2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY BRAKE LIGHT STAYING ON, AFTER TALKING TO A CERTIFIED HARLEY MECHANIC, WE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE SPUR INSIDE THE BRAKE LEVER HAD EITHER WORN DOWN OR HAD BROKEN OFF. HE SAID THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR OF BIKE AND THAT THE ENTIRE BRAKE LEVER ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE DISASSEMBLED TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE WAS VERY SURPRISED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A RECALL ON IT YET AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP MY FINGERS IN BETWEEN THE THROTTLE AND THE BRAKE LEVER TO KEEP THE LIGHT FROM COMING ON.

THE REAR WHEEL SPOKE CAME LOOSE IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE BIKE. THE BIKE WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. I HAVE HAD THE BIKE SERVICED AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE SPOKES TIGHTENED BEFORE. I CHECK THEM EVER TIME I WASH (ONCE A WEEK)THE BIKE. I'M NOT SURE WHY THERE IS NOT RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TO REPLACE THE RIM NOW WITH A MAG.. IT IS JUST NOT SAFE TO RIDE.. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVISON FLSTC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURNING SIGNALS FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND THAT THE SPEED ODOMETER WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,200.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HARLEY DAVISON FLSTC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURNING SIGNALS FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND THAT THE SPEED ODOMETER WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,200.

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 70 MPH WHEN MY BIKE STARTED WOBBLING, I SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE THE WOBBLE WAS SO PRONOUNCED THAT I HAD A HARD TIME HOLDING THE BIKE, THE REAR WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS LOOSE. I SLOWED THE BIKE DOWN AND SINCE WE WERE ALMOST AT OUR DESTINATION, CONTINUED VERY CAREFULLY. WHEN I STOPPED, THE OTHER BIKE RIDER ASKED ME WHY I WAS RIDING SO CRAZY, I EXPLAINED HOW THE BIKE FELT AND WE PROCEEDED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BIKE WAS CHECKED AND THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE REAR WHEEL BECAUSE THE SPOKES HAD ALL LOOSENED FROM THE HUB. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THIS STOCK WHEEL, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HARLEY HAD REPLACED THE STEEL HUB WITH AN ALUMINUM HUB ON THE HERITAGE MANUFACTURED THE LAST HALF OF 2011. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 IN THE MOUNTAINS OF TN, WE WERE RIDING IN A GROUP AND THE BACK WHEEL STARTED WOBBLING AND I COULD HARDLY HOLD THE BIKE, WE STOPPED AND IT WAS FOUND THAT MY SPOKES WERE LOOSE AGAIN AND THE BIKE HAD TO BE TRAILERED BACK TO MS, TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SAME THING HAD OCCURRED WITH THIS WHEEL, THE HOLES FOR THE SPOKES HAD AGAIN ELONGATED AND CAUSED THE BACK WHEEL TO BECOME LOOSE. WE ATTEMPTED TO BUY ANOTHER TYPE WHEEL FOR THE BIKE BUT THE ONLY ONE THAT WOULD FIT IT WAS OUT OF STOCK UNTIL AFTER DEC. BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALERS WERE HOLDING THAT WHEEL TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE WHEEL. HARLEY KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT RECALL THE WHEEL. IF I HAD NOT BEEN A SEASONED RIDER, I WOULD HAVE GONE DOWN ON THE BIKE. I WAS TOLD THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THIS PROBLEM, MY DEALER PAID FOR THE LAST WHEEL BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE NEXT ONE UNLESS I AM UNABLE TO HOLD THE BIKE THE NEXT TIME AND DIE. *TR