2009 Harley-Davidson FLTR: complaints, problems and recalls

MOTORCYCLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN I PULLED OUT ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH FAST ONCOMING TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO TWIST GRIP THROTTLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10430705 at NHTSA ↗

THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS OPERATING MY HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELING APPROX. 65 MPH. THE THROTTLE BY WIRE SUDDENLY WENT INTO A LIMP HOME MODE WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND ALL LIGHTS AND GAUGES SEEMED TO BE FUNCTIONING HOWEVER THE MOTORCYCLE CEASED TO RESPOND TO ANY DEGREE OF TWIST OF THE THROTTLE. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER MOTORCYCLISTS BEHIND ME WHO HAD TO BREAK ABRUPTLY TO AVOID REAR-ENDING ME. I HAD TO CROSS SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. THE SITU…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,132 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480619 at NHTSA ↗

BIKE WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE. WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE BIKE WILL SHUT DOWN THE GAS GOING TO THE CARBURATOR.ONLY LETS YOU DRIVE ABOUT 5 MPH. ALMOST COMING TO A SUDDEN STOP WHEN THIS HAPPENS. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PASSING A VEHICLE OR ON THE FREEWAY WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC TRYING TO CHANGE LANES TO GET TO AN OFFRAMP OR SAFETY. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 27,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485233 at NHTSA ↗

THE HANDLE BARS GO INTO A TERRIBLE WOBBLE. I HAVE A BAD WOBBLE AT 40- 45 MPH AND HARLEY KNOWS ABOUT THIS AS THEY PUT A BULLETIN OUT TO SERVICE DEPARTMENTS # M-1246. BUT THINK THE CONSUMER NEEDS TO JUST SUCK IT UP . *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10541915 at NHTSA ↗

HARLEY DAVIDSON FLTR 2009 (HD DID NOT MAKE AN FLTRU (ULTIMATE) IN 2009) NO LUBRICATION IN SEALED HD FACTORY WHEEL BEARING... I HAD 26121 MILES ON MY 09 ROADGLIDE WHEN I DID THE CHROME EXCHANGE FOR THE SAME FACTORY 28 SPOKE WHEELS AND FRONT FORKS AS STOCK. I WAS DUE FOR ALL THE MAINTENANCE ANYWAY TO INCLUDE NEW TIRES SO IT MADE SENSE TO MAKE THE UPGRADES AT THAT TIME. I HAD ALL THE BEARINGS REPLACED. I HAVE ABS SO THE FRONT BEARINGS WERE HDS FROM THE LOCAL DEALER. AFTER ONLY 3500 MILES THE RIGHT FRONT BEARING EXPLODED. THERE WAS ABSOLUTEL…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,652 miles reported. Look up ODI 10578889 at NHTSA ↗

THE FIRST INSTANCE OF THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS RIDING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH. WHILE MY MOTORCYCLE WAS TRAVELING AT THAT SPEED I PROCEEDED TO TWIST MY THROTTLE TO ACCELERATE AND MAINTAIN MY SPEED ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT MY THROTTLE DID NOT RESPOND WHEN I TWISTED IT. SINCE THAT FIRST INSTANCE, THE PROBLEM OF MY THROTTLE NOT BEING RESPONSIVE HAS OCCURRED OVER 100 TIMES. I CANNOT PREDICT WHEN THE PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AND IT DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER WHAT SPEED I AM TRAVELING. MY MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TO HARLEY DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY …

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10747332 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE (NA). WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 05/11/16*LJ

Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10810477 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER REPLACING FRONT BRAKE PADS IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE HANDLE IS LOCKED AND WONT MOVE WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO ACTIVATE FRONT BRAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP IT WAS FOUND THAT THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT HAS FAILED. APPARENTLY IT FAILS SO MUCH THAT THERE IS A MONTH LONG BACKORDER TO GET THE PARTS IN TO FIX PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN THE FRONT BRAKES ARE 70% OF THE BIKES BREAKING POWER AND IF THIS ISSUED HAPPENED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAYS OF CALIFORNIA I'M CERTAIN IT WOULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 75,960 miles reported. Look up ODI 10854485 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.