RoadVitals

2009 Harley-Davidson Flhr Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
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

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.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

COMPENSATOR FAILURE

NHTSA ID 10894042 · filed Aug 8, 2016

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 · filed Oct 9, 2014

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.

3
reports

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.

NHTSA ID 11048463 · filed Nov 26, 2017

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

NHTSA ID 10887659 · filed Jul 22, 2016

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.

3
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10643722 · filed Oct 9, 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 · filed Jul 17, 2014

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.

2
reports

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

NHTSA ID 10643722 · filed Oct 9, 2014

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 · filed Jun 18, 2013

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.

1
report

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

NHTSA ID 10611249 · filed Jul 17, 2014

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.

1
report

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.

NHTSA ID 10272852 · filed Jun 4, 2009

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

Data on this page last refreshed .