RoadVitals

2009 Harley-Davidson Flhr Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Nov 26, 2017
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jun 4, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhr. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–10 of 10

Brakes
Filed Nov 26, 2017

ABS MODULE IS BAD. IT'S A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON. IF YOU LOOK AT FORUMS YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD JUST STARTED MY MOTORCYCLE PULLED OUT IN TO TRAFFIC. THEN TRIED TO USE MY FRONT BRAKES, AND WAS UNABLE TO SQUEEZE BRAKE LEVER. I HAD JUST RODE MY MOTORCYCLE THE NIGHT BEFORE. WITH NO PROBLEMS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO USE MY REAR BRAKES. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE!!! I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM FOR ONLY A FEW. BUT LOOKING UP THE PART, I FOUND OUT DIFFERENT. HARLEY DAVIDSON CHARGES A LOT OF MONEY FOR THEIR MOTORCYCLES. AND THEY SHOULD MAKE THEM SAFE.

NHTSA ID
11048463
Incident
Oct 25, 2017
Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2016

COMPENSATOR FAILURE

NHTSA ID
10894042
Incident
Aug 8, 2016
Mileage
1 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 22, 2016

NO FRONT BRAKE. UNABLE TO APPLY FRONT BRAKE. FRONT BRAKE FROZEN. MOTORCYCLE TAKEN TO HARLEY DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, ABS HCU REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10887659
Incident
Jun 29, 2013
Mileage
19,851 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 25, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE MOTORCYCLE AND FOUND THAT THE ABS MODULE INTERLOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE ABS FUSE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. UPDATED 5/12/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN

NHTSA ID
10701606
Incident
Mar 1, 2015
Mileage
19,000 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 9, 2014

I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AT 55MPH WHEN I SLIGHTLY BANKED RIGHT, THE ENGINE DIED. I COASTED TO THE SIDE, TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF, THEN BACK ON AND IT STARTED AND RAN PERFECTLY. THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY AT A LATER TIME. AGAIN, I WAS BANKING TO THE RIGHT ON A SWEEPING TURN. THE BIKE STARTED AS BEFORE AFTER COASTING TO SIDE OF THE ONRAMP. I RODE WITHOUT A PROBLEM UNTIL I ENTERED THE FREEWAY AT THE SAME ON RAMP A FEW HOURS LATER. THE ENGINE DIED IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION! *TR

NHTSA ID
10643722
Incident
Oct 7, 2014
Mileage
28,540 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 17, 2014

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE LOST ABILITY TO CONTROL MY THROTTLE. THROTTLE POSITION CLOSES AND DOES NOT ACCEPT INPUTS FROM THE ACCELERATOR. SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE THROTTLE HAS SHUT AND THE MOTORCYCLE WENT INTO 'LIMP HOME' MODE. THIS WILL ONLY ALLOW A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10-15MPH (DANGEROUS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED). THE CONCERN IS WELL KNOW BY THE HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY. THEY HAVE EVEN ISSUED A TECHNICAL TIP BULLETIN (#TT418A) ON THE SUBJECT. HOWEVER, NO VOLUNTARY OR REQUIRED SAFETY RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS CONCERN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN: TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION MAY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10611249
Incident
Jun 18, 2014
Mileage
30,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 9, 2013

PULLED UP TO A STOPLIGHT EVERYTHING WAS FINE, WENT TO PULL AWAY AFTER LIGHT CHANGED BIKE LOST POWER FELT LIKE IT WAS RUNNING ON ONE CYLINDER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. MANAGED TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT GETTING HIT SHUT BIKE OFF THEN RESTARTED THE BIKE AND ACCELERATION RETURNED TO NORMAL. CHECKED FOR CODES AND HAD A P2135 THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR CLEARED CODES AND HAS NOT RETURNED AS OF YET BUT GETTING READY TO TAKE A TRIP AND DON'T TRUST THIS BIKE.... *TR

NHTSA ID
10523838
Incident
Jun 25, 2013
Mileage
13,758 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 18, 2013

BIKE GOES INTO LIMP MODE, IDLE ONLY, NO THROTTLE RESPONSE,WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE FIRST TIME I WAS GOING 60 MPH IN TRAFFIC AND ALMOST GOT RAN OVER. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE, AND A FEW AT 70 PLUS MPH. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT A PROBLEM. BUT I WERE TO BE PASSING IN TRAFFIC OR HUNG IN THE CENTER LANE. IT COULD BE TRAGIC. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER , THE SERVICE MANAGER ACTED AS IF HE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT IT IS EASY TO FIND INFO ON THE INTERNET, INCLUDING A HARLEY TECH TIP, TT 418, HE STARTED CHANGING HIS STORY. THEY TOOK IT IN, AND CHARGED ME, TO REPLACE PINS ON THE THROTTLE CONTROL ACTUATOR. NOW 6000 MILES LATER IT IS DOING AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME AT 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE SECOND TIME AT 70 MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES IN ALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS FAIRLY COMMON AND KNOW TO HARLEY DAVIDSON. BUT THE DEALER, AND COMPANY, ACTS AS IF IT IS AN UNKNOWN. SOMETHING NEEDS TO DONE TO PREVENT A TRAGEDY, BUT PROBABLY ALREADY HAS, DEAD BIKERS CAN'T TELL WHAT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10520570
Incident
Jun 18, 2011
Mileage
14,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 2013

ECM PLUG CAUSED BIKE TO BUCK AND RUN ERRATICALLY. BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES UNTIL THEY CHANGED THE PLUG. THEY BLAMED ON THE AFTERMARKET SEAT MADE BY MUSTANG SEAT FOR THE BIKE BUT IT HAPPENED WITH THE STOCK SEAT AS WELL. IT SEEMS OTHERS ARE SAYING THE SAME HAPPENED TO THEM WITH STOCK SEATS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10496114
Incident
Jul 10, 2012
Mileage
33,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 4, 2009
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHR MOTORCYCLE. THE VEHICLE HAS DUNLOP TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE BLOW OUT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND RECEIVE $3,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE TIRE SIZE, LINE, AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,200.

NHTSA ID
10272852
Incident
May 2, 2009
Mileage
2,200 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .