2009 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu Engine Problems

The guard/spring housing locater on the rotor behind the drive sprocket developed a fatigue crack, it propagated approximately half way around the circumference before separating and then being pulled thru between the drive chain and sprocket . this caused the drive train to seize up locking up the engine and rear wheel and damaging the engine. being a motorcycle this can lead to a serious injury or death crash. fortunately for me it let go at low speed.

NHTSA ID

11471559

Incident

Jun 24, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU ELECTRA GLIDE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO IDLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

NHTSA ID

10898562

Incident

May 25, 2015

Mileage

12,000 mi

THE ORIGINAL COMPENSATOR SPROCKET WAS FOUND TO BE INADEQUATE BY HARLY IN 2011 AND A SE MODEL WAS REQUIRED TO REPLACE IT. AFTER THE USUAL 20 TO 30 THOUSAND MILES THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE/IS NOT COVERED IN A RECALL EVEN THOUGH A DEFECTIVE PART WAS ORIGINALLY USED.

NHTSA ID

10821697

Incident

Nov 1, 2015

2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC (FLHTCU). CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO COMPENSATOR SPROCKET ENGINE DEFECT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AT 11,900 THE ENGINE STARTER FAILED. THE DEALER FIXED THE STARTED AND RING GEAR UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPLACE THE STARTER AND CLUTCH BASKET, BUT CHARGED THE CONSUMER THE WARRANTY CLAIM FEE. AFTER THE STARTER AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER RING GEAR AND CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS, BUT NOT THE LABOR. THE PROBLEM RETURNED AGAIN, NOT REALIZING THE NEW PARTS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10636876

Incident

Mar 28, 2011

ENGINE WENT INTO IDLE MODE AND HAD NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BY WIRE TBW. CAN HAPPEN AT ANY OPERATING SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629530

Incident

Aug 27, 2014

Mileage

25,267 mi

TRAVELING ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AND THE SPEED DROPS TO 15 MPH HARLEY DAVIDSON CALLS IT LIMP MODE , SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED NOT FUN ON THE HIGHWAY. HARLEY DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515560

Incident

Jun 6, 2013

Mileage

15,245 mi

ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLS AND QUITS. NO POWER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION AND TURNING IT BACK ON, ENGINE IS OPERATIONAL AGAIN. *TT

NHTSA ID

10445798

Incident

Jan 29, 2012

Mileage

16,000 mi

THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SUDDENLY ACTS ERRATIC SOMETIMES REVVING THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY AND SOMETIMES GOING INTO "LIMP MODE" CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IN TRAFFIC AND CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

10438369

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

Mileage

29,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVISON FLHTCUI (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS WITHOUT ENGAGING THE THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED TO THEIR MAXIMUM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE AND THE DEALER FELT THAT THERE WAS A SHORT WITHIN THE WIRING HARNESS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. MULTIPLE OCCASIONS (NOT TO MAX EVERYTIME). UPDATED 09/21/2011 *LN *TR

NHTSA ID

10419728

Incident

Apr 9, 2011

Mileage

47,500 mi

MULTIPLE INCIDENTS. WHILE MAINTAINING A CRUISE SPEED OF 65 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO IDLE RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED. ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND TO THROTTLE CONTROL. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SHOULDER OF ROAD. RETURNED MOTORCYCLE TO DEALER. DEALER CLAIMED THEY CLEARED FAILURE CODES BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE SYMPTOMS. THEY CALLED TECH SERVICES AND WERE TOLD OF A SERVICE BULLETIN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION CORROSION FOR THROTTLE CONTROL. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SUDDEN LOSS OF ABILITY TO MAINTAIN FLOW WITHIN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID

10396505

Incident

Apr 11, 2011

Mileage

22,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS EXHIBITING AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR TO ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO READJUST ITSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NEVER RESPONDED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,312.

NHTSA ID

10393116

Incident

May 17, 2010

Mileage

5,312 mi

THIS VEHICLE IS A NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2009 FLHTUCTG TRI-GLIDE TRIKE, THAT WENT IN FOR IT'S FIRST 500 (ACTUAL MILES 533) MILE SERVICE CHECK. AT DEPARTURE OF THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE SERVICE WAS COMPLIED WITH, AND WITHIN 1 MILE, I HEARD A NOISE FROM UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE TRIKE, AT WHICH I COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT THE SOUND WAS AT THE TIME. I BACKED UP AND LOOKED FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE FALLEN OFF OF THE TRIKE WITH NO AVAIL, AS IT WAS DARK AT THE TIME OF LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, AND CONTINUED HOME (ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY). THE NEXT DAY I RODE FOR ANOTHER 10-15 MILES, AND ON MY DASH CAME ON WARNING LIGHTS TO CHECK ENGINE, AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. SO STRAIGHT HOME I GO. AFTER EXAMINING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE TRIKE I NOTICED 1 FORWARD ENGINE MOUNT BOLT (APPROX 5 INCHES LONG) WAS MISSING, AND THE OTHER WAS BEING HELD IN PLACE BY THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR (V/R) WIRING. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE DASH LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE, AS THE V/R PLUG WAS PULLED OUT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES SPEAKING TO ERIC HUFF'S (GENERAL MANAGER) ANSWERING SERVICE MACHINE, JAMES ? (SERVICE MANAGER) ANSWERING SERVICE MACHINE, THEN TO EDDIE A SERVICE WRITER. JAMES RETURNED MY CALL, SENT OUT A TOW TRAILER, AND TOOK THE TRIKE IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN. VIA CORRESPONDENCE WITH EDDIE, THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO KEEP MY TRIKE FOR ANOTHER DAY TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURE TO VERIFY NO SAFETY ISSUE EXIST. I INFORMED HIM THAT THESE BOLTS WERE INSTALLED UPSIDEDOWN, AND NO LOCK NUT OR WASHER WAS BEING USED. ONLY A TORQUE. ON TUESDAY, I PICKED UP THE TRIKE AGAIN, AND AFTER LATER INSPECTING THE JOB PERFORMED, I FIND THE BOLTS INSTALLED UPSIDE-DOWN AGAIN, WITH NO LOCK NUT (SHOULD HAVE BE A CASTLE NUT W/ COTTER PIN, COMPRESSION LOCK NUT, OR A TEFLON LOCK NUT). ALSO NO LOC-TITE, OR LOCK WASHER WAS INSTALLED EITHER. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT IN THE WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHEN A FOLLOWING DRIVER CATCHES A 5 INCH BOLT IN THE WINDSHIELD, AND CAUSES A DEATH, THEN MAYBE HARLEY-DAVIDSON WILL TAKE INTEREST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246013

Incident

Oct 10, 2008

Mileage

533 mi