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Harley-Davidson · NHTSA safety record

2010 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

9

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

5

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2010 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg have filed 9 safety complaints with NHTSA between March 2010 and July 2025. The most complained-about system is the engine and its cooling, named in 3 of them (33%). The typical failure was reported at 1,900 miles, the median across the 7 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

11V506000 · October 19, 2011

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY · up to 250,757 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

09V457000 · December 1, 2009

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY · up to 111,569 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle

PE16009

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened July 6, 2016 · closed April 23, 2018 · led to recall 18V076000

the hydraulic brakes

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.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 9.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 3 33%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 22%
ENGINE 1 11%
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER 1 11%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 11%
STRUCTURE 1 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 1 11%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2010 at 4.

2010 2025
2010 to 2025

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 injured · 315 miles

I HAVE A HARLEY DAVIDSON TRI GLIDE ULTRA CLASSIC THAT WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING, THE LEFT SIDE SUDDENLY A HAD A TREMENDOUS DRAG I BELIEVED CAUSED BY THE REVERSE COMING ON WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT AROUND 55 MILES PER HOUR. WE WERE THROWN INTO THE ON COMING TRAFFIC JUST MISSING A PICKUP AND WENT DOWN INTO THE DITCH JUST MISSING A LARGE CULVERT. MY WIFE WAS THROWN OFF AND RECEIVED MANY BROKEN BONES AND BRUISES. SHE WILL BE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 6 WEEKS AND THEN MANY MONTHS OF TERAPHY. I WAS ABLE TO STAY ON AND ONLY RECEIVED A LITTLE BACK PAIN. WE WERE BOTH VERY LUCKY NOT TO BE KILLED. HARLEY HAS A BIG PROBLEM THAT NEED ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10342784. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1 injured · crash · 5,200 miles

I WAS IN A ACCIDENT DO TO THE BRAKES ON MY 2010 HARLEY TRIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP. ON 6-5-10 I REAR ENDED A FORD EXPLORER AT 50 MPH. AFTER LOCKING UP THE FRONT BRAKES, THE REAR BRAKES DIDN'T LOCK UP OR HELP STOP MUCH AT ALL. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THEM SQUEALING, AND THEM NOT ABLE TO STOP LIKE THEY SHOULD ,BUT I NEVER HAD TO STOP LIKE I NEEDED TO THAT DAY.. IT IS TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO LOCK UP THE REAR BRAKES OR TO STOP HARD WITH THE REAR BRAKES. AFTER HAVING THE BRAKES LOOKED AT 6 TIMES AT LEAST AND TWO DEALERS DOING WHAT THEY COULD, INCLUDING REPLACING THE PADS WITH NEW STOCK PADS. STILL NOT HAPPY I HAD THEM REPLACED WITH LYNDALL BRAKES. THEY STOPPED THE SQUEALING BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP

NHTSA complaint 10362084, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured · 3,116 miles

THE MOTORCYCLE HAS RUN VERY HOT FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT 5/10/2011. EVERY TIME I HAD SERVICE, I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HEAT FROM THE PIPES. I STOPPED AT A HD DEALER IN ALEXANDRIA, LA ON 9/17/2010, AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BIKE. I WAS TOLD AT INSTALLATION THE PIPES HAD BEEN INSTALLED WITH NO REMAP OR HIGH FLOW FILTER. I WAS CHARGED $413.57 TO INSTALL THE NEEDED FILTER AND DOWNLOADED A NEW REMAP. I LEFT ABOUT 5:30 P.M. TO RETURN TO MADISON, MS. THE ONLY STOPS WERE AT GAS STATIONS TO FILL UP. THE VENTS ON THE FAIRINGS WERE WIDE OPEN. I RODE WITH MY LEGS UP FROM THE PEDALS BUT COULD FEEL MY RIGHT LEG GETTING UNCOMFORTABLY HOT. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTINATION, I PULLED UP MY PANT LEG. I SAW MY

NHTSA complaint 10400369, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1 injured

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 NUMBER OF AND SEVERITY OF BURNS). SCARRING HAS OCCURED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TT

NHTSA complaint 10432972. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
One of the bolts holding the floorboard sheared off causing it to collapse. This happened when I placed my weight on the floorboard. If this had occurred when driving at speed (30 to 70 mph) I would have sustained serious injury or resulted in my death. I have researched this and discovered this is a common occurrence as noted on motorcycle forums. This raises the question how many cyclists have lost their lives or been injured when the foot support fails and results in the loss of control of the motorcycle. There was no indication the bolt was going to fail.

NHTSA complaint 11674201. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

1,900 miles

VEHICLE ENGINE AND EXHAUST PRODUCES EXCESSIVE HEAT WHICH I BURNED MY PANTS ON AND THE HEAT IS OVERWHELMING . I TALKED TO HD AND THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WANT TO BRUSH IT UNDER THE RUG. PLEASE HELP THIS IS A MAJOR INCIDENT BURN JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10713538. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2 miles

EXTREME HIGH HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, CAUSING BURNS TO RIDER AND PASSENGER RIGHT LEGS.

NHTSA complaint 10421848. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2019 8 2 2
2017 13 1 1
2011 9 1 1

Other 2010 Harley-Davidson models

Every Harley-Davidson on this site — 32 vehicles, 96 recall campaigns and 0 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst