Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim — NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,215,138 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports — when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report — that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints — specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened — feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 4,189 complaints for HARLEY-DAVIDSON
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUTG
(2009) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Oct 31, 2011
Incident date: Sep 4, 2010
ON THE ABOVE DATE THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE LESS THAN A MINUTE AFTER STARTING IT. I HAD RODE THIS VEHICLE TO WORK AND WAS AT WORK FOR AROUND TWO HOURS. UPON LEAVING WORK, I STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT GETTING ON AND WAS REACHING TO PUT ITEMS IN THE TRUNK WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. WHEN WALKING UP TO THE VEHICLE I DID NOT SMELL GASOLINE OR NOTICE ANY LEAKING FUEL BEFORE STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE. TH... Read more
Fire
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
VRSC
(2012) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Oct 28, 2011
Incident date: Oct 1, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING MOUNT IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND BOTH TURNING INDICATORS WOULD ONLY WORK WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE DEFECT NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUOUSLY RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILU... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUTG
(2010) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Oct 27, 2011
Incident date: Oct 1, 2010
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 NUMB... Read more
1 injured
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
VRSCDX
(2008) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Oct 26, 2011
Incident date: Jun 11, 2011
I OWN A 2008 VRSCDX HARLEY DAVIDSON - THE REAR BRAKE FAILED AS IT IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE FAILURE IS CAUSED BY THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE SWITCH MELTING ALLOWING THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT OF THE SYSTEM. I HAVE CONTACTED HD AND PROVIDED THEM WITH MULTIPLE CASES OF OTHER VRSCDX BIKES HAVING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCU
(2009) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Oct 25, 2011
Incident date: Oct 23, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY DECELERATED INTO AN IDLE MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED IN APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE THROT... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUSE5
(2010) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Oct 25, 2011
Incident date: Aug 17, 2011
REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WIRES CAUGHT ON FIRE LEADING TO COMPLETE REAR BRAKE FAILURE. *TR
Fire
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHRC
(2009) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 24, 2011
Incident date: May 11, 2011
I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS BIKE USED, I BOUGHT IT FROM A NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE COMPANY WHO DEALS IN RENTAL BIKES. I WAS UNAWARE THIS BIKE YEAR (2009) HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE BY WIRE SYSTEM, AS OF TODAY'S DATE I'VE HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES WHERE THE BIKE HAS WENT INTO BREAK DOWN MODE BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY SYSTEM. THE PRIOR TWO INCIDENTS WERE DIAGNOSED AND APPARENTLY FIXED BY MY LOCAL BIKE SHOP, ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXSTC
(2008) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Oct 24, 2011
Incident date: Jul 1, 2011
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVI... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXSTC
(2008) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oct 24, 2011
Incident date: Jul 1, 2011
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVI... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXSTC
(2008) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Oct 24, 2011
Incident date: Jul 1, 2011
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVI... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2010) — STEERING
Oct 23, 2011
Incident date: May 18, 2011
I PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2011. IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED AT INTERMITTENT SPEEDS AND NON-SPECIFIC CONDITIONS THE FRONT END WILL START TO WOBBLE IN EVER INCREASING INTENSITY, IF HANDS ARE OFF THE HANDLE BARS. WITH HAND ON THE BARS, THE CONDITION CAN BE FELT BUT IS KEPT UNDER MORE CONTROL OF THE RIDER. HAT HIGH SPEEDS IT IS MORE PRESENT EVEN WITH HANDS ON THE HANDLE BARS. THIS CONDITION DI... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2010) — SUSPENSION
Oct 23, 2011
Incident date: May 18, 2011
I PURCHASED A USED VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2011. IMMEDIATELY EXPERIENCED AT INTERMITTENT SPEEDS AND NON-SPECIFIC CONDITIONS THE FRONT END WILL START TO WOBBLE IN EVER INCREASING INTENSITY, IF HANDS ARE OFF THE HANDLE BARS. WITH HAND ON THE BARS, THE CONDITION CAN BE FELT BUT IS KEPT UNDER MORE CONTROL OF THE RIDER. HAT HIGH SPEEDS IT IS MORE PRESENT EVEN WITH HANDS ON THE HANDLE BARS. THIS CONDITION DI... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTRU
(2012) — STEERING
Oct 22, 2011
Incident date: Sep 24, 2011
AT APPROXIMATELY 45-35MPH, WHEN DECELERATING, THE FRONT END WOBBLES VIOLENTLY, TO THE POINT WHERE YOU MUST HAVE YOUR HANDS FIRMLY ON THE BARS TO CONTROL IT. FIRST NOTICED WHEN BIKE WAS IN 3RD GEAR, LET OFF THROTTLE WHILE CRUISING TO STOP AND USED BOTH HANDS TO ZIP UP JACKET; NEARLY CRASHED AS IT WOBBLED ME TOWARDS CENTER LANE. WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE NEARLY EVERY TIME UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS; I.E. RU... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTRU
(2012) — POWER TRAIN
Oct 22, 2011
Incident date: Sep 24, 2011
AT APPROXIMATELY 45-35MPH, WHEN DECELERATING, THE FRONT END WOBBLES VIOLENTLY, TO THE POINT WHERE YOU MUST HAVE YOUR HANDS FIRMLY ON THE BARS TO CONTROL IT. FIRST NOTICED WHEN BIKE WAS IN 3RD GEAR, LET OFF THROTTLE WHILE CRUISING TO STOP AND USED BOTH HANDS TO ZIP UP JACKET; NEARLY CRASHED AS IT WOBBLED ME TOWARDS CENTER LANE. WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE NEARLY EVERY TIME UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS; I.E. RU... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCU
(2010) — POWER TRAIN
Oct 20, 2011
Incident date: Dec 1, 2010
COMPENSATOR FAILURE. THE COMPENSATOR ON MY H-D HAS DEVELOPED A BANGING NOISE ON STARTUP AND CONTINUES TO MAKE NOISE UP TO THE 3500 RPM RANGE. HARLEY DAVIDSON IN MIAMI, FLORIDA SERVICED MY MOTORCYCLE AND FOUND THE MOUNTING BOLT TO BE LOOSE. AFTER SERVICE THE COMPENSATOR THE NOISE RECURRED AFTER 100 MILES. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE IF THIS UNTIL SHOULD COME APART AND LOCK UP THE DRIVE TRAIN WHILE ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTR
(2009) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Oct 18, 2011
Incident date: Jun 1, 2011
MOTORCYCLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN I PULLED OUT ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH FAST ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO TWIST GRIP THROTTLE. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTR
(2009) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Oct 18, 2011
Incident date: Jun 1, 2011
MOTORCYCLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN I PULLED OUT ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH FAST ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO TWIST GRIP THROTTLE. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTR
(2009) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Oct 18, 2011
Incident date: Jun 1, 2011
MOTORCYCLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN I PULLED OUT ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH FAST ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO TWIST GRIP THROTTLE. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCUSE3
(2008) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Oct 15, 2011
Incident date: Oct 10, 2011
WHILE RIDING AT APPROX 45 MPH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT OR WARNING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE BIKE WAS TOWED TO HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER FOR REPAIR RESULT FUEL FILTER HOUSING O-RING CAME OUT AND LOST FUEL PRESSURE THIS IS THE 2ND TIME. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTFI
(2006) — SEATS
Oct 4, 2011
Incident date: Sep 23, 2010
WHEN REMOVING SEAT, LEFT SIDE ANGLE BRACKET THAT HOLDS SCREW, (1/4-20 THUMB SCREW), FELL TO FLOOR. THIS BRACKET WAS RIVETED TO THE PLASTIC SEAT PAN, IN A TRIANGULAR PATTERN. THE BRACKET, RIVETS, AND PLASTIC, ABOUT THE SIZE / SHAPE OF A NICKEL, FELL OUT IN ONE PIECE. THERE ARE SPIDER CRACKS IN THE SEAT PAN AROUND THE HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE AND ON THE RIGHT SIDE BRACKET ASSEMBLY AREA ALSO. IF THE SEA... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTC
(2005) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Oct 3, 2011
Incident date: Sep 24, 2011
CAM CHAIN TENSIONER FAILURE CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO ENGINE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE IF ENGINE LOCKS UP. I WAS INFORMED BY A SALES PERSON NAMED [XXX] AT EAGLE HARLEY DAVIDSON IN LAFAYETTE IN THAT I HAD A MOTORCYCLE WITH PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE CAM CHAIN TENSIONER. THE CHAIN TENSIONER WILL FAIL CAUSING ENGINE DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL. I ASKED WHY THERE IS NOT ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTC
(2009) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Sep 30, 2011
Incident date: Aug 2, 2011
VEHICLE RANDOMLY GOES INTO "LIMP" MODE UNDER ACCELERATION, HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS. HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE (HARLEY DAVIDSON TT418) BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTC
(2009) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Sep 30, 2011
Incident date: Aug 2, 2011
VEHICLE RANDOMLY GOES INTO "LIMP" MODE UNDER ACCELERATION, HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL NEAR COLLISIONS. HARLEY DAVIDSON IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE (HARLEY DAVIDSON TT418) BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
V-ROD
(2004) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Sep 28, 2011
Incident date: Sep 12, 2011
THE FUEL GAUGE DOESN'T READ PROPERLY ANYWHERE BELOW FULL. I LEARNED FROM FELLOW OWNERS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON TO ALL VRSCA MODELS. FACTORY REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL LEVEL ITEMS DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. POORLY ENGINEERED PART THAT NEEDS A REDESIGN. *TT
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTSB
(2008) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Sep 21, 2011
Incident date: Jul 11, 2011
THE TAIL LAMP ENVELOPE FLOODS WHEN RIDING ON WET ROADS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THIS CAUSES THE TAIL LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT BULB TO FAIL. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE WATER COMES OFF OF THE REAR WHEEL AND ENTERS THROUGH THE HOLES IN THE FENDER WHERE THE WIRES PASS THROUGH. ONCE THE REAR PART OF THE LENS FILLS UP TO THE POINT WHERE THE BULB GOES INTO THE ENVELOPE, THE WATER ENTERS THE ENVELOPE AND E... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTSB
(2008) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Sep 21, 2011
Incident date: Jul 11, 2011
THE TAIL LAMP ENVELOPE FLOODS WHEN RIDING ON WET ROADS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THIS CAUSES THE TAIL LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT BULB TO FAIL. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE WATER COMES OFF OF THE REAR WHEEL AND ENTERS THROUGH THE HOLES IN THE FENDER WHERE THE WIRES PASS THROUGH. ONCE THE REAR PART OF THE LENS FILLS UP TO THE POINT WHERE THE BULB GOES INTO THE ENVELOPE, THE WATER ENTERS THE ENVELOPE AND E... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLSTSB
(2008) — STRUCTURE
Sep 21, 2011
Incident date: Jul 11, 2011
THE TAIL LAMP ENVELOPE FLOODS WHEN RIDING ON WET ROADS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THIS CAUSES THE TAIL LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT BULB TO FAIL. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE WATER COMES OFF OF THE REAR WHEEL AND ENTERS THROUGH THE HOLES IN THE FENDER WHERE THE WIRES PASS THROUGH. ONCE THE REAR PART OF THE LENS FILLS UP TO THE POINT WHERE THE BULB GOES INTO THE ENVELOPE, THE WATER ENTERS THE ENVELOPE AND E... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2011) — STEERING
Sep 20, 2011
Incident date: Sep 17, 2011
2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA-GLIDE ULTRA-LIMITED (103CU), BOUGHT NEW JUNE 2011. REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP THAT, THE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY WITH HANDS REMOVED FROM HANDLEBARS AT AROUND 30 TO 35 MPH. THE VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT END CAUSES THE HANDLEBARS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WITHOUT IMMEDIATE HANDS BACK ON THE BARS THE VIBRATION INCREASES TO THE POINT OF POSSIBLE ?LOSS OF CONTROL? OF THE MOTORCYC... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2011) — SUSPENSION
Sep 20, 2011
Incident date: Sep 17, 2011
2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA-GLIDE ULTRA-LIMITED (103CU), BOUGHT NEW JUNE 2011. REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP THAT, THE FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY WITH HANDS REMOVED FROM HANDLEBARS AT AROUND 30 TO 35 MPH. THE VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT END CAUSES THE HANDLEBARS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND WITHOUT IMMEDIATE HANDS BACK ON THE BARS THE VIBRATION INCREASES TO THE POINT OF POSSIBLE ?LOSS OF CONTROL? OF THE MOTORCYC... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXD
(2010) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Sep 14, 2011
Incident date: Aug 13, 2011
BIKE HAS LESS THAN 4500 MILES ON IT. WHEN STOPPED AT A NORMAL TRAFFIC LIGHT EVEN FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME THE ENGINE PUTS OF SO MUCH HEAT THAT IM FORCED TO EITHER SHUT THE ENGINE OFF (MIGHT BE ILLEGAL) OR STAND UP AND LEAN THE BIKE SO I CAN GET MY LEG AWAY FROM THE MOTOR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IF HARLEY MANUFACTURES AN OIL COOLER + FAN FOR THESE WHY THEY WOULDN'T COME ON THE BIKE. IM NOT SURE WH... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHXXX
(2010) — STEERING
Sep 12, 2011
Incident date: Sep 4, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHXXX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SHARPLY TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO BECAME VERY LOOSE. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXERT FORCE IN ORDER TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
SPORTSTER
(2008) — STEERING
Sep 9, 2011
Incident date: Aug 6, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN A NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT FENDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE STEERING COLUMN HAD STRUCK THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHRC
(2009) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
Sep 8, 2011
Incident date: Sep 4, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MELTED DUE TO THE LIGHT BEING BUILT NEXT TO THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE REAR BRAKES TO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,200.
Fire
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHRC
(2009) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Sep 8, 2011
Incident date: Sep 4, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MELTED DUE TO THE LIGHT BEING BUILT NEXT TO THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE REAR BRAKES TO STOP WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,200.
Fire
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDL
(2008) — SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
Sep 8, 2011
Incident date: Sep 7, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDL. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WHEEL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2011) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Sep 6, 2011
Incident date: Jul 16, 2011
AT ALTITUDE - APPROXIMATELY 3700FT ABOVE SEA LEVEL - ONCE THE 2011 ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA CLASSIC LIMITED HEATS UP, THE MOTOR KNOCKS AND PINGS SO BAD IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MOTOR IS GOING TO FALL APART. IF I TAKE BIKE TO SEA LEVEL, THE DETONATION ISSUE CLEARS UP. THE MOTORCYCLE IS UN-RIDEABLE IN THIS CONDITION. THE HARLEY DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM/TIMING MAPPING AND THAT ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2011) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Sep 6, 2011
Incident date: Jul 16, 2011
AT ALTITUDE - APPROXIMATELY 3700FT ABOVE SEA LEVEL - ONCE THE 2011 ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA CLASSIC LIMITED HEATS UP, THE MOTOR KNOCKS AND PINGS SO BAD IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MOTOR IS GOING TO FALL APART. IF I TAKE BIKE TO SEA LEVEL, THE DETONATION ISSUE CLEARS UP. THE MOTORCYCLE IS UN-RIDEABLE IN THIS CONDITION. THE HARLEY DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM/TIMING MAPPING AND THAT ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
VRSCDX
(2007) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Sep 6, 2011
Incident date: Aug 1, 2011
THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND STOPPED WORKING AGAIN SINCE THEN.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCU
(2009) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Sep 5, 2011
Incident date: Sep 3, 2011
REAR BRAKE LIGHT PRESSURE SWITCH FAILURE. THE SWITCH WHICH TRIGGERS THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT TO TOGGLE ON WHEN THE REAR BRAKE LEVER IS DEPRESSED IS A HYDRAULIC PRESSURE SWITCH. THIS SWITCH FAILED ALLOWING BRAKE FLUID TO PASS THROUGH THE SWITCH AND SPRAY OUT THE END WHERE THE TERMINALS ARE ATTACHED. THIS SPRAYING FLUID CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE WHICH IS CLOSE BY. BIKE WAS SITTING ... Read more
Fire
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCU
(2010) — POWER TRAIN
Sep 5, 2011
Incident date: May 20, 2010
THE COMPENSATOR ON MY BIKE IS NOT ENGINE FOR THIS LARGE OF MOTOR. MY COMPENSATOR HAS LOOSENED AND IS A EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE DRIVE AND PASSENGER IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN MOTION AND THE BOLT FALLS OUT OR THE INADEQUATE COMPENSATOR FALLS APART WHILE DRIVING. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN IN BECAUSE OF A LARGE BANGING NOISE AT START UP. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BOLT HOLDING THE COM... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTK
(2010) — POWER TRAIN
Sep 4, 2011
Incident date: Jun 27, 2011
ENGINE COMPENSATOR WORE OUT, MADE LOTS OF NOISE. IF THE PART HAD COMPLETELY BROKE IT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL ON THE MOTORCYCLE TO LOCK UP. HARLEY DAVIDSON UPGRADED THE PART ON THE 2011 MODELS. UNDER WARRANTY THEY WILL REPLACE PART WITH UPGRADED PART BUT CHARGE AROUND A 100.00 TO DO IT. THEY CHANGED THE PART FOR THE 2011 MODEL BECAUSE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. WHY DID I HAVE TO PAY A 100.00 DOL... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCU
(2009) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Sep 1, 2011
Incident date: Jun 6, 2010
WHILE PULLING OUT ONTO ROADWAY, THE THROTTLE QUIT WORKING AND THE MOTOR WENT INTO "LIMP HOME MODE". SINCE THAT TIME, IT'S HAPPEN SEVERAL (AT LEAST 6) TIMES. THE FIRST TIME, THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED AND IT SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEN AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. IF I PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN THE MOTOR OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND RESTART, IT CLEARS THE PROBLEM. I CAN'T TRUST TH... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHX
(2011) — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Sep 1, 2011
Incident date: Aug 10, 2011
I HAVE A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE (MODEL FLHX). I REALIZED AFTER I PURCHASED IT THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE A SEPARATE REAR BRAKE LIGHT. THE TURN SIGNALS FUNCTION AS TURN SIGNALS, RUNNING LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. IT IS DIFFICULT FOR THOSE BEHIND ME TO DETERMINE WHEN I AM BRAKING SINCE THE TURN SIGNALS ONLY CHANGE IN INTENSITY - THEY DO NOT TURN OFF AND ON. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED ... Read more
Crash
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDB
(2008) — TIRES
Aug 31, 2011
Incident date: Aug 19, 2011
THIS IS TO CORRECT FILE NUMBER 10421452 -- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA SERIES LOW RIDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR TIRE IS A DUNLOP K591 160/70V-17. THE CONTACT NOTICED IN EARLY JUNE 2011 A SPLIT IN THE CENTER RAIN GROVE. ON AUG. 19, 2011 FOUND ADDITIONAL CRACKS IN THE TIRE IN THESE CENTER RAIN GROVES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MOTORCYCLE SHOP WHO STATED THE TIRE W... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHX
(2011) — WHEELS
Aug 30, 2011
Incident date: Aug 28, 2011
FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. BEARING CAME APART WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70 MPH). *TR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHX
(2011) — SUSPENSION:FRONT
Aug 30, 2011
Incident date: Aug 28, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY UNSTABLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS FRACTURING. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING. THE CO... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLTR
(2008) — FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
Aug 29, 2011
Incident date: Aug 29, 2011
HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES WITH THE THROTTLE BY WIRE WILL GO INTO A LIMP HOME MODE. THIS IS WHERE YOU ARE ACCELERATING AND THE MOTOR BASICALLY SHUTS DOWN AND GOES TO JUST ABOVE AN IDLE SPEED. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE THROTTLE BY WIRE IS FAILING. YOU COULD BE ACCELERATING TO TURN INTO TRAFFIC, ACROSS TRAFFIC OR TO GET ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE THROTTLE FAILS AND GOES INTO LIMP HOME ... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FLHTCU
(2008) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Aug 26, 2011
Incident date: Aug 17, 2011
I WAS OPERATING MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU WHEN I APPLIED MY REAR BREAKS ONLY TO FIND I HAD NO REAR BREAKS. I STILL HAD MY FRONT BREAKS THAT WORKED VERY WELL. I HAVE 9,600 MILES ON THE MOTROCYCLE. I TOOK MY MOTORCYCLE TO THE HARLEY DEALER AND ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER TO CHECK MY REAR BREAKS AS I TOLD HIM THERE WERE NO BREAKS. THE SERVICE WRITER WALKED OUT TO MY MOTORCYCLE BENT DOWN ON ONE... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
FXDB
(2008) — TIRES
Aug 25, 2011
Incident date: Jun 20, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON DYNA SERIES LOW RIDER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR TIRE IS A DUNLOP K591 160/70V-17. THE CONTACT NOTICED IN EARLY JUNE 2011 A SPLIT IN THE CENTER RAIN GROVE. ON AUG. 19, 2011 FOUND ADDITIONAL CRACKS IN THE TIRE IN THESE CENTER RAIN GROVES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MOTORCYCLE SHOP WHO STATED THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE SPLITTING WAS ABN... Read more
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
XL1200C
(2007) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Aug 24, 2011
Incident date: Aug 11, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON XL1200C MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTOR WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 09/28/11*LJ UPDATED 2/23/12 *... Read more