RoadVitals

2009 Harley-Davidson Flstc

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
11
Latest Oct 21, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flstc, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and exterior lighting categories. 17 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical321.4%
  • Brakes321.4%
  • Exterior lighting214.3%
  • Interior & seats17.1%
  • Other / unspecified17.1%
  • Body & structure17.1%
  • Suspension17.1%
  • Engine17.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Oct 21, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL HERITAGE CLASSIC (FLSTC) MOTORCYCLE. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL RUMBLING NOISE WAS DETECTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. PIG TRAIL HARLEY-DAVIDSON (409 W HUDSON RD, ROGERS, AR 72756, (479) 636-9797) WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE COMPENSATOR SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID
11269920
Incident
Aug 22, 2019
Mileage
38,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE PASSENGER SEAT BECAME DETACHED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BOLTS AND RIVOTS FRACTURED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC WAS NOT DURABLE ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND CONSTANT WEAR AND TEAR. COLONIAL HARLEY DAVIDSON OF PETERSBURG, VA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE SEAT WAS DESIGNED AS SUCH AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11002348
Incident
Jun 22, 2017
Mileage
20,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 29, 2016

WHEEL BEARING ON RIGHT SIDE (BRAKE SIDE) OF REAR WHEEL CAME APART WHILE OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MOTORCYCLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIR. MY MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME THAT HE HAS SEEN AN UNUSUAL NUMBER OF PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE WITH THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE.

NHTSA ID
10852251
Incident
Mar 26, 2016
Mileage
56,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 3, 2015

RIDER BEHIND ME NOTICED THAT WHILE STOPPING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. SOMETHING IN THE FOOT PEDAL NOT LETTING THE REAR BREAK LIGHTS WORK. BULBS ARE GOOD AND FRONT WORKS GREAT AND ALSO ALLOWS THE LIGHTS TO WORK , JUST NOT THE FOOT PEDAL.

NHTSA ID
10723179
Incident
May 31, 2015
Mileage
27,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed May 15, 2014

I REMOVED THE SEAT TO DO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE MOTORCYCLE AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT HAD CRACKED DOWN THE CENTER OF THE SEAT FRAME WHICH COULD CAUSE THE SEAT TO SEPARATE INTO TWO PIECES, THIS COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE BIKE IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN. I HAVE PICTURES I CAN SEND IF I CAN GET AN E-MAIL ADDRESS TO SEND THEM TO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10588622
Incident
May 14, 2014
Mileage
31,875 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 22, 2013

WHILE DESCENDING A STEEP INCLINE AND ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN IN LESS THAN 100 YARDS THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN APPLIED, WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN RENDERING THE REAR BRAKE USELESS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS BROUGHT TO A SAFE STOP BY USING THE FRONT BRAKE AND DOWNSHIFTING AND WAS ABLE TO BE SAFELY RIDDEN TO A LOCAL H-D DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE REAR STOP LIGHT SWITCH HAD FAILED RESULTING IN A MAJOR BRAKE FLUID RELEASE, THE SWITCH APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST. INTERESTING ENOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED BY H-D IN OCTOBER OF 2011 WHICH AFFECTED OVER 300,000 BIKES OF THE TOURING, CVO TOURING AND TRIKE MODELS FROM THE 2009 THROUGH 2012 MODEL YEARS. OF COURSE THE SOFTTAIL MODELS WERE LEFT OFF THIS RECALL BUT IN MY ESTIMATION THIS APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE 2011 RECALL AND SHOULD BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA AND H-D. *TR

NHTSA ID
10549005
Incident
Oct 22, 2013
Mileage
12,750 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 18, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLSTC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE HORN AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,300. *TR

NHTSA ID
10525555
Incident
Jul 11, 2013
Mileage
10,300 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 19, 2012

DURING INCREASING AND DECREASING SPEED FUEL WOULD RUN DOWN THE TANK ONTO THE HOT ENGINE. IT DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE THE CORRECT POWER AT TIMES. THE AREA AROUND THE FUEL TANK CAP AND FILLER NECK BECAME INCREASING YELLOW WITH ONE AREA MARKING THE TANK WITH A YELLOW TRIANGLE LIKE GAS FUMES PUSHING OUT UNDER PRESSURE. 6/22/12, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER (RED ROCK) AND THEY DID NOTHING AND LET ME LEAVE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND GOT WORSE DAMAGING THE PAINT AND THE BIKE STARTED TO STALL WHILE I WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND AT SIGNALS WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS. SEPT. 7, 2012, THE BIKE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER. THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME MY BIKE WAS READY AND THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE MY VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR BUT KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE FUEL TAKE LEAKING. I TOLD THEM AGAIN AND THAT THEY DID NOT FIX IT THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN AND THAT IT IS A FIRE DANGER. THEY CALLED ME LATER AND SAID THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL FILLER NECK WHICH THEY NOW FIXED. THE FUEL NO LONGER LEAKS, HOWEVER, MY FUEL TANK PAINT IS DAMAGED. THE CLEAR COAT HAS BUBBLED, PEALING AND IS YELLOW. I CONTACTED BOTH THE SERVICE MANAGER, THE GENERAL MANAGER AND HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS ONLY FOR A VAPOR LEAK AND NOT FUEL. I EXPLAINED IF VAPOR CAN ESCAPE SO CAN GAS AND THE DAMAGE CLEARLY SHOWS THE LOCATION OF THE VAPOR LEAK (YELLOW TRIANGLE) ON MY WHITE TANK. HARLEY DAVIDSON REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD REPAINT 1/2 THE TANK AT THEIR COST OF $350 WHICH I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY FOR. I FEEL IF A RECALL FACTORY DEFECT CLEARLY CAUSES DAMAGE WHERE IT WAS LOCATED THEY SHOULD ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THE DAMAGE. I WAS ALSO REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE SENSOR WHICH PROBABLY ALSO WAS CAUSED BY THIS VAPOR LEAK. CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE OR GUIDANCE TO FIX MY TANK? I ALSO HAVE PICTURES I CAN SEND YOU IF NEEDED. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID
10485160
Incident
Jun 22, 2012
Mileage
5,838 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

M1684

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1684: MARKET SPECIFIC BATTERY INTRODUCTION. PURPOSE: Initial Release. This bulletin informs dealers of the availability of new batteries for new Original Equipment (OE) vehicle production and in the Parts and Accessories (P&A) catalog. Availability of the new Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries will vary by market and will be transitioning over the next few months. NOTE: The ring terminal screws are not compatible between Leoch and East Penn batteries. The new batteries will include new ring terminal screws, which must be used. The ring terminal screws from the old battery need to be discarded.

M1317

ENGINE

SERVICE BULLETIN M1317: NEW BALANCER BEARING REMOVER TOOL HD-48457-A. PURPOSE: The purpose of this bulletin is to inform dealers of an update to the BALANCER SHAFT REMOVER (PART NUMBER: HD-48457). When using these tools to remove the counter balancer assembly, the balance shaft bearing can remain in the crankcase. To remove the bearing without the balance shaft, additional tools were added to the balancer and bearing remover.

M1650

ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SERVICE BULLETIN M1650: MILWAUKEE EIGHT AND TWIN CAM CAMSHAFT DRIVE GEAR RETENTION KIT CHANGES. PURPOSE: This bulletin informs dealers that changes have been made to the Camshaft Drive Gear Retention Kit and service proceduresfor the Milwaukee-Eight and Twin Cam applications. In an effort to increase the clamp load of the camshaft drive sprocket bolted joint and prevent the drive bolt from loosening in high lift camshaft applications, the following changes have been made: a. The camshaft drive bolt final torque has been increased to 40 ft-lbs (54 N·m) for all Milwaukee-Eight and certain Twin Cams models. See Vehicles Affected. This increase in torque will make the bolt a one time use application. Never re-use a camshaft drive bolt for service after tightening to the increased specification. See service manual for updated procedure. b. A new camshaft drive gear retention kit (Part No. 91800088) has been created. This new kit is compatible with all Milwaukee-Eight and Twin Cam engines using Parts and Accessories (P&A) camshaft and Original Equipment (OE) camshaft applications. See Instruction sheet for specific fitment on Twin Cam OE camshaft applications. The new kit utilizes friction washers to prevent unwanted rotation of components in the drive sprocket bolted joint under stress. The use of liquid threadlocker on the threads of the bolt and pre-lube to the head of the bolt flange and outside of the washer help the bolt reach full stretch when tightening. NOTE: Engines produced at all Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC) plants will not come with the new kits installed. They will continue to be produced with (Part No. 25566-06).

M1555

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1555 (REV E): BATTERY WARRANTY GUIDELINES. PURPOSE: Revision E. Added: Added procedures for the DCA-8000 E Battery Tester.* Updated: All sections. This bulletin informs the dealership network that Harley-Davidson has provided guidelines for battery warranty.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.8.8): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version 24.8.8. Release Date: Week of August 5, 2024. New Features for Harley-Davidson vehicles: Advanced Module Replace for 2021 and later Revolution Max; 2023 and later CVO Touring; and 2024 Street Glide (FLHX), Road Glide (FLTRX). New Features for LiveWire vehicles: Updated calibrations for 2024 S2DM EV1/ EV6; 2024 S2MH EV1; and 2024 S2DM, S2MH. Changes: Added Hand Control Module (HCM) (Part No. 71500522A and 71500536A) for reflash support.

PAB1158

ENGINE; POWER TRAIN

GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1158: OIL FILTER PACKAGING AND CASE QUANTITY UPDATE. PURPOSE: To inform dealerships that Harley-Davidson has made updates to oil filters including new part numbers, packaging design, and bulk case quantity changes.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Flstc by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017000
2016200
2015200
2014300
2013200
2012120036.3
2011500
2010100
2009Viewing110026.9
2008301
2007810
2006100
2005210
2004010
2003010
2002210
2001100
2000900
1999110
1998300
1997000
1996400
1995000
1992010
1991020
1990120
1989020
1988010
1987010
1986010

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.