2009 Harley-Davidson Flstc 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 Flstc, 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
- Electrical321.4%
- Brakes321.4%
- Exterior lighting214.3%
- Interior & seats17.1%
- Other / unspecified17.1%
- Body & structure17.1%
- Suspension17.1%
- Engine17.1%
- Fuel system17.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
I HAVE FOUND THAT THE SWITCH FOR THE REAR BRAKE WILL NOT LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT AFTER THE BIKE WARMS UP, IF THE BIKE IS ALLOWED TO COOL BACK DOWN THE LIGHT STARTS TO FUNCTION AGAIN. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING THE CURRENT RECALL ON OTHER MODEL HARLEYS IN THE 2009 MODEL YEAR. *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
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE FOUND THAT THE SWITCH FOR THE REAR BRAKE WILL NOT LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT AFTER THE BIKE WARMS UP, IF THE BIKE IS ALLOWED TO COOL BACK DOWN THE LIGHT STARTS TO FUNCTION AGAIN. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING THE CURRENT RECALL ON OTHER MODEL HARLEYS IN THE 2009 MODEL YEAR. *TR
A FRIEND WAS FOLLOWING ME AND TOLD ME MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RELEASED IT, BUT THE LIGHT STAYED ON. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO HARLEY DAVIDSON WORLD IN OKLAHOMA CITY FOR REPAIR. THEY REPAIRED IT BY REPLACING THE REAR BRAKE SWITCH. SINCE THEN HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS RECALLED ALL TOURING MODEL BIKES FROM 09 AND UP, BUT EXCLUDED SOFTTAIL MODELS LIKE MINE FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, HEAT CAUSES THE CONTACTS ON THE SWITCH TO MELT CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHT TO EITHER STAY ON OR NOT COME ON AT ALL OR ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. I'VE CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON TO SEE IF THE SWITCH ON MY SOFTTAIL SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED DUE TO THE SIMILARITIES OF THE COMPLAINTS. HARLEY CUSTOMER CARE INDICATED THERE WAS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN MY SWITCH GOING OUT AND THE RECALL ON TOURING MODELS. THE CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE SAID MY FAILURE WAS A ONE IN A MILLION CHANCE. I DOUBT HIS ASSUMPTION AND BELIEVE THERE IS A CONNECTION AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE SWITCH THAT REPLACED MY FAULTY SWITCH MAY ALSO MALFUNCTION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BY MY EITHER LOSING BRAKE FLUID AND THE RESULTING LOSS OF BRAKES OR BY MY GETTING REAR ENDED BY A MOTORIST NOT REALIZING THAT I WAS STOPPING DUE TO NO BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING ALONG WHEN I NOTICED A VIBRATION, KEPT RIDING AND THEN IT BECAME A LOUD SQUEAKING INTERMITTENT SOUND. PARKED AT HOME AND NOTICED IT WAS THE REAR BEARING AS IT CAME APART INSIDE THE REAR WHEEL. IT IS A CHEAP CHINESE CRAP BEARING THAT HARLEY IS USING IN THEIR BIKES. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE.... WE HAVE TO STOP THE USE OF CHEAP OUTSOURCED PRODUCTS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. WE ARE IN DEBT TO A COMMUNIST COUNTRY AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IT....... *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
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
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 .