RoadVitals

2009 Harley-Davidson Flhx Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Oct 2, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
28%
of 29 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhx submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Oct 2, 2026

The anti-lock braking system has been defective. A little over a year ago I took the motorcycle to Biggs Harley in San Marcos, CA to address the cause of the ABS light coming on intermittently. They said they fixed it. Shortly after leaving the dealer the ABS light came on again intermittently. It is now back at the dealer for the same problem they said they had fixed last year. Now they're telling me that the ABS module needs to be replaced. There have been numerous complaints about the ABS system on these motorcycles. The only recall has been to take the bike in for a brake fluid flush years ago. Obviously the ABS module on these motorcycles is a common problem and it is a safety issue as a defective ABS module will cause the brakes to not operate properly. This repair is going to cost me $800. The first "repair" which did not fix the problem cost me $421.

NHTSA ID
11768558
Incident
Apr 30, 2025
Brakes
Filed Oct 28, 2022

I took my bike in to Myrtle Beach Harley Davidson for the repair as described in the recall. My bike had no issues with brakes or ABS light. The service department hooked it up to their computer and the ABS light was triggered. The service caused the ABS Module to fail. They refuse to repair the damage they caused. They want me to sign a statement that I know I am leaving their shop without antilock brakes.

NHTSA ID
11491305
Incident
Oct 8, 2022
Brakes
Filed Nov 23, 2021

The contact owns a 2009 Harley-Davidson Street Glide (FLHX). The contact stated while driving out of his driveway at 10 MPH, the front hand-brake pedal was depressed, however felt hard. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. There was no crash. The contact stated he researched the failure online and found a failure related to the ABS module. The contact stated that he contacted the dealer and was awaiting appointment. The contact stated that the dealer informed him that a year ago NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V076000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) was serviced on the motorcycle. The contact believed that the failure was related to the recall. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

NHTSA ID
11441475
Incident
Nov 18, 2021
Mileage
69,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 23, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE (FLHX) MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT DOWNSHIFTED AND USED THE FRONT BRAKES TO DRIVE BACK TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MOTORCITY HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALER (24800 HAGGERTY RD, FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48335) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE CONTROL BODY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT THERE WAS NO FOLLOW-UP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,262.

NHTSA ID
11074490
Incident
Sep 28, 2017
Mileage
17,262 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 12, 2018

ANTI LOCK BRAKES FRONT AND REAR, HARD PEDAL TOP AND BOTTOM. VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP.

NHTSA ID
11072316
Incident
Dec 15, 2017
Mileage
26,199 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 3, 2018

MY FRONT BRAKE LEVER BECAME STUCK AND WOUND NOT FUNCTION WHILE LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY ONTO A CITY STREET. I WAS TRAVLING A LOW SPEED AND ABLE TO STOP THE BIKE WITH THE REAR BRAKE, HOWEVER, I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE BEFORE ROLLING INTO THE STREET AND CJECCKING FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NO TRAFFIC WAS COMING AND I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE MOTORCYCLE BACK AROUND AND BACK INTO THE GARAGE. THIS ISSUE WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER BY REPLACING THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MODULE (ABS HCU, SERVICE TOURING PART NUMBER 48343-09)

NHTSA ID
11066769
Incident
Jan 12, 2017
Mileage
26,888 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 25, 2016

I PUSH MY HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX 2009 OUT OF THE GARAGE AND APPLIED THE FRONT BRAKE AND STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE. AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WAS WARMED UP GOT BACK ON THE MOTORCYCLE AND TRIED TO SQUEEZE THE FRONT BRAKE LEVEL BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE AND I COULD NOT ENGAGE THE FRONT BRAKE. BEFORE STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE THE FRONT BRAKE WAS FINE BUT AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STARTED THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WILL NOT MOVE. I TURNED THE MOTORCYCLE OFF AND PUSH IT BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND A MONTH LATER THE FRONT BRAKE LEVEL STILL WILL NOT MOVE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD RECEIVED ITS 20,000 SERVICE ONLY ABOUT FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FRONT BRAKE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10937400
Incident
Oct 15, 2016
Mileage
20,816 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 21, 2016

WHILE RIDING REAR BRAKE BECAME STIFF AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER APPLYING EXTREME PRESSURE REAR ABS BEGAN TO CHATTER AND INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGE. FRONT BRAKE WORKED AS EXPECTED AND ALLOWED VEHICLE TO BE SLOWED. THIS WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND NOT A PANIC STOP. IF THIS WAS ON A BUSY CITY STREET IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10927146
Incident
Nov 16, 2016
Mileage
40,265 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .