
NHTSA complaint #11133214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.