2009 Harley-Davidson FLHX: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

HARLEY DAVIDSON OPERATING DIAGNOSTIC CODES P1511 & P2135 HARLEY DAVIDSON SERVICE BULLETIN T T 418 LOST POWER AND MY BIKE WENT TO "LIMP HOME MODE" . TOP SPEED 30 MPH @ 1500 RPM FROM 55 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS !!! $320.00 TO FIX THIS DEFECT (JUST PARTSCOST) .. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN LOSS OF SPEED / POWER IN TRAFFIC , MANY IDENTICAL COMMENTS/COMPLAINTS ON H.D. FORUM . THE ELIMINATION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE HAS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WITH THIS "THROTTLE BY WIRE SYSTEM" THAT REPLACED THE THROTTLE CABLE ... …

Owner-reported narrative. 24,079 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436863 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND APPLYING THE THROTTLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ECM CONNECTOR PINS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10445098 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX 2009 STREET GLIDE WE WERE ON VACATION LEAVING ONE TOWN TRAVELING TO ANOTHER AND TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE IN THE LEFT HAND LANE MOVING WITH TRAFFIC, WHICH WAS THICK WITH CARS, CAMPERS, TRUCKS. ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT THE MOTOR CYCLE LOOSE POWER, I GLANCED DOWN AND NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND I GLANCED IN MY RIGHT REAR VIEW MIRROR AND THERE WAS A TRACTOR TRAILER GRILL CLOSE. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER ON THE LEFT AND I FELT OUR LIVES THREATENED ALL I COULD DO WAS MOTION WITH MY HAND MY INTENTIONS OF MOVIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 44,688 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455356 at NHTSA ↗

I HEARD A NOISE AS WELL AS FELT THE FRONT END FEEL WEIRD LIKE I MAY HAVE HAD A FLAT AS WELL AS A SCREECHING NOISE. I PULLED THE BIKE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT FOR WHAT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE NOISE AS WELL AS THE WEIRD FEELING OF THE FRONT END. WHEN I LOOKED I COULD SEE THE BALL BEARING COVER OPEN AND I COULD SEE THE BALL BEARINGS. I PARKED THE BIKE UNTIL I COULD GET MY TRAILER AND TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT HD. I WAS TOLD BY THE HD REP THAT THEY HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH BEARINGS WEARING OUT WITH MY MODEL BUT WHAT I HA…

Owner-reported narrative. 46,559 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458731 at NHTSA ↗

WHEEL BEARINGS ON THE FRONT WHEEL STARTED TO SEIZE UP AND WAS WOBBLING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10460840 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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.