RoadVitals

2009 Harley-Davidson Vrscdx

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.
3
Latest Jul 27, 2016
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.
1
Latest Jan 29, 2018
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.
1
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Harley-Davidson Vrscdx, most frequently naming the fuel system, brakes and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 4 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

  • Fuel system250.0%
  • Brakes125.0%
  • Electrical125.0%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V076000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID

Jan 29, 2018
174,636 units potentially affected
The defect: Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling all 2008-2011 Touring, CVO Touring and VSRC motorcycles equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), including Road King (FLHR), Road King Police (EFI) (FLHP), Road King Police (EFI) (FLHPE), Electra Glide Standard Police (EFI) (FLHTP), Electra Glide Classic (EFI) (FLHTC), Electra Glide Ultra Classic (EFI) (FLHTCU) and Street Glide (EFI) (FLHX), 2008 VROD (VRSCAWA), CVO Road King 4 (FLHRSE4), Night Rod (VRSCDA), CVO Ultra Classic 3 (FLHTCUSE3), Night Rod Special (VRSCDXA), 2008-2010 Road King Classic (EFI) (FLHRC), 2008-2009 Road Glide (EFI) (FLTR) and Electra Glide Standard (EFI) (FLHT), 2009-2010 V-Rod (VRSCAW), 2009 CVO Ultra Classic (FLHTCUSE4) and CVO Road Glide 3 (FLTRSE3), 2009-2011 Night Rod Special (VRSCDX) and V-Rod Muscle (VRSCF), 2010 CVO Ultra Classic 5 (FLHTCUSE5) and CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), 2010-2011 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (FLHTK) and Road Glide Custom (FLTRX), 2011 Road Glide Ultra 103 (FLTRU103), Street Glide 103 (FLHX103), Road King Classic 103 (FLHRC103), CVO Ultra Classic 6 (FLHTCUSE6), CVO Road Glide Ultra (FLTRUSE), Road Glide Custom 103 (FLTRX103), and CVO Street Glide 2 (FLHXSE2) motorcycles. Deposits may form on components within the brake system if the DOT 4 brake fluid is not replaced for a prolonged period of time beyond the 2-year maintenance schedule specified in the Owner’s Manual.
The risk: These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will flush the entire brake system with new Platinum Label DOT 4 brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0171.
Harley-Davidson Motor CompanyManufacturer number 0171View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE16009ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle

Opened Jul 6, 2016
Closed Apr 23, 2018

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation in July 2016 based on forty-three (43) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ).During the course of this investigation ODI received a total of 145 VOQs related to the alleged defect on the subject motorcycles.Owners allege they experience a sudden and complete loss of brakes on one or both wheels.To better understand the cause of the braking issue on the subject motorcycles, ODI requested NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) conduct inspections and testing of affected vehicle braking systems.Through its work, VRTC determined that deposits were forming on the valves in the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) of the Antilock Braking System (ABS). These deposits could prevent the proper function of the HCU and render the brakes ineffective.To understand why deposits were forming in the HCU, Harley Davidson completed an analysis of the Dow 460 brake fluid used as original equipment on the subject motorcycles and determined that it had stability issues if left in the brake system for an extended period of time.Harley Davidson found that if a brake fluid flush was not conducted as outlined in the owner?s manual for the motorcycles, and was left in the system for a period of time beyond their recommendation; deposits could form in the HCU.Through further testing, Harley Davidson identified an alternate, commercially available, brake fluid that did not have the same stability issues as the original fluid and could stop the proliferation of any current brake system deposits.ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to Harley Davidson and Dow Chemical (the supplier of the brake fluid on the subject motorcycles) to collect information about the subject bikes and the alleged defect.Harley Davidson responded in full on Sept 30, 2016 and Dow responded with a confidential submission on October 25, 2017.ODI analyzed the information contained in both IR responses and concluded that motorcycles manufactured during Model Years (MY) 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 were failing at a rate greater than their peers.Based on this analysis and the brake fluid study conducted by Harley Davidson, a group of motorcycles was identified that were potentially affected by the instability of the original brake fluid.2008 marked the introduction of ABS on Harley Davidson motorcycles and a change in the Dow 460 brake fluid used in the 2012 MY vehicles provided the bases for the scope of the affected population.With recall action 18V-076 taken by Harley Davidson this investigation is closed as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/ using the complaint identification numbers attached to this resume.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULELed to recall 18V076000

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Jul 27, 2016

HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCDX 2009 ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. WHILE IN MOTION APPROXIMATELY 45MPH I WENT TO DEPRESS THE REAR BRAKE AND IT FELT LIKE THE PEDAL WAS FROZE, UPON PUTTING MORE PRESSURE ON THE PEDAL IT MOVED BUT THE REAR BRAKE INSTANTLY LOCKED UP WITHOUT ANY PROGRESSIVE FEEL CAUSING THE REAR TIRE TO SKID CAUSING THE REAR OF THE BIKE TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE BIKE UPRIGHT AND IN CONTROL WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT VERY LIKELY THE CURRENT LOWER SPEED I WAS TRAVELING CONTRIBUTED TO BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. AT HIGHWAY SPEED THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS BEING THE ABS HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT. HARLEY DEALERSHIP QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $1000.00 TO REPAIR WOULD COULD BE A DEADLY ISSUE WITH THEIR ABS CONTROL AND CONFIGURATION. THE CONCERN IS THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE BRAKES DO NOT REVERT TO A NORMAL CONFIGURATION WHEN THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FAILS INSTEAD THEY FEEL AS IF THE PEDAL IS COMPLETELY FROZEN THEN INSTANTLY LOCK UP. THE PART THAT FAILED IS HARLEY PART# 48344-09

NHTSA ID
10888971
Incident
Jul 21, 2016
Mileage
5,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 18, 2014

SINCE TIME OF PURCHASE, FUEL SENDING UNIT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING. TAKEN TO LOCAL HD DEALER FOR A CHECK AND THEY HAVE NO FIX. DOING SOME RESEARCH MOST 2007 AND UP HARLEY DAVIDSON V-RODS HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THEIR FUEL SENDING UNIT NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONS. HD HAS TRIED 2 OR 3 FIXES FOR THIS SOLUTION BUT AT THE OWNER'S COST. ON OCTOBER 11TH, 2013 THE FUEL SENDING UNIT ON MY VRSCDX WAS READING 1/2 TANK, AND MY MOTORCYCLE COMPLETELY RAN OUT OF GAS ON I-75 NORTHBOUND. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE EXPRESSWAY. FINDING OUT THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR OVER 7 YEARS AND HD HAS NOT FOUND A WORKING FIX AND NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS PART. VERY DISTURBING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10599138
Incident
Oct 11, 2013
Mileage
4,000 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Oct 7, 2013

FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE DROPS FROM FULL TO COMPLETELY EMPTY IN 5-10 MINUTES EVEN WHEN TANK IS COMPLETELY FULL. SOMETIMES NEEDLE GETS STUCK ON EMPTY, FULL OR ANY OTHER POSITION REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON TANK. AFTER MOTORCYCLE IS RESTING ON OFF POSITION FOR A WHILE, NEEDLE SEEMS TO RESET TO CORRECT MEASUREMENT UNTIL TANK IS REFUELED AND PROBLEM RECURS ALL OVER AGAIN. SITUATION APPEARS TO BE COMPLETELY RANDOM AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TRACE IT DOWNS TO ANY ELECTRICAL OR VACUUM LEAKS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10547167
Incident
Jul 20, 2012
Mileage
3,500 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

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.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.6.4): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. 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 24.6.4. Release Date: Week of May 1, 2024. New Features for LiveWire S2DM and S2MH, 2024 Revolution® Max, and 2024 Touring.

TT449

SERVICE BRAKES

During a service event, if the rear brake line routing is disturbed from the original factory installed routing, it may come in contact with the exhaust.

TT449

SERVICE BRAKES

During a service event, if the rear brake line routing is disturbed from the original factory installed routing, it may come in contact with the exhaust.

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 Vrscdx by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017000—
2016200—
2015100—
2014600—
2013110—
2012510—
2011211—
2010211—
2009Viewing311—
2008901—
2007180039.6

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.