The 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 250,757 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
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.
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.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
2injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2
WHEELS
2
1crashes2injuries1deaths
ENGINE
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
SERVICE BRAKES
1
TIRES
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
Total complaints15
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The brakes seem to be locked up at times when you put the reverse drive in. You can step down on the foot brake, and it frees up. This trike has less than 14000 miles on it the trike is a 2011 triglide, and it is now nov 2015. The park brake is adjusted all the way out, and does not hold at all.…”
“The brakes seem to be locked up at times when you put the reverse drive in. You can step down on the foot brake, and it frees up. This trike has less than 14000 miles on it the trike is a 2011 triglide, and it is now nov 2015. The park brake is adjusted all the way out, and does not hold at all.…”
“On july 7, 2013, while traveling eastbound in the lefthand lane of us highway 64 just outside nashville, north carolina, well below the posted speed limit, the left rear tire of a 2011 harley-davidson tri-glide (model flhtcutg) detached and swerved away from the tri-glide. The tri-glide veered…”
“Driving 70 mph on highway put on brakes to exit at offramp bike dies complete shut off no throttle no anything coast to stop on off ramp bike will not start at all trouble code p1511 which is the throttle managment system is dead 2nd time this has happened first time was at 30 mph after sitting…”
“Driving 70 mph on highway put on brakes to exit at offramp bike dies complete shut off no throttle no anything coast to stop on off ramp bike will not start at all trouble code p1511 which is the throttle managment system is dead 2nd time this has happened first time was at 30 mph after sitting…”
“Driving 70 mph on highway put on brakes to exit at offramp bike dies complete shut off no throttle no anything coast to stop on off ramp bike will not start at all trouble code p1511 which is the throttle managment system is dead 2nd time this has happened first time was at 30 mph after sitting…”
“While on a ride with my wife on a county road in idaho I started feeling a vibration. Within 5 sec. The left rear tire of my harley tri-glide came off causing me to lose control. The bike slide into on coming traffic and into a ditch. The tire traveled appox. 50 yards down the road before…”
“While on a ride with my wife on a county road in idaho I started feeling a vibration. Within 5 sec. The left rear tire of my harley tri-glide came off causing me to lose control. The bike slide into on coming traffic and into a ditch. The tire traveled appox. 50 yards down the road before…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE16009 Opened 2016-07-06 · closed 2018-04-23
Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2011 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.