2009 Harley-Davidson Fxdc 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 Fxdc, 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
- Body & structure225.0%
- Brakes112.5%
- Electrical112.5%
- Engine112.5%
- Fuel system112.5%
- Interior & seats112.5%
- Exterior lighting112.5%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY NEW HARLEY DAVIDSON SUPERGLIDE CUSTOM LOST ITS KICK STAND WITH MY WIFE ON THE BACK DOING 55 DOWN THE ROAD!THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS! *TR
HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDC RECALL. RECEIVED LTR ON 20 DEC 2008 ABOUT RECALL AND WENT TO DEALER AND PLACED NAME ON LIST AND AS OF THIS DATE DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED PARTS YET. LETTER STATED PARTS WOULD START SHIPPING 22 DEC 2008. I THINK THIS IS TO LONG OF TIME TO WAIT FOR REPAIR. HOPE YOU WOULD LOOK INTO PROBLEM. THANKS *TR UPDATED 04/21/09.*JB
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
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH / BANJO BOLT (PN: 72026-08) FAILED ON MY 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SUPERGLIDE CUSTOM (FXDC) CAUSING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO STAY ON WHICH ENDED UP BURNING AND MELTING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT LENS COVERS. THE SWITCH ALSO STARTED LEAKING BRAKE FLUID OUT ITS END CAUSING ME TO LOSE REAR BRAKE FUNCTION. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET FOR A REPLACEMENT, NOT ONLY DID I FIND A RECALL CONCERNING THE SAME PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #11V506000) FOR HARLEY-DAVIDSON TOURING AND TRIKE MODELS; BUT I FOUND SEVERAL FORUM POSTS WHERE HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXD OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY OWN LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED 2 WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. ALTHOUGH THE SWITCH ON THE FXD MODELS HAS A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER, IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONES ON THE TOURING AND TRIKE MODELS. IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS IT IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE REAR EXHAUST MUFFLERS. BY MY UNDERSTANDING, THE HEAT RADIATING FROM THE MUFFLERS IS HEATING THE SWITCH TO THE POINT THAT THE SWITCH'S INNER PRESSURE DIAPHRAM RUPTURES. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HONOR THE RECALL ON MY MODEL, BUT THEY WOULD NOT. HARLEY-DAVIDSON DOES HAVE A NEW VERSION OF THIS SWITCH (72026-08[A]) FOR MY MODEL. BUT DUE TO THE DANGER AND SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM, I AM TRYING TO FIND AN AFTERMARKET VERSION THAT WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO FAIL. *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
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH / BANJO BOLT (PN: 72026-08) FAILED ON MY 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SUPERGLIDE CUSTOM (FXDC) CAUSING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS TO STAY ON WHICH ENDED UP BURNING AND MELTING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT LENS COVERS. THE SWITCH ALSO STARTED LEAKING BRAKE FLUID OUT ITS END CAUSING ME TO LOSE REAR BRAKE FUNCTION. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET FOR A REPLACEMENT, NOT ONLY DID I FIND A RECALL CONCERNING THE SAME PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #11V506000) FOR HARLEY-DAVIDSON TOURING AND TRIKE MODELS; BUT I FOUND SEVERAL FORUM POSTS WHERE HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXD OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY OWN LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED 2 WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. ALTHOUGH THE SWITCH ON THE FXD MODELS HAS A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER, IT IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONES ON THE TOURING AND TRIKE MODELS. IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS IT IS LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE REAR EXHAUST MUFFLERS. BY MY UNDERSTANDING, THE HEAT RADIATING FROM THE MUFFLERS IS HEATING THE SWITCH TO THE POINT THAT THE SWITCH'S INNER PRESSURE DIAPHRAM RUPTURES. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THEY WOULD HONOR THE RECALL ON MY MODEL, BUT THEY WOULD NOT. HARLEY-DAVIDSON DOES HAVE A NEW VERSION OF THIS SWITCH (72026-08[A]) FOR MY MODEL. BUT DUE TO THE DANGER AND SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM, I AM TRYING TO FIND AN AFTERMARKET VERSION THAT WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO FAIL. *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 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA SCREAMING EAGLE FL HT CUSE5 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE YET THE SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED AT THAT TIME. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE FAILURE POTENTIALLY WAS DUE TO DRIVER ERROR AND THEY WOULD SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FAILURE. THE INVESTIGATOR WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE ANY FAILURES AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE AS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS, HE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER WARNING HIM NOT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADMITTED THERE WAS A DEFECT WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE AS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN THE DEALER'S POSSESSION WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING UNKNOWN REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,100 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,400.
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
RECALL #0613 REPAIRED BY RED ROCK HARLEY DAVIDSON NEVADA CALIFORNIA DMV STATES I NEED A CERTIFICATE . I SENT THEM A LETTER FROM HD AND THE INVOICE OF THE RECALL CORRECTION . THEY WILL NOT ISSUE ME A NEW REGISTRATION AND I LOST 6 MONTHS OF DRIVING TIME
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
2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE CVO. SEAT IS TOO SHORT FOR THE NEW EXTENDED FRAME. WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE AROUND 60MPH, THE FRONT OF THE SEAT BECAME DISCONNECTED CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SEAT IS THEN ABLE TO SLIDE. *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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE DROVE THE HEAD LIGHTS VIBRATED AND THE RIVETS WERE NOT HOLDING THE LIGHT IN PLACE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE NOT SEEN THAT PROBLEM BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 01/29/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED IT IS IBVIOUS THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON FOUND THAT THEY AHD A PROBLEM THE ATTCHMENT AND MADE THE CORRECTION BY ADDING ANOTHER RIVET TO THE BRACKET ON THEIR NEW MODELS OF FXDC MOTORCYCLES. THERE A THREE RIVETS INSTEAD OF TWO. UPDATED 1/30/2013 *JS
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 .