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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

70 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

26,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 61 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 70 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3854.3%
Electrical and battery issues710.0%
Transmission and shifting34.3%
Engine operation34.3%
Fuel system concerns11.4%

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.

Service Brakes
35
Vehicle Speed Control
11
Electrical System
10
Engine
6
Engine And Engine Cooling
5
Power Train
5
Wheels
4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes35
Vehicle Speed Control11
Electrical System10
Engine6
Engine And Engine Cooling5
Power Train5
Wheels4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Service Brakes: 35; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Electrical System: 10; Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Power Train: 5; Wheels: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
29
25,000 to 49,999
25
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00029
25,000 to 49,99925
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 9 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.

2008
2
2009
1
2010
1
2011
9
2012
3
2013
4
2014
5
2015
6
2016
19
2017
7
2018
9
2021
1
2022
1
2025
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20082
20091
20101
20119
20123
20134
20145
20156
201619
20177
20189
20211
20221
20251
20261

2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 9; 2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 5; 2015: 6; 2016: 19; 2017: 7; 2018: 9; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10423261 · 2011-09-05 (September 5, 2011)

REAR BRAKE LIGHT PRESSURE SWITCH FAILURE. THE SWITCH WHICH TRIGGERS THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT TO TOGGLE ON WHEN THE REAR BRAKE LEVER IS DEPRESSED IS A HYDRAULIC PRESSURE SWITCH. THIS SWITCH FAILED ALLOWING BRAKE FLUID TO PASS THROUGH THE SWITCH AND SPRAY OUT THE END WHERE THE TERMINALS ARE ATTACHED. THIS SPRAYING FLUID CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE WHICH IS CLOSE BY. BIKE WAS SITTING AT A LIGHT WHEN I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. A RIDING BUDDY NOTICED A SMALL FIRE LOCATED JUST BELOW THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER FLOORBOARD. I WAS STOPPED…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,925 miles reported. Look up ODI 10423261 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10721585 · 2015-05-27 (May 27, 2015)

RIDING MY 09 HARLEY ULTRA, WHEN AT LOW SPEED I HAD TO STOP FOR A CAR STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WAS FROZEN AND COULD NOT APPLY THE BRAKE. I SWERVED OFF INTO THE GRASS TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR. THE REAR BRAKES STILL WORKED BUT AT SLOW SPEEDS I USE THE FRONT SO I CAN PUT MY FEET DOWN WHEN THE BIKE COMES TO A STOP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AT HIGHER SPEEDS THIS WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE FATAL!! HARLEY CLAIMS THAT IF THE ABS FAILS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THAT IT WILL " FAIL SAFE" WITH NORMAL, NON ABS BRAKING. T…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10721585 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10246013 · 2008-10-19 (October 19, 2008)

THIS VEHICLE IS A NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2009 FLHTUCTG TRI-GLIDE TRIKE, THAT WENT IN FOR IT'S FIRST 500 (ACTUAL MILES 533) MILE SERVICE CHECK. AT DEPARTURE OF THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE SERVICE WAS COMPLIED WITH, AND WITHIN 1 MILE, I HEARD A NOISE FROM UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE TRIKE, AT WHICH I COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT THE SOUND WAS AT THE TIME. I BACKED UP AND LOOKED FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE FALLEN OFF OF THE TRIKE WITH NO AVAIL, AS IT WAS DARK AT THE TIME OF LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, AND CONTINUED HOME (ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY). THE NEXT DAY I RODE…

Owner-reported narrative. 533 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246013 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10396505 · 2011-04-15 (April 15, 2011)

MULTIPLE INCIDENTS. WHILE MAINTAINING A CRUISE SPEED OF 65 MPH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE RPM DROPPED TO IDLE RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED. ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND TO THROTTLE CONTROL. WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SHOULDER OF ROAD. RETURNED MOTORCYCLE TO DEALER. DEALER CLAIMED THEY CLEARED FAILURE CODES BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE SYMPTOMS. THEY CALLED TECH SERVICES AND WERE TOLD OF A SERVICE BULLETIN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION CORROSION FOR THROTTLE CONTROL. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SUDDEN LOSS OF ABILITY TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10396505 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10565944 · 2014-02-26 (February 26, 2014)

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED DURING A MAINTENANCE REPAIR HE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BALL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 32,000. RK UPDATED 04/17/14*LJ *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565944 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10568072 · 2014-03-09 (March 9, 2014)

BEGAN TO HEAR A FAINT HIGH PITCHED SQUEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ALONG WITH A NOTICEABLE "CLUNK" IN THE ENGINE AT STARTUP AND SHUTDOWN. ALSO NOTICED THE "CLUNK" WHEN SHIFTING THE LOWER GEARS AND THE BIKE WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT TO GET INTO NEUTRAL. TOOK THE BIKE IN FOR THE 20,000 MILE SERVICE AND MECHANIC ADVISED HE HAD FOUND AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPENSATOR IN THE DRIVE TRAIN. MECHANIC STATED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN A FAILURE AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE A LOCK DOWN OF REAR WHEEL OR CAUSE THE BIKE TO LOSE DRIVE TRAIN FUNCTION, AL…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568072 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10438369 · 2011-11-30 (November 30, 2011)

THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SUDDENLY ACTS ERRATIC SOMETIMES REVVING THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY AND SOMETIMES GOING INTO "LIMP MODE" CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IN TRAFFIC AND CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438369 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10445798 · 2012-01-30 (January 30, 2012)

ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLS AND QUITS. NO POWER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION AND TURNING IT BACK ON, ENGINE IS OPERATIONAL AGAIN. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445798 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11020353 · 2017-08-29 (August 29, 2017)

FUEL PUMP FAILURE: FUEL PUMP FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IDLING. ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STOPS. IF THIS HAPPENS TO A VEHICLE WHILE ON THE ROAD ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC OR TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION IT CAN RESULTS IN SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,138 miles reported. Look up ODI 11020353 at NHTSA ↗