Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Exterior Lighting. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. 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
5 reports
7,100 miles · Aug 7, 2013
Exterior Lighting
REAR RIGHT RUNNING LIGHT FAILED, TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE SIGNAL STILL FUNCTION. RUNNING SIGNAL COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN A RANDOM PATTERN. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY LOOSE CONNECTION, ABRASION, KINK, CRIMP OR OTHER VISUAL DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRE GOING TO THE LIGHT. BIKE HAS REDUCED ROAD AND NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY DU…
Read full complaint
REAR RIGHT RUNNING LIGHT FAILED, TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE SIGNAL STILL FUNCTION. RUNNING SIGNAL COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN A RANDOM PATTERN. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY LOOSE CONNECTION, ABRASION, KINK, CRIMP OR OTHER VISUAL DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRE GOING TO THE LIGHT. BIKE HAS REDUCED ROAD AND NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY DUE TO PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10534081
11,000 miles · Aug 15, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
AFTER ONLY 700 MILES, MY TAIL LIGHTS BURNT OUT AND CONTINUE TO DO SO EVERY 50 MILES OR SO. HARLEY DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED MANY TIMES BY MYSELF AND OTHER RIDERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR WRITE A RECALL FOR THE WIRING HARNESS OR SOCKETS. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THEM TO DO SOME…
Read full complaint
AFTER ONLY 700 MILES, MY TAIL LIGHTS BURNT OUT AND CONTINUE TO DO SO EVERY 50 MILES OR SO. HARLEY DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED MANY TIMES BY MYSELF AND OTHER RIDERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR WRITE A RECALL FOR THE WIRING HARNESS OR SOCKETS. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THEM TO DO SOMETHING? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET REAR ENDED WHILE RIDING AT NIGHT? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10470841
1,350 miles · Mar 13, 2012
Exterior Lighting
UPON STARTING THE BIKE I NOTICED THE RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT HAD BURNED OUT. I'VE HEARD FROM ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON OCCURANCE AND FEAR IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10451539
400 miles · Jan 27, 2012
Exterior Lighting
THE LEFT SIDE 1157-TYPE BRAKE/TAIL/TURN-SIGNAL BULB FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 400 MILES. WITHIN THE NEXT 1000 MILES THE ORIGINAL RIGHT-SIDE BULB FAILED, AND 2 SYLVANIA "LONG LIFE" REPLACEMENT BULBS HAVE ALSO FAILED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10445606
250 miles · Nov 16, 2011
Exterior Lighting
THE LEFT SIDE TAIL/ RUNNING LIGHT ON MY 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXS BLACKLINE HAS GONE OUT NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE BIKE ON 12 SEPT 2011. 1ST TRIP BACK TO DEALER ABOUT PROBLEM, WAS TOLD BAD BATCH OF BULBS...BUT I HAVE TRIED NON-HD BULBS (1157 BULBS AS DIRECT BY DEALERSHIP) AND PROBLEM PERSISTS. NEED SOMETHING DONE SOON.…
Read full complaint
THE LEFT SIDE TAIL/ RUNNING LIGHT ON MY 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXS BLACKLINE HAS GONE OUT NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE BIKE ON 12 SEPT 2011. 1ST TRIP BACK TO DEALER ABOUT PROBLEM, WAS TOLD BAD BATCH OF BULBS...BUT I HAVE TRIED NON-HD BULBS (1157 BULBS AS DIRECT BY DEALERSHIP) AND PROBLEM PERSISTS. NEED SOMETHING DONE SOON. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10436114
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Fxs Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration