2009 Harley-Davidson Fxdf 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 Fxdf, 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
- Engine133.3%
- Fuel system133.3%
- Suspension133.3%
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
COMPENSATOR IS KNOWN TO BEGIN FAILING AND MAKING A HORRENDOUS GRINDING NOISE WHICH PREVENTS THE ENGINE FROM TURNING OVER. HARLEY IS FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND CHARGES FULL PRICE TO UPGRADE TO THE MORE SUITABLE SCREAMING EAGLE COMPENSATOR. THIS PIECE IS DESIGNED TO FAIL AND MAKE MONEY FOR THE COMPANY WITH NO REGARD FOR SAFETY IN THE ABILITY TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN NEEDED AND THE POSSIBILITY OF BECOMING STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS AREA. *TR
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
I HAVE OWNED A HARLEY DAVIDSON V-ROD SINCE 2009 AND EVER SINCE I RECEIVED THE MOTORCYCLE THE FUEL GAUGE CONSTANTLY OVER AND UNDER ESTIMATES THE FUEL IN THE TANK. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS EVER TRULY AN ISSUE WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND AFTER 50 MILES THE GAUGE SAID EMPTY. I HAD JUST FILLED UP AND TYPICALLY GET 210 MILES OUT OF A TANK OF GAS. SO I PUSHED AHEAD. AT ABOUT 150 MILES THE BIKE ACTUALLY RAN OUT OF GAS. I CHALKED THE LOWER GAS MILEAGE UP TO A BAD TANK OF GAS, BUT IF MY FUEL GAUGE HAD WORKED PROPERLY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO QUESTION. IN GENERAL THE GAUGE WILL SAY I AM EMPTY WHEN THERE IS STILL A GALLON OF GAS LEFT IN THE TANK. I NOW TRY TO AVOID GOING OVER THIS IN CASE I HAVE ANOTHER BAD GAS ISSUE. WHEN I ADDRESSED THE ISSUE WITH H-D IT TOOK TWO MONTHS FOR THEM TO GET THE PART IN, AND IT DIDN'T FIX THE ISSUE. WHEN REDRESSED THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY FOUND NO ISSUE AND THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. *LN
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 (NA) HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDF MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND IT VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WOBBLED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE REAR WHEEL FAILED TO TURN AND SEIZED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
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 .