Service Brakes. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

4 reports

7,000 miles · Mar 14, 2018

Service Brakes

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ABS REAR BRAKE FAILURE. MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL BECAME HARD TO PRESS AND RESULTED IN ABSOLUTELY NO REAR BRAKE. ALMOST RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THERE IS NOW A RECALL TO FLUSH THE SYSTEM WITH NEW BRAKE FLUID TO SUPPOSEDLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM. NO VEHICLE WITH ABS SHOULD JUST FAIL WITHOUT AT LEAST REVERTING TO STANDARD BRAKING. THE ABS LIGHT IS BASICALLY USELESS. THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW HOW MANY LIVES THIS ISSUE MAY HAVE CLAIMED OR WILL DO SO IN THE FUTURE. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND POORLY DESIGNED ABS SYSTEM. A DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE, CONSIDERING THE RECALL INVOLVES OVER 200,000 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES WITH ABS! THERE ALMOST IS CERTAINLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS MODULE, THE CONTROLLER OR BOTH! NO, I DID NOT CHANGE THE FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS. I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE USED AND DID NOT RECEIVE THE MANUAL. HOWEVER, TO BLAME THE OWNER FOR THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE ON THE MOCO'S PART AS WELL. WHY DOESN'T THE MACHINE REVERT TO STANDARD BRAKING RATHER THAN NO BRAKES PERIOD? BRAKE FLUID SHOULD BYPASS THAT MODULE. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT, I WILL PROBABLY BE STUCK WITH AT LEAST THE COST OF A NEW ABS MODULE. IS THIS BRAKE FLUID FLUSH WHAT THE NHTSA REFERS TO AS A FREE AND SAFE SOLUTION TO A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE? EVEN IF THE BRAKE FLUID IS FLUSHED EVERY TWO YEARS, WHAT WILL PREVENT A NO BRAKE SITUATION IF A MODULE OR CONTROLLER FAILS? BOTH HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THE NHTSA (TWO ORGANIZATIONS I USED TO RESPECT) SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THIS RIDICULOUS 'SOLUTION' TO A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. UNLIKE, HD I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL THE VEHICLE EVEN AFTER THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS THAT WILL MOST LIKE BE RECOMMENDED ALONG WITH THE FREE FLUID FLUSH KNOWING THAT I MIGHT SELL A DEATH MACHINE. APPARENTLY, HD AND THE NHTSA FEEL DIFFERENTLY. STILL, I AM VERY INTERESTED IN YOUR RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11079476

12,000 miles · Feb 21, 2018

Service Brakes

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC FLHRC. ON FEBRUARY 14, 2018, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD REPLACE THE FLUID, HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE ABS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #11074065

58,000 miles · Oct 12, 2016

Service Brakes

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REAR BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO ABS MODULE FAILURE. HARLEY STATES THAT NOT REPLACING THE BRAKE FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS IS THE ROOT CAUSE, THE FLUID ON MY CYCLE HAS BEEN CHANGED OUT IN ROUGHLY THAT INTERVAL IN MY GARAGE. IF FAILURE IS DUE TO HYGROSCOPIC FLUID THEN A SIMPLE 2YEAR INTERVAL MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO CAPTURE INSTANCES WHERE THE FLUID COMES INTO MORE WATER THAN NORMAL - FOR INSTANCE I COMMUTE IN THE RAIN AND LIVE IN A HUMID ENVIRONMENT. CHIEF CONCERN IS THAT THE BRAKE MODULE FAILS IN STATE WHERE THE BRAKES DON'T FUNCTION VERSUS ONLY THE ABS NOT FUNCTIONING AS WOULD BE TYPICAL FAILURE MODE, NO NOTICE WAS PROVIDED THAT HIGH MOISTURE CLIMATE CAN LEAD TO UNEXPECTED BRAKE FAILURE. FAILURE OCCURRED DURING DAILY COMMUTE IN HOUSTON, TX. FRONT BRAKES CONTINUED FUNCTIONING NORMALLY WHILE THE REAR BRAKE WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL.

NHTSA ODI #10915567

308 miles · Oct 27, 2009

Power Train

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10/27/09, DRIVING 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON 110 SCREAMING EAGLE (FLHTCUSE5), AT APPROX 20 MPH. ENGAGED CLUTCH TO STOP AND IT HAD NO EFFECT, BIKE CONTINUED UNDER POWER. UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, SLAMMED ON BREAKS AND BIKE STALLED, IN TRAFFIC. UPON RESTARTING, UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS, UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE FORWARD MOTION, HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF AT INTERSECTIONS TO RETURN 1 ' 2 MILES HOME. DEALERSHIP HAD NO IDEA WHAT COULD CAUSE. SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH FOUND COMMON PROBLEM WITH HD 110 SCREAMING EAGLE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH. BLEEDING AIR BUBBLES FROM CLUTCH SEEMS TO REMEDY, BUT AN EXCESSIVELY LONGER PROCESS TO ACCOMPLISH RESULT IS REQUIRED, MUCH MORE THAN USUAL OR HD TECHNICIANS ARE TRAINED FOR. COMMON PROBLEM, VERY DANGEROUS, NO KNOWN SERVICE BULLETINS. VEHICLE MODEL TYPE NOT AVAILABLE ON THIS SITE: MODEL FLHTCUSE5. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290019

Official recalls

18V076000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid

Jan 29, 2018

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling all 2008-2011 Touring, CVO Touring and VSRC motorcycles equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), including Road King (FLHR), Road King Police (EFI) (FLHP), Road King Police (EFI) (FLHPE), Electra Glide Standard Police (EFI) (FLHTP), Electra Glide Classic (EFI) (FLHTC), Electra Glide Ultra Classic (EFI) (FLHTCU) and Street Glide (EFI) (FLHX), 2008 VROD (VRSCAWA), CVO Road King 4 (FLHRSE4), Night Rod (VRSCDA), CVO Ultra Classic 3 (FLHTCUSE3), Night Rod Special (VRSCDXA), 2008-2010 Road King Classic (EFI) (FLHRC), 2008-2009 Road Glide (EFI) (FLTR) and Electra Glide Standard (EFI) (FLHT), 2009-2010 V-Rod (VRSCAW), 2009 CVO Ultra Classic (FLHTCUSE4) and CVO Road Glide 3 (FLTRSE3), 2009-2011 Night Rod Special (VRSCDX) and V-Rod Muscle (VRSCF), 2010 CVO Ultra Classic 5 (FLHTCUSE5) and CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), 2010-2011 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (FLHTK) and Road Glide Custom (FLTRX), 2011 Road Glide Ultra 103 (FLTRU103), Street Glide 103 (FLHX103), Road King Classic 103 (FLHRC103), CVO Ultra Classic 6 (FLHTCUSE6), CVO Road Glide Ultra (FLTRUSE), Road Glide Custom 103 (FLTRX103), and CVO Street Glide 2 (FLHXSE2) motorcycles. Deposits may form on components within the brake system if the DOT 4 brake fluid is not replaced for a prolonged period of time beyond the 2-year maintenance schedule specified in the Owners Manual.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will flush the entire brake system with new Platinum Label DOT 4 brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0171.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Consequence: These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will flush the entire brake system with new Platinum Label DOT 4 brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0171.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid

Consequence: These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.

11V506000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Oct 19, 2011

HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 TOURING, CVO TOURING AND TRIKE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6, 2008, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16, 2011. SEE THE ABOVE LIST FOR THE MODELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY BE EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY CAUSE THE SWITCH TO NOT ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP OR ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP WHEN NO BRAKE IS APPLIED AND/OR CAUSE A BRAKE FLUID LEAK AT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, AFFECTING REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE. EITHER CONDITION MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: HARLEY-DAVIDSON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL A INSTALL A REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KIT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

09V457000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting

Dec 1, 2009

HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 TOURING FAMILY MOTORCYCLES, INCLUDING CVO TOURING AND TRIKE PRODUCTS, MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6, 2008 THROUGH NOVEMBER 19, 2009. THE FRONT FUEL TANK MOUNTS MAY DISTORT IN REACTION TO SEVERE FRAME DAMAGE FROM A FRONTAL COLLISION. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE A FUEL LEAK AT THE WELD OF THE FRONT BRACKET TO THE TUNNEL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LEFT AND RIGHT BRACE, WHICH ARE INTENDED TO REDUCE FRONT MOUNT DISTORTION DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS. THIS REPAIR WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE16009 · Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle

Opened Jul 6, 2016 · Closed Apr 23, 2018

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

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 determined that deposits were forming on the valves in the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) of the Antilock Braking System (ABS). These deposits could prevent the proper function of the HCU and render the brakes ineffective.To understand why deposits were forming in the HCU, Harley Davidson completed an analysis of the Dow 460 brake fluid used as original equipment on the subject motorcycles and determined that it had stability issues if left in the brake system for an extended period of time.Harley Davidson found that if a brake fluid flush was not conducted as outlined in the owner?s manual for the motorcycles, and was left in the system for a period of time beyond their recommendation; deposits could form in the HCU.Through further testing, Harley Davidson identified an alternate, commercially available, brake fluid that did not have the same stability issues as the original fluid and could stop the proliferation of any current brake system deposits.ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to Harley Davidson and Dow Chemical (the supplier of the brake fluid on the subject motorcycles) to collect information about the subject bikes and the alleged defect.Harley Davidson responded in full on Sept 30, 2016 and Dow responded with a confidential submission on October 25, 2017.ODI analyzed the information contained in both IR responses and concluded that motorcycles manufactured during Model Years (MY) 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 were failing at a rate greater than their peers.Based on this analysis and the brake fluid study conducted by Harley Davidson, a group of motorcycles was identified that were potentially affected by the instability of the original brake fluid.2008 marked the introduction of ABS on Harley Davidson motorcycles and a change in the Dow 460 brake fluid used in the 2012 MY vehicles provided the bases for the scope of the affected population.With recall action 18V-076 taken by Harley Davidson this investigation is closed as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/ using the complaint identification numbers attached to this resume.