2009 Harley-Davidson FXDB: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
5,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 17 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 17.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Tires: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System: 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 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 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 (16). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2008: 1; 2009: 9; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10250496 · 2008-12-02 (December 2, 2008)
MOTORCYCLE HAS SET CODES FROM THE DAY I PICKED IT UP FROM DEALER. SETS TWIST GRIP CODES P2127 & 2138. WOULD CLEAR CODES AND THEY WOULD RETURN EVERY FEW RIDES FOR THE FIRST 500 MILES AND THEN THE BIKE STARTED ACCELERATING ON IT'S OWN IN ANY GEAR OR SPEED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT ABLE OR WILLING TO LOOK AT IT IN A TIMELY MANNER. CHECKED OUT ALL CONNECTIONS FOR THE THROTTLE SENSOR MY SELF. DIDN'T FIND ANY OBVIOUS PROBLEMS. APPLIED COMPUTER CONNECTION STABALENT TO THE ECM CONNECTOR AND PROBLEM WAS GONE FOR 1000 MILES. BIKE STARTED ACCELERATING BY …
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274692 · 2009-06-23 (June 23, 2009)
DUNLOP D407 TIRE (FRONT) FOR THE HARLEY DAVIDSON 2009 FL TOURING MODELS INSTALLED ON MY2009 SCREAMING EGALE FLTRSE3 THE BOLD ANGLED LATERAL GROOVES EXHIBIT ABNORMAL WEAR AND UNEVEN TIRE TREAD CUPPING. VIBRATION DURING CORNERING AND LANE CHANGES, THE UNEVENLY WORN AREAS ARE NEARLY WORN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LATERAL GROVES ON THE LEADING EDGE AND THE OTHER SIDE IS CUPPED. THE CENTER OF THE TREAD APPEARS TO BE NORMAL. THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED AND REPORTED TO A HARLEY DAVIDSON CALIFORNIA DEALER TWICE ONCE AT 3000 MILES AND 4100 MILES OF WEAR. NOW A…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10277387 · 2009-07-19 (July 19, 2009)
2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX (STREETGLIDE) RIDES EXCESSIVELY HARD. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE REAR AIR SHOCKS ARE NOT WORKING. AIR PRESSURE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED FROM MINIMUM TO MAXIMUM PRESSURES WITH LITTLE TO NO CHANGE IN RIDE QUALITY. THE IMPLICATION IS...AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS EVEN HITTING A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD THE BIKE TENDS TO GO AIRBORN. THE SUSPENSION IS SO UNYIELDING IT'S CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. I TEST RODE A YAMAHA ALONG THE SAME ROUTE AS THE HARLEY . THE DIFFERENCE WAS REMARKABLE. THE YAHAMA ABSORBED THE BUMPS AND UN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10277387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10281390 · 2009-08-22 (August 22, 2009)
SEVERAL TIMES I CAME VERY VERY CLOSE TO REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE.THE REAR BRAKING POWER OF THE REAR BRAKES IS FAR BELOW ADEQUATE THE REAR BRAKES WON'T EVEN LOCK UP IF PEDDLE IS STOOD ON WITH ALL ONE'S WEIGHT. THE REAR ROTOR WAS REPLACED ON ONE SIDE OF THE HARLEY DAVIDSON TRIKE ONLY WITH THE SAME RESULTS, NO BRAKING POWER. APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM RELAYS IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM ITSELF. 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG TRI GLIDE TRIKE (NEW MODEL). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282813 · 2009-09-03 (September 3, 2009)
I HAVE A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC ELECTRA GLIDE. THIS MODEL ALONG WITH THE "TOURING" LINE OF HD MOTORCYLES ARE NEWLY REDESIGNED AND USES THE NEW DUNLOP 407F MOTORCYCLE TIRES. THESE TIRES ARE THE ONLY TIRES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR THIS LINE OF MOTORCYCLES. MY TIRES ARE "CUPPING" AFTER 7,000 MILES. THE CUPPING IS CAUSING VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND NOISES WHILE CORNERING. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS AND I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE REPORTS OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10284116 · 2009-09-16 (September 16, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCF. HE STATED THAT THE HEADER PIPE FROM THE MOTOR TO THE MUFFLER TURNS CHERRY RED DUE TO HEAT EXPOSURE OF 1600-1800 DEGREES. HIS LEGS ARE POSITIONED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE HEAT, WHICH MAY IGNITE HIS CLOTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE TECHNICIANS CONCLUDED THAT THE HIGH TEMPERATURES FROM THE COMPONENT IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,600. BL
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10284116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289465 · 2009-10-23 (October 23, 2009)
2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON TRI-GLIDE. REAR BRAKES WON'T PROPERLY STOP BIKE. ALL STOPPING IS COUNTING ON FRONT BRAKES (ONE WHEEL). REAR BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT 6000 MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10290397 · 2009-10-30 (October 30, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON SCREAMING EAGLE ROAD GLIDE FLTRSE3. HE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AFTER EXITING A PARKING SPACE, BUT THE ENGINE MISFIRED. HE LOST VEHICLE CONTROL, AND THEN CRASHED ONTO THE ROADWAY. THERE WERE PERSONAL INJURIES INCLUDING FRACTURES TO THE LEFT ANKLE AND RIBS. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE HEAT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290397 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V625000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage
Reported: 2008-11-26 (November 26, 2008)
HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING 349 MY 2009 FXDB, FXDC, FXDF, AND FXDL MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES HAVE A FUEL TANK VENT TUBE ASSEMBLY, PART NO. 27389-04A, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH A DEFECTIVE ULTRASONIC WELD ON THE ANTI-SLOSH VALVE.
Consequence: IF THE VALVE SEPARATES AND THE BIKE IS TIPPED OVER, IT MAY LEAK FUEL. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL VENT TUBE ASSEMBLY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
NHTSA campaign record ↗08V659000 · Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand
Reported: 2008-12-15 (December 15, 2008)
HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING 3,285 MY 2009 FXD, FXDF, FXDC, FXDL, AND FXDB MOTORCYCLES. THE JIFFY STAND SPRING ANCHOR MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A DEFECTIVE WELD THAT MAY ALLOW THE JIFFY STAND ASSEMBLY TO NOT RETRACT AS INTENDED.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE ORIGINAL JIFFY STAND SPRING ANCHOR AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW SPRING ANCHOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 22, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-342-4680.
NHTSA campaign record ↗