NHTSA vehicle safety data

2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc Recalls & Complaints

The 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 4 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Harley-Davidson dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc, describing incidents dated December 1, 2011 to November 23, 2019.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint

Of the 4 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11282117 · Filed November 25, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC (FLHTC) MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND THE BACK TIRE LOCKED UP INTO A FISHTAIL. THE TRAILING DRIVER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT…
ODI #11073221 · Filed February 16, 2018
NHTSB SAFETY ISSUE ID 18V076000 INDICATED A BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT WOULD BE THE RESOLUTION TO THE BRAKE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS INCORRECT. LAST YEAR I HAD THE BOX THAT CONTROLS THE ABS FLUID PRESSURE REPLACED. THIS DID NOT INCLUDE CHANGING THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOARD. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONT…
ODI #10471614 · Filed August 20, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE…

Read all 4 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE16-009: Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle
Closed April 23, 2018
- Recall 18V-076

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Brakes may Fail Due to Not Flushing Brake Fluid

NHTSA #18V076000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Fluid · NHTSA notice

Reported January 29, 2018 · Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Potentially affected: 174,636 vehicles

Repair completion: 49.48% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Harley-Davidson campaign 0171 · Owners notified February 14, 2018 · Vehicles built July 5, 2007 – June 8, 2011 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

REAR BRAKE LAMP SWITCH

NHTSA #11V506000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported October 19, 2011 · HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 250,757 vehicles

Harley-Davidson campaign 0145 · Owners notified October 31, 2011 · Vehicles built June 6, 2008 – September 16, 2011 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

HARLEY-DAVIDSON SAFETY RECALL NUMBER IS 0145.CUSTOMERS OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc.

Service Brakes

ODI #11282117

Crash

Incident: November 23, 2019 · Filed: November 25, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC (FLHTC) MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND THE BACK TIRE LOCKED UP INTO A FISHTAIL. THE TRAILING DRIVER STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT WAS THROWN OFF THE MOTORCYCLE INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. THE MOTORCYCLE SKID ONTO ITS SIDE INTO THE SIDEWALK. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE AND CONTINUED DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME ON A TRAILER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. *DT*JB

Service Brakes

ODI #11073221

Incident: February 10, 2018 · Filed: February 16, 2018

NHTSB SAFETY ISSUE ID 18V076000 INDICATED A BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT WOULD BE THE RESOLUTION TO THE BRAKE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS INCORRECT. LAST YEAR I HAD THE BOX THAT CONTROLS THE ABS FLUID PRESSURE REPLACED. THIS DID NOT INCLUDE CHANGING THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOARD. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE FRONT MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED. EACH TIME THE FLUID WAS REPLACED AND THE WORK WAS COMPLETED BY A HARLEY CERTIFIED MECHANIC. UNFORTUNATELY I CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE FRONT BRAKES EITHER NOT WORKING AND REQUIRING PUMPING, ABS TRIGGERING AND NOT DOING ANYTHING, AND 'SQUISHY' FRONT BRAKE LEVER. EACH OF THESE COME AND GO. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO HARLEY FOR REPAIR THE EXACT CAUSE IS STILL UNKNOWN. THE BRAKES APPEAR GOOD WHEN THE POWER IS OFF. AS SOON AS I TURN THE POWER ON THERE IS A NOTICEABLE RELEASE OF PRESSURE IN THE FRONT BREAK LEVER. THIS LEADS ME TO THINK THE BRAKE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL OF THE ABS.

Suspension

ODI #10471614

Incident: August 8, 2012 · Filed: August 20, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10438518

Incident: December 1, 2011 · Filed: December 4, 2011

FACTORY FAILURE. INCORECT POUR OF ALUMINUM MOLD FOR ENGINE CASTING/ ENGINE BLOCK, RESULTING IN OIL LEAK. ENGINE BLOCK SWEATING OIL AND SPREADING OIL ALONG BOTTOM OF FRAME FROM FRONT TO REAR OF MOTORCYCLE. ENGINE POUROUS. *TR

Other Harley-Davidson Flhtc model years

Check your 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtc VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Harley-Davidson Flhtc at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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