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FaultScore report

2009 Harley-Davidson Flhr problems

Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhr with NHTSA between 2009 and 2017. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 3 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Harley-Davidson Flhr All 2009 cars
C

FaultScore 57/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Harley-Davidson Flhr.

How this is worked out

The numbers

15

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

24,195 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

100%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 54 vs 50 Severity 34 vs 50 Early failure 100 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 54
Against the median year of the Harley-Davidson Flhr. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 34
6.7% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 100
100% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2009 compares with every other Harley-Davidson Flhr

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhr

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 5 33.3%

Median failure at 28,540 miles

Brakes 3 20.0%

Median failure at 19,425 miles

Electrical System 3 20.0%

Median failure at 28,540 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 2 13.3%

Median failure at 21,270 miles

Tires 1 6.7%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 2,200 mi

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 6.7%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 1 7.1%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 7.1%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 5 35.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 7 50.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jun 2009 peak 3 Nov 2017

NHTSA investigations into the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhr

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE16009 Opened 6 Jul 2016 Closed 23 Apr 2018 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle

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 determ...

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 2,200 miles Poland, OH Crash

TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHR MOTORCYCLE. THE VEHICLE HAS DUNLOP TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE BLOW OUT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND RECEIVE $3,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE TIRE SIZE, LINE, AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,200.

NHTSA complaint #10272852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Carrollton, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

ABS MODULE IS BAD. IT'S A REGULAR PROBLEM WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON. IF YOU LOOK AT FORUMS YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAD JUST STARTED MY MOTORCYCLE PULLED OUT IN TO TRAFFIC. THEN TRIED TO USE MY FRONT BRAKES, AND WAS UNABLE TO SQUEEZE BRAKE LEVER. I HAD JUST RODE MY MOTORCYCLE THE NIGHT BEFORE. WITH NO PROBLEMS. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO USE MY REAR BRAKES. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE!!! I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A PROBLEM FOR ONLY A FEW. BUT LOOKING UP THE PART, I FOUND OUT DIFFERENT. HARLEY DAVIDSON CHARGES A LOT OF MONEY FOR THEIR MOTORCYCLES. AND THEY SHOULD MAKE THEM SAFE.

NHTSA complaint #11048463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1 miles Creighton, PA

ENGINE

COMPENSATOR FAILURE

NHTSA complaint #10894042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,851 miles Boynton Beach, FL

SERVICE BRAKES

NO FRONT BRAKE. UNABLE TO APPLY FRONT BRAKE. FRONT BRAKE FROZEN. MOTORCYCLE TAKEN TO HARLEY DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, ABS HCU REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10887659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,000 miles Fort Mayers, FL

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE MOTORCYCLE AND FOUND THAT THE ABS MODULE INTERLOCK BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE ABS FUSE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. UPDATED 5/12/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017

NHTSA complaint #10701606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 28,540 miles Lake Elsinore, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AT 55MPH WHEN I SLIGHTLY BANKED RIGHT, THE ENGINE DIED. I COASTED TO THE SIDE, TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF, THEN BACK ON AND IT STARTED AND RAN PERFECTLY. THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY AT A LATER TIME. AGAIN, I WAS BANKING TO THE RIGHT ON A SWEEPING TURN. THE BIKE STARTED AS BEFORE AFTER COASTING TO SIDE OF THE ONRAMP. I RODE WITHOUT A PROBLEM UNTIL I ENTERED THE FREEWAY AT THE SAME ON RAMP A FEW HOURS LATER. THE ENGINE DIED IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION!

NHTSA complaint #10643722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 28,540 miles Lake Elsinore, CA

ENGINE

I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AT 55MPH WHEN I SLIGHTLY BANKED RIGHT, THE ENGINE DIED. I COASTED TO THE SIDE, TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF, THEN BACK ON AND IT STARTED AND RAN PERFECTLY. THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY AT A LATER TIME. AGAIN, I WAS BANKING TO THE RIGHT ON A SWEEPING TURN. THE BIKE STARTED AS BEFORE AFTER COASTING TO SIDE OF THE ONRAMP. I RODE WITHOUT A PROBLEM UNTIL I ENTERED THE FREEWAY AT THE SAME ON RAMP A FEW HOURS LATER. THE ENGINE DIED IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION!

NHTSA complaint #10643722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 28,540 miles Lake Elsinore, CA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AT 55MPH WHEN I SLIGHTLY BANKED RIGHT, THE ENGINE DIED. I COASTED TO THE SIDE, TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH OFF, THEN BACK ON AND IT STARTED AND RAN PERFECTLY. THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY AT A LATER TIME. AGAIN, I WAS BANKING TO THE RIGHT ON A SWEEPING TURN. THE BIKE STARTED AS BEFORE AFTER COASTING TO SIDE OF THE ONRAMP. I RODE WITHOUT A PROBLEM UNTIL I ENTERED THE FREEWAY AT THE SAME ON RAMP A FEW HOURS LATER. THE ENGINE DIED IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION!

NHTSA complaint #10643722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Louisville, KY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE LOST ABILITY TO CONTROL MY THROTTLE. THROTTLE POSITION CLOSES AND DOES NOT ACCEPT INPUTS FROM THE ACCELERATOR. SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE THROTTLE HAS SHUT AND THE MOTORCYCLE WENT INTO 'LIMP HOME' MODE. THIS WILL ONLY ALLOW A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10-15MPH (DANGEROUS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED). THE CONCERN IS WELL KNOW BY THE HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY. THEY HAVE EVEN ISSUED A TECHNICAL TIP BULLETIN (#TT418A) ON THE SUBJECT. HOWEVER, NO VOLUNTARY OR REQUIRED SAFETY RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS CONCERN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN: TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION MAY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH.

NHTSA complaint #10611249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Louisville, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE LOST ABILITY TO CONTROL MY THROTTLE. THROTTLE POSITION CLOSES AND DOES NOT ACCEPT INPUTS FROM THE ACCELERATOR. SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE THROTTLE HAS SHUT AND THE MOTORCYCLE WENT INTO 'LIMP HOME' MODE. THIS WILL ONLY ALLOW A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10-15MPH (DANGEROUS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED). THE CONCERN IS WELL KNOW BY THE HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY. THEY HAVE EVEN ISSUED A TECHNICAL TIP BULLETIN (#TT418A) ON THE SUBJECT. HOWEVER, NO VOLUNTARY OR REQUIRED SAFETY RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS CONCERN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN: TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION MAY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH.

NHTSA complaint #10611249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Louisville, KY

ENGINE

SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS I HAVE LOST ABILITY TO CONTROL MY THROTTLE. THROTTLE POSITION CLOSES AND DOES NOT ACCEPT INPUTS FROM THE ACCELERATOR. SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE THROTTLE HAS SHUT AND THE MOTORCYCLE WENT INTO 'LIMP HOME' MODE. THIS WILL ONLY ALLOW A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10-15MPH (DANGEROUS WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED). THE CONCERN IS WELL KNOW BY THE HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY. THEY HAVE EVEN ISSUED A TECHNICAL TIP BULLETIN (#TT418A) ON THE SUBJECT. HOWEVER, NO VOLUNTARY OR REQUIRED SAFETY RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS CONCERN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN: TRAVELING ON THE EXPRESSWAY A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION MAY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH.

NHTSA complaint #10611249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,758 miles Florissant, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

PULLED UP TO A STOPLIGHT EVERYTHING WAS FINE, WENT TO PULL AWAY AFTER LIGHT CHANGED BIKE LOST POWER FELT LIKE IT WAS RUNNING ON ONE CYLINDER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. MANAGED TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT GETTING HIT SHUT BIKE OFF THEN RESTARTED THE BIKE AND ACCELERATION RETURNED TO NORMAL. CHECKED FOR CODES AND HAD A P2135 THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR CLEARED CODES AND HAS NOT RETURNED AS OF YET BUT GETTING READY TO TAKE A TRIP AND DON'T TRUST THIS BIKE....

NHTSA complaint #10523838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,758 miles Florissant, MO

ENGINE

PULLED UP TO A STOPLIGHT EVERYTHING WAS FINE, WENT TO PULL AWAY AFTER LIGHT CHANGED BIKE LOST POWER FELT LIKE IT WAS RUNNING ON ONE CYLINDER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. MANAGED TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC WITHOUT GETTING HIT SHUT BIKE OFF THEN RESTARTED THE BIKE AND ACCELERATION RETURNED TO NORMAL. CHECKED FOR CODES AND HAD A P2135 THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR CLEARED CODES AND HAS NOT RETURNED AS OF YET BUT GETTING READY TO TAKE A TRIP AND DON'T TRUST THIS BIKE....

NHTSA complaint #10523838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,000 miles Wilson, NC

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

BIKE GOES INTO LIMP MODE, IDLE ONLY, NO THROTTLE RESPONSE,WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE FIRST TIME I WAS GOING 60 MPH IN TRAFFIC AND ALMOST GOT RAN OVER. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE, AND A FEW AT 70 PLUS MPH. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT A PROBLEM. BUT I WERE TO BE PASSING IN TRAFFIC OR HUNG IN THE CENTER LANE. IT COULD BE TRAGIC. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER , THE SERVICE MANAGER ACTED AS IF HE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT IT IS EASY TO FIND INFO ON THE INTERNET, INCLUDING A HARLEY TECH TIP, TT 418, HE STARTED CHANGING HIS STORY. THEY TOOK IT IN, AND CHARGED ME, TO REPLACE PINS ON THE THROTTLE CONTROL ACTUATOR. NOW 6000 MILES LATER IT IS DOING AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME AT 75 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE SECOND TIME AT 70 MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES IN ALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS FAIRLY COMMON AND KNOW TO HARLEY DAVIDSON. BUT THE DEALER, AND COMPANY, ACTS AS IF IT IS AN UNKNOWN. SOMETHING NEEDS TO DONE TO PREVENT A TRAGEDY, BUT PROBABLY ALREADY HAS, DEAD BIKERS CAN'T TELL WHAT HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10520570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 33,000 miles Westtown, NY

ENGINE

ECM PLUG CAUSED BIKE TO BUCK AND RUN ERRATICALLY. BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES UNTIL THEY CHANGED THE PLUG. THEY BLAMED ON THE AFTERMARKET SEAT MADE BY MUSTANG SEAT FOR THE BIKE BUT IT HAPPENED WITH THE STOCK SEAT AS WELL. IT SEEMS OTHERS ARE SAYING THE SAME HAPPENED TO THEM WITH STOCK SEATS.

NHTSA complaint #10496114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,200 miles Poland, OH Crash

TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHR MOTORCYCLE. THE VEHICLE HAS DUNLOP TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE BLOW OUT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND RECEIVE $3,500 WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE TIRE SIZE, LINE, AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,200.

NHTSA complaint #10272852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.