2009 Harley-Davidson FLHX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
25,600 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 28 complaints (35.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 32.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 10.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
Electrical System: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Service Brakes: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Power Train: 3; Engine: 2; Steering: 2; Wheels: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 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: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 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 (13). 1 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 | 2 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2011: 2; 2012: 6; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10406672 · 2011-06-12 (June 12, 2011)
I WAS RIDING HOME FROM MARIETTA, GEORGIA ON INTERSTATE 575 AND HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY, THE CRUISE CONTROL KICKED OFF AND I BEGAN TO DECELERATE. I WAS POSITIVE THAT I HAD NOT HIT THE CLUTCH OR EITHER BRAKE, ANY OF WHICH WOULD HAVE DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, ONCE AGAIN, I FOUND THAT THE ENGINE HAD GONE TO A "ROUGH IDLE" AND THAT MY THROTTLE WAS UNRESPONSIVE. IN OTHER WORDS, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. FORTUNATELY, I WAS IN THE OUTSIDE TRAFFIC LANE AND WAS ABLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10406672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10927146 · 2016-11-21 (November 21, 2016)
WHILE RIDING REAR BRAKE BECAME STIFF AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AFTER APPLYING EXTREME PRESSURE REAR ABS BEGAN TO CHATTER AND INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGE. FRONT BRAKE WORKED AS EXPECTED AND ALLOWED VEHICLE TO BE SLOWED. THIS WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND NOT A PANIC STOP. IF THIS WAS ON A BUSY CITY STREET IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,265 miles reported. Look up ODI 10927146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453335 · 2012-03-28 (March 28, 2012)
THE WIRING CONNECTOR AT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR/SERVO IS GETTING A BAD CONNECTION DUE TO THE ROUTING OF THE WIRE HARNES AND THE EXTREME PRESSURE BEING PUT ON THE PINS INSIDE DUE TO THE WIRES BEING PULLED TO TIGHT. THE PINS WEAR FROM VIBRATION AND PRESSURE CAUSE THE 5 VOLT SIGNAL TO DIMINISH CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO GO INTO LIMP MODE. I WAS GOING UP I65 NORTH OF MONTGOMERY IN THE CENTER LANE. THE BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE LOSING ALL POWER ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET BY VEHICLES BEHIND ME. THIS ISSUE IS A SIMPLE FIX TO REROUTE WIRING OVER T…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478161 · 2012-10-01 (October 1, 2012)
THE PROBLEM BEGAN AROUND APRIL OF 2012. WHEN I STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE, THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE MOTORCYCLE WILL IDLE AT 1000 RPM BUT THE THROTTLE WILL NOT WORK WHEN TWISTED TO ACCELERATE ENGINE. IT REMAINS AT IDLE. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO RESET THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. SOMETIMES IT WORKS, OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT. IT ALSO HAPPENED VARIOUS TIMES WHEN MOTORCYCLE WAS IN MOTION AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH ALMOST CAUSING ME TO GET STRUCK ON HIGHWAY FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. MOTORCY…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10586460 · 2014-05-04 (May 4, 2014)
DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON MAJOR INTERSTATE. HEARD LOUD NOISE AND THOUGHT DRIVE BELT BROKE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE AS MOTORCYCLE WAS JUST COASTING AT THIS POINT. ENGINE AND THROTTLE FINE BUT NO FORWARD MOTION. ALSO THOUGHT MAYBE TRANSMISSION UNTIL I CHECKED REAR WHEEL AND SPROCKET. APPEARS REAR BEARING FAILURE WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. CHECKED OTHER POSTINGS AND FORUMS ON INTERNET (HARLEY SITES) AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT LOW MILEAGE BEARING FAILURES, BOTH FRONT AND REAR. APPEARS DEALERSHIPS AND MANUFACTURER JUST GIVE IDIOTIC EXCUSES INSTEAD OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10586460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11003736 · 2017-07-07 (July 7, 2017)
TRANSMISSION IS POORLY MANUFACTURED. MOTORCYCLE HAS 40K MILES AND WHEN RING ON SHIFTER GETS HOT, IT BECOMES BRITTLE CAUSING IT TO BREAK OFF 1/4" CAUSING BIKE TO LOOSE POWER AND GEAR WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, PIECE HAD DAMAGED OTHER 5 GEARS CAN PROVIDE PICTURES IF NEEDED
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11003736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10861528 · 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)
THE THROTTLE BY WIRE FAILED WHILE RIDING. I HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT FROM BEHIND. THE DEALER BLAMED CORROSION ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE INDUCTION MODULE. COATING THE CONNECTOR IS A TEMPORARY FIX. AFTER THE 3RD FAILURE I HAD IT TOWED AND HAD A NEW INDUCTION MODULE INSTALLED. I SPENT $450 FIXING A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH A WIDE RANGE OF THE MOST POPULAR HD MOTORCYCLES.
Owner-reported narrative. 37,415 miles reported. Look up ODI 10861528 at NHTSA ↗