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Harley-Davidson · NHTSA safety record

2010 Harley-Davidson FLHTK

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

29

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2010 Harley-Davidson FLHTK have filed 29 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2010 and June 2024. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 15 of them (52%). The typical failure was reported at 21,455 miles, the median across the 26 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID

18V076000 · January 29, 2018

The defect
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 Owner’s Manual.
The risk
These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company · up to 174,636 vehicles across all model years covered

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 29.

SERVICE BRAKES 15 52%
WHEELS 6 21%
POWER TRAIN 4 14%
STEERING 4 14%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 7%
ENGINE 1 3%
EQUIPMENT 1 3%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 3%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 1 3%
SUSPENSION 1 3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2013 at 4.

2010 2013 2024
2010 to 2024

In owners' own words

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

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · 26,000 miles

FRONT BRAKE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AFTER STARTING ENGINE. BACKING DOWN A DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE, HAD A FROZEN FRONT BRAKE LEVER. COULD NOT CONTROL THE MOTORCYCLE, AND FELL OVER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BIKE AND MYSELF.

NHTSA complaint 10806328. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
And module locked up the rear tire. Break pedal became hard and not operational.

NHTSA complaint 11593078. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Lost brakes to rear wheel with abs failure

NHTSA complaint 11481917. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

26,000 miles

I'M EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY TBW. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NOVEMBER AT THE END OF A CHARITY RIDE AND I THOUGHT PERHAPS THE PACK RIDE CAUSED IT TO OVERHEAT, AFTER SHUTTING THE BIKE OFF IT WENT AWAY BRIEFLY. DID SOME TROUBLESHOOTING ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE PLUGS ON THE ECM AND TB WERE TYPICALLY THE ISSUE SO CLEANED, ADDED DIELITHIUM GREASE TO THE CONNECTORS AND ISSUES WENT AWAY. HAPPENED AGAIN, THIS TIME I PULLED THE CEL CODES TO DISCOVER THE TGS AND ETC CODES WERE IN FAULT. AFTER MORE RESEARCH DECIDED TO ELIMINATE THE GREEN QUICK CONNECT PLUGS IN THE HANDLEBARS AND FAIRING BY SODERING AND HEAT SHRINKING CONNECTIONS AS IT WAS DISCUSSED THAT THE CONNECTORS

NHTSA complaint 11403192, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

43,701 miles

I RECENTLY TOOK MY MOTORCYCLE IN FOR THE RECALL BY HARLEY DAVIDSON. EVEN AFTER HAVING THE RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED, ON A SUDDEN BRAKE, THERE IS A VERY DISTINCT PULL ON THE REAR BRAKE. THIS OCCURS AT 35 MPH, 55 MPH, AND 65 MPH.

NHTSA complaint 11193499. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA LIMITED. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HD ABS SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS

NHTSA complaint 11082808. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

38,500 miles

WHILE RIDING AND COMING TO A STOP THE FRONT BRAKE LEVEL WOULD NOT MOVE AND I HAD NO FRONT BRAKES. EMERGENCY STOP UTILIZING THE REAR BRAKES WAS NECESSARY TO AVOID PROCEEDING INTO THE INTERSECTION. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULATOR ASSEMBLY (PART NUMBER 48343-09) HAD FAILED. THERE WAS NO ABS LIGHT OR CODES INDICATING A POTENTIAL HAZARD PRIOR OR AFTER INCIDENT. FROM THE OWNERS MANUAL 'IF ABS BECOMES DEFECTIVE YOU WILL STILL HAVE OPERATIONAL BRAKES, BUT WITHOUT ABS.' THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. I LOST ALL FRONT BRAKES DUE TO AN ABS FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint 11082647. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Harley-Davidson FLHTK

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2017 8 2
2016 10 1
2015 10 2
2014 37 5
2012 19 1
2011 20 2

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