2009 Harley-Davidson FLSTC: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
17,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 11 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 54.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 9.1% |
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 | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Exterior Lighting: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Seats: 1; Structure:Body: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (7). 0 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 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10433863 · 2011-11-01 (November 1, 2011)
A FRIEND WAS FOLLOWING ME AND TOLD ME MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RELEASED IT, BUT THE LIGHT STAYED ON. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO HARLEY DAVIDSON WORLD IN OKLAHOMA CITY FOR REPAIR. THEY REPAIRED IT BY REPLACING THE REAR BRAKE SWITCH. SINCE THEN HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS RECALLED ALL TOURING MODEL BIKES FROM 09 AND UP, BUT EXCLUDED SOFTTAIL MODELS LIKE MINE FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, HEAT CAUSES THE CONTACTS ON THE SWITCH TO MELT CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHT TO EITHER STAY ON …
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10434889 · 2011-11-08 (November 8, 2011)
I HAVE FOUND THAT THE SWITCH FOR THE REAR BRAKE WILL NOT LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT AFTER THE BIKE WARMS UP, IF THE BIKE IS ALLOWED TO COOL BACK DOWN THE LIGHT STARTS TO FUNCTION AGAIN. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSING THE CURRENT RECALL ON OTHER MODEL HARLEYS IN THE 2009 MODEL YEAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10434889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10474395 · 2012-09-09 (September 9, 2012)
DRIVING ALONG WHEN I NOTICED A VIBRATION, KEPT RIDING AND THEN IT BECAME A LOUD SQUEAKING INTERMITTENT SOUND. PARKED AT HOME AND NOTICED IT WAS THE REAR BEARING AS IT CAME APART INSIDE THE REAR WHEEL. IT IS A CHEAP CHINESE CRAP BEARING THAT HARLEY IS USING IN THEIR BIKES. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE.... WE HAVE TO STOP THE USE OF CHEAP OUTSOURCED PRODUCTS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. WE ARE IN DEBT TO A COMMUNIST COUNTRY AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IT....... *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 14,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10485160 · 2012-11-19 (November 19, 2012)
DURING INCREASING AND DECREASING SPEED FUEL WOULD RUN DOWN THE TANK ONTO THE HOT ENGINE. IT DID NOT SEEM TO HAVE THE CORRECT POWER AT TIMES. THE AREA AROUND THE FUEL TANK CAP AND FILLER NECK BECAME INCREASING YELLOW WITH ONE AREA MARKING THE TANK WITH A YELLOW TRIANGLE LIKE GAS FUMES PUSHING OUT UNDER PRESSURE. 6/22/12, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER (RED ROCK) AND THEY DID NOTHING AND LET ME LEAVE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND GOT WORSE DAMAGING THE PAINT AND THE BIKE STARTED TO STALL WHILE I WAS GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND AT SIGNALS WHICH WAS V…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,838 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485160 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10525555 · 2013-07-18 (July 18, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLSTC. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE HORN AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS RECALL FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,300. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10549005 · 2013-10-22 (October 22, 2013)
WHILE DESCENDING A STEEP INCLINE AND ABOUT TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN IN LESS THAN 100 YARDS THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN APPLIED, WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN RENDERING THE REAR BRAKE USELESS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS BROUGHT TO A SAFE STOP BY USING THE FRONT BRAKE AND DOWNSHIFTING AND WAS ABLE TO BE SAFELY RIDDEN TO A LOCAL H-D DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE REAR STOP LIGHT SWITCH HAD FAILED RESULTING IN A MAJOR BRAKE FLUID RELEASE, THE SWITCH APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST. INTERESTING ENOUGH THERE WAS A RECAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10549005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10588622 · 2014-05-15 (May 15, 2014)
I REMOVED THE SEAT TO DO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON THE MOTORCYCLE AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT HAD CRACKED DOWN THE CENTER OF THE SEAT FRAME WHICH COULD CAUSE THE SEAT TO SEPARATE INTO TWO PIECES, THIS COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE BIKE IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN. I HAVE PICTURES I CAN SEND IF I CAN GET AN E-MAIL ADDRESS TO SEND THEM TO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 31,875 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10723179 · 2015-06-03 (June 3, 2015)
RIDER BEHIND ME NOTICED THAT WHILE STOPPING THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. SOMETHING IN THE FOOT PEDAL NOT LETTING THE REAR BREAK LIGHTS WORK. BULBS ARE GOOD AND FRONT WORKS GREAT AND ALSO ALLOWS THE LIGHTS TO WORK , JUST NOT THE FOOT PEDAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10723179 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.