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2011 Harley-Davidson FlhtcuProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 6 owner complaints about the 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-076 the manufacturer reports only 49% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 49%Owner complaints61 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage6kService brakes, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 28, 2025. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu has problems

6 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes30
Engine and engine cooling11
Forward collision avoidance10
Wheels10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

49%repaired · 2019 Q4

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Recall 18V-076 · Jan 29, 2018 · 174,636 vehicles · 86,160 repaired

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Brake lights: switch

Recall 11V-506 · Oct 19, 2011 · 250,757 vehicles

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Harley-Davidson.

Best & worst years

2011 vs. every other Flhtcu year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Flhtcu median. How we score

'94'95'96'97'98'07'08'09'10'11'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Sudden Brake Failure - MotorcyclePE16009 · closed Apr 23, 2018
    Led to recall 18V-076
In owners' words

What Flhtcu owners report

Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ULTRA-GLIDE FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT BRAKES SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO ENGAGE THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. WITH THE HELP OF A FRIEND, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME. SIX BENDS HARLEY-DAVIDSON (9501 THUNDER RD, FORT…
Complaint 11131584 · Sep 25, 2018 · 6,444 miles
BIKE PARKED IN GARAGE FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS BECAUSE OF COLD WEATHER. FIRED IT UP TO LET IT WARM UP FOR A FEW MIN'S. CLIMBED ON TO BACK IT OUT AND THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WOULD NOT BUDGE OR STOP THE BIKE WHEN I NEEDED TO STOP. FORTUNATELY BEFORE I LOST CONTROL, I WAS ABLE TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT WHILE USING…
Complaint 10966542 · Mar 17, 2017 · 42,000 miles
I OWN AND OPERATE A HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU ULTRA CLASSIC. WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY I TRIED TO USE MY FRONT BRAKES TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THE BRAKE LEVER WAS HARD AS A ROCK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO MAKE IT FUNCTION TO STOP THE BIKE, HAD TO RELY ON MY REAR BRAKES WHICH PUT ME IN AN SLIDE BECAUSE OF…
Complaint 10818724 · Jan 7, 2016 · 10 miles

Own a 2011 Flhtcu?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.