2009 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

PURCHASED NEW 2009 FLHTCU ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC, BIKE IS AT DEALER FOR 3RD TIME, FOR BUCKING A SURGING, ENGINE CUTS IN AND OUT, WHILE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND RPM DO NOT CHANGE, CAUSING BIKE TO JUST SURGE OUT OF CONTROL. DEALER OCEAN COUNTY HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS REPLACED EVERY SENSOR AND ECM AND BIKE GETS WORSE. IT IS UNRIDEABLE AND DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS! I REFUSE TO TAKE MY LIFE AND PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF HARLEY DAVIDSON WHO DOES NOT SEEM TO GIVE A DARN WHETHER I GET KILLED ON THIS THING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 225 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246884 at NHTSA ↗

HI GENTLEMEN, I BOUGHT A FORD STALLION TRIKE. IT HAS NO RUNNING LIGHTS IN THE FRONT? I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY PASSED YOUR REGULATIONS. I CONTACTED THEM AND THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED? TRUCKS, CARS, TRAILERS ALL HAVE PARK LIGHTS IN THE FRONT! SO HOW DID THIS PASS YOUR INSPECTIONS??? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281917 at NHTSA ↗

HAD A FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON A 09 HARLEY ULTRA WITH 23000 MILES AT FULL INTERSTATE SPEED. BIKE STARTED VIBRATING BAD AND WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD. HAD TO WRECKER IT HOME 250 MILES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10354512 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS EXHIBITING AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR TO ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO READJUST ITSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT NEVER RESPONDED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,312.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,312 miles reported. Look up ODI 10393116 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LOUD CRACKING NOISE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE STARTER CLUTCH WOULD CAUSE THE STARTER GEAR TO DISENGAGE AND THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT START INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPENSATOR ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SPEAK WITH THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10397038 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH HE BEGAN TO HEAR A GROWLING NOISE IN THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,800.

Owner-reported narrative. 17,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10401070 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-12-01 (December 1, 2009)

HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 TOURING FAMILY MOTORCYCLES, INCLUDING CVO TOURING AND TRIKE PRODUCTS, MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6, 2008 THROUGH NOVEMBER 19, 2009. THE FRONT FUEL TANK MOUNTS MAY DISTORT IN REACTION TO SEVERE FRAME DAMAGE FROM A FRONTAL COLLISION. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE A FUEL LEAK AT THE WELD OF THE FRONT BRACKET TO THE TUNNEL.

Consequence: A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LEFT AND RIGHT BRACE, WHICH ARE INTENDED TO REDUCE FRONT MOUNT DISTORTION DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS. THIS REPAIR WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

Reported: 2011-10-19 (October 19, 2011)

HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 TOURING, CVO TOURING AND TRIKE VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6, 2008, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16, 2011. SEE THE ABOVE LIST FOR THE MODELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY BE EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

Consequence: THE EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY CAUSE THE SWITCH TO NOT ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP OR ACTIVATE THE BRAKE LAMP WHEN NO BRAKE IS APPLIED AND/OR CAUSE A BRAKE FLUID LEAK AT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, AFFECTING REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE. EITHER CONDITION MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: HARLEY-DAVIDSON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL A INSTALL A REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH KIT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

Reported: 2018-01-29 (January 29, 2018)

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.

Consequence: These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.

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.