2009 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUSE4: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE, FLHTCUSE4 EQUIPPED, WITH DUNLOP D407 P180/65/16 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE INVOLVING AN ABNORMAL AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY REPLACED BOTH TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,769.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10331547 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.

Owner-reported narrative. 21,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462651 at NHTSA ↗

I DECIDED ONE MORNING TO RIDE MY BIKE DOWN TO THE BMV TO RENEW LICENSE PLATES. THE RIDE DOWN TO THE BMV BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FUNCTION AND OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN I GET BACK ON THE BIKE TO LEAVE, I GET READY TO STOP JUST PRIOR TO ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL IS ROCK SOLID WITH NO TRAVEL AND NO REAR BRAKES WHATSOEVER. I DID HAVE FRONT BREAKS, BUT BEING SURPRISED BY NOT HAVING ANY REAR BRAKES I OVERCOMPENSATED MY FRONT BRAKES ALMOST SPILLING THE BIKE INTO TRAFFIC. AFTER READING MANY HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10874995 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT BRAKE LEVER FROZEN, WILL NOT MOVE, ABS LIGHT ON, NO FRONT BRAKES. MOTORCYCLE WAS STATIONARY.

Owner-reported narrative. 11,780 miles reported. Look up ODI 10933783 at NHTSA ↗

INNER PRIMARY STARTED MAKING NOISE AND RUNNING ROUGH.

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11118204 at NHTSA ↗

THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS IN A TRANSPORT CARRIER. THE BIKE WAS SECURED INSIDE THE TRANSPORT TRAILER WITH THE KEY SO THE ALARM SHOULD NOT ACTIVATE THE LED LOAD BALANCER FROM KURYAKYN CAUGHT ON FIRE, THIS IS AN AFTERMARKET PART CERTIFIED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR THIS APPLICATION. WHEN I CONTACTED KURYAKYN ABOUT IT, THEY SAID THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER RECALLED THE PARTS AND TOLD ME THE REPLACEMENT PART TO ORDER. THEY TOLD ME IT'S BECAUSE THE ALARM WAS ACTIVE ON THE BIKE AND CAUSED THE LOAD BALANCER TO OVERHEAT AND CATCH FI…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,732 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154537 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.