2009 Harley-Davidson Flhr Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhr, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine533.3%
- Brakes320.0%
- Electrical320.0%
- Fuel system213.3%
- Driver assistance16.7%
- Tires & wheels16.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
COMPENSATOR FAILURE
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
NO FRONT BRAKE. UNABLE TO APPLY FRONT BRAKE. FRONT BRAKE FROZEN. MOTORCYCLE TAKEN TO HARLEY DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, ABS HCU REPLACED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .