# 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTC — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
> NHTSA complaint `1003325` · 2013-08-20 · Harley-Davidson Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** HARLEY-DAVIDSON
- **Model:** FLHTC
- **Year:** 2012
- **Manufacturer:** Harley-Davidson Motor Company
- **Component:** VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- **Miles at failure:** 13,700
- **Speed:** 5 mph
## Narrative
I WAS LEAVING WORK ON SATURDAY ABOUT 4:15 WITH MY MOTORCYCLE. I WAS APPROACHING THE AREA WHERE I TURN TO GO IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING TO EXIT OUT TO THE ROAD. AS I WAS BRAKING, ABOUT TO TURN, THE BIKE ACCELERATED CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOSE TRACTION AND THE BIKE WENT DOWN. WHEN THE BIKE WENT DOWN, I WAS SLAMMED TO THE GROUND AND WAS SEPARATED FROM THE BIKE. THE REAR WHEEL CONTINUED TO SPIN LEAVING A BLACK MARK ON THE PAVEMENT APPROXIMATELY 6-8 FEET LONG. THE BIKE KEPT GOING ANOTHER 30-40 FEET ON THE RIGHT SIDE UNTIL IT FLIPPED OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE AND CONTINUED TO SLIDE ANOTHER 20-30 FEET COMING TO A STOP. I WAS ABLE TO GET UP AND SHUT THE BIKE OFF. A MECHANIC FROM WORK WAS ABLE TO PICK THE BIKE UP FOR ME AND CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY FAULT CODES, THERE WERE NONE. THE BIKE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE THROTTLE SYSTEM. I ALSO CALLED HARLEY DAVIDSON CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT WHAT I DESCRIBED CAN'T HAPPEN. I HAVE 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE RIDING MOTORCYCLES AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN. THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BY WIRE SYSTEM ON THIS BIKE AND THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THERE WAS A WITNESS TO THE INCIDENT.  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*