2009 Harley-Davidson Fltru 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 Fltru, 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
- Engine218.2%
- Powertrain (other)218.2%
- Electrical218.2%
- Other / unspecified19.1%
- Brakes19.1%
- Steering19.1%
- Driver assistance19.1%
- Fuel system19.1%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WHEN ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC THE THROTTLE RESPONSE AND ENGINE POWER SHIFTS INTO LIMP HOME MODE. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED AND REQUIRED RAPID RESPONSE TO CLEAR THE ROAD AND GET TO THE SHOULDER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN ENGINE EXHAUST EMITTED HEAT AND BURNED THE CONTACT'S RIGHT LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,600.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN STARTING HOT THE COMPENSATOR MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FROM READING THE HARLEY FORUMS. CHECK THE HARLEY SITE AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. *TR
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 80 NEAR DAVIS, CA IN THE NUMBER ONE LANE. IT WAS VERY HEAVY SUNDAY AFTERNOON TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, I LOST MY THROTTLE FUNCTION AND THE MOTOR SEEMED TO QUIT RUNNING. I WAS BARELY ABLE THE MANEUVER THREE LANES OVER TO THE SHOULDER JUST AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD GONE INTO "LIMP MODE", MEANING THE MOTOR WILL IDLE AT 1,500 REGARDLESS OF THROTTLE POSITION. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND DEPENDING ON WHEN IT OCCURS, COULD BE FATAL. I FOUND OUT HARLEY KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. IT IS BASICALLY A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE TCA CONNECTOR AND HARLEY SHOULD RECALL ALL AFFECTED PRODUCTS. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WHEN ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC THE THROTTLE RESPONSE AND ENGINE POWER SHIFTS INTO LIMP HOME MODE. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED AND REQUIRED RAPID RESPONSE TO CLEAR THE ROAD AND GET TO THE SHOULDER.
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON INTERSTATE 80 NEAR DAVIS, CA IN THE NUMBER ONE LANE. IT WAS VERY HEAVY SUNDAY AFTERNOON TRAFFIC. SUDDENLY, WITHOUT WARNING, I LOST MY THROTTLE FUNCTION AND THE MOTOR SEEMED TO QUIT RUNNING. I WAS BARELY ABLE THE MANEUVER THREE LANES OVER TO THE SHOULDER JUST AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD GONE INTO "LIMP MODE", MEANING THE MOTOR WILL IDLE AT 1,500 REGARDLESS OF THROTTLE POSITION. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND DEPENDING ON WHEN IT OCCURS, COULD BE FATAL. I FOUND OUT HARLEY KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. IT IS BASICALLY A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE TCA CONNECTOR AND HARLEY SHOULD RECALL ALL AFFECTED PRODUCTS. *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
AFTER A NICE HOUR LONG RIDE, ENTERING THE HIGHWAY (RT1 SAUGUS) COMING TO A STOP AT THE ON RAMP I APPLIED PRESSURE TO BOTH MY FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. MY RIGHT FOOT PUSHED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED ME TO THROTTLE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. MY REAR TIRE STARTED TO SPIN OUT COMPARED TO BEING ON ICE. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED THE BIKE AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. WHILE INSPECTING MY BIKE I PUSHED THE FOOT BRAKE IN WITH MY HAND AND FLUID FROM THE BRAKE SWITCH AND BRAKE LINE WAS SHOOTING OUT. THIS WAS CAUSING FLUID TO HIT MY EXHAUST PIPE CHROME AND SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE BIKE AND THE SWITCH ITSELF STARTED TO FLAME UP. I THEN WENT TO MY SADDLE BAG WET A RAG AND PUT THE FLAME OUT, ALONG WITH WIPING THE REMAINING BRAKE FLUID OFF OF MY CHROME. I BURNT MY HAND, BUT SAVED MY BIKE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS BIKE. I PURCHASED THIS BIKE IN 2011 FROM HD BRUCE ROSMEYER BOSTON, THE RECALL HAPPENED BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. IT WAS NEVER TAKEN CARE OF AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON PUT OUT ON MY BIKE. NICE KNOWING THAT THE BIKE GOES IN FOR SERVICE AT HD AND THEY DON'T FIX RECALLED ITEMS. THIS COULD OF BEEN A LIFE CHANGING EVENT. I AM REALLY PISSED THAT LIFE SAFETY IS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FROM SUCH A LARGE COMPANY LIKE HD. I HAD MY BIKE TOWED TO THE LOCAL BIKE SHOP AND NOW I WILL BE PAYING OUT OF POCKET UNTIL I GO AFTER HD FOR MY REFUND. VERY CONCERNED RIDER THAT'S PISSED......... *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
AFTER A NICE HOUR LONG RIDE, ENTERING THE HIGHWAY (RT1 SAUGUS) COMING TO A STOP AT THE ON RAMP I APPLIED PRESSURE TO BOTH MY FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. MY RIGHT FOOT PUSHED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED ME TO THROTTLE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. MY REAR TIRE STARTED TO SPIN OUT COMPARED TO BEING ON ICE. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED THE BIKE AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. WHILE INSPECTING MY BIKE I PUSHED THE FOOT BRAKE IN WITH MY HAND AND FLUID FROM THE BRAKE SWITCH AND BRAKE LINE WAS SHOOTING OUT. THIS WAS CAUSING FLUID TO HIT MY EXHAUST PIPE CHROME AND SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE BIKE AND THE SWITCH ITSELF STARTED TO FLAME UP. I THEN WENT TO MY SADDLE BAG WET A RAG AND PUT THE FLAME OUT, ALONG WITH WIPING THE REMAINING BRAKE FLUID OFF OF MY CHROME. I BURNT MY HAND, BUT SAVED MY BIKE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS BIKE. I PURCHASED THIS BIKE IN 2011 FROM HD BRUCE ROSMEYER BOSTON, THE RECALL HAPPENED BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. IT WAS NEVER TAKEN CARE OF AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON PUT OUT ON MY BIKE. NICE KNOWING THAT THE BIKE GOES IN FOR SERVICE AT HD AND THEY DON'T FIX RECALLED ITEMS. THIS COULD OF BEEN A LIFE CHANGING EVENT. I AM REALLY PISSED THAT LIFE SAFETY IS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FROM SUCH A LARGE COMPANY LIKE HD. I HAD MY BIKE TOWED TO THE LOCAL BIKE SHOP AND NOW I WILL BE PAYING OUT OF POCKET UNTIL I GO AFTER HD FOR MY REFUND. VERY CONCERNED RIDER THAT'S PISSED......... *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER A NICE HOUR LONG RIDE, ENTERING THE HIGHWAY (RT1 SAUGUS) COMING TO A STOP AT THE ON RAMP I APPLIED PRESSURE TO BOTH MY FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. MY RIGHT FOOT PUSHED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED ME TO THROTTLE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. MY REAR TIRE STARTED TO SPIN OUT COMPARED TO BEING ON ICE. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED THE BIKE AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. WHILE INSPECTING MY BIKE I PUSHED THE FOOT BRAKE IN WITH MY HAND AND FLUID FROM THE BRAKE SWITCH AND BRAKE LINE WAS SHOOTING OUT. THIS WAS CAUSING FLUID TO HIT MY EXHAUST PIPE CHROME AND SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE BIKE AND THE SWITCH ITSELF STARTED TO FLAME UP. I THEN WENT TO MY SADDLE BAG WET A RAG AND PUT THE FLAME OUT, ALONG WITH WIPING THE REMAINING BRAKE FLUID OFF OF MY CHROME. I BURNT MY HAND, BUT SAVED MY BIKE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS BIKE. I PURCHASED THIS BIKE IN 2011 FROM HD BRUCE ROSMEYER BOSTON, THE RECALL HAPPENED BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. IT WAS NEVER TAKEN CARE OF AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON PUT OUT ON MY BIKE. NICE KNOWING THAT THE BIKE GOES IN FOR SERVICE AT HD AND THEY DON'T FIX RECALLED ITEMS. THIS COULD OF BEEN A LIFE CHANGING EVENT. I AM REALLY PISSED THAT LIFE SAFETY IS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FROM SUCH A LARGE COMPANY LIKE HD. I HAD MY BIKE TOWED TO THE LOCAL BIKE SHOP AND NOW I WILL BE PAYING OUT OF POCKET UNTIL I GO AFTER HD FOR MY REFUND. VERY CONCERNED RIDER THAT'S PISSED......... *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX STREET GLIDE (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, VEHICLE SPEED DECREASED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 10 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NO CAUSE FOR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
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
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME WHEN ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC THE THROTTLE RESPONSE AND ENGINE POWER SHIFTS INTO LIMP HOME MODE. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED AND REQUIRED RAPID RESPONSE TO CLEAR THE ROAD AND GET TO THE SHOULDER.
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 .