2009 Harley-Davidson FLHTC problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
32,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 19 complaints (52.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 52.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 10.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 10 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Service Brakes: 10; Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 2; Wheels: 2; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 7; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10759835 · 2015-08-27 (August 27, 2015)
ABS ELEC CONTROLLER (MODULATOR) FAILED. BIKE STARTED UP AND INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED ABS WAS WORKING, PULLED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND LIGHT WENT OUT...(ALL NORMAL). THEN I HAD TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP AND APPLIED BOTH BRAKES AND THE REAR LOCKED UP INSTEAD OF PULSING TO A STOP, I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND BROUGHT THE BIKE IN FOR SERVICE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS MOD. HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACING. AT NO TIME DID THE INDICATOR LIGHT EVER COME ON AND STAY ON TO INDICATE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10759835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10899382 · 2016-08-29 (August 29, 2016)
FRONT HAND BRAKE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY ON AN OFF RAMP AND APPROACHING RED LIGHT. STOPPED USING REAR BRAKE. LEVER WAS FROZE IN POSITION WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW BRAKE TO BE APPLIED. HAD BIKE TRAILERED TO HARLEY DAVIDSON SHOP AND THEY REPORTED A FAILURE OF THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (WHICH THEY STATED ON RECIPT). UNIT WAS REPLACED AT MY COST. I KEPT AND STILL HAVE THE FAILED UNIT.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10899382 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10631150 · 2014-09-05 (September 5, 2014)
THIS MOTORCYCLE, WITH NO WARNING WILL GO INTO "LIMP MODE". LIMP MODE IS WHEN THE ECM SHUTS THE ENGINE DOWN TO 1000 RPM AND WILL NOT LET IT EXCEED THIS RPM. TWICE THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD WAS I NOT RUN OVER FROM BEHIND. THE BIKE REGISTER THREE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODES, P1511, P2135 AND U1097. ALL CODES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE THROTTLE BY WIRE SYSTEM LOSING COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONTROL MODULE. TWICE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY TWO DIFFERENT HD DEALERS AND BOTH DEALERS REPLACED CONNECTORS IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,364 miles reported. Look up ODI 10631150 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11034391 · 2017-10-18 (October 18, 2017)
I WAS ACCELERATING AND MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY WHEN I LOST ALL THROTTLE RESPONSE ( THROTTLE BY WIRE - ELECTRICAL). MY MOTORCYCLE IMMEDIATELY LOST SPEED IN FRONT OF VEHICLES COMING UP QUICKLY BEHIND ME. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO GET OVER AND OFF THE FREEWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 11034391 at NHTSA ↗