2009 Harley-Davidson SOFT TAIL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
1,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 23 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 21.7% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 17.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 13.0% |
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 | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 1 |
Electrical System: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Power Train: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Tires: 2; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 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 | 21 |
| 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: 21; 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 (21). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
2009: 5; 2010: 12; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2014: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10257461 · 2009-02-04 (February 4, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL AND WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY ANOTHER DRIVER. THE OTHER DRIVER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SIGNAL DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE SIGNAL AND NOTICED THAT THE INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE SIGNAL LIGHT WAS BLOWN. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE DEFECT IS UNSAFE BECAUSE WHEN THE LIGHT BULB IS BLOWN AND THE SIGNAL INDICATOR STILL ILLUMINATES, THERE IS NO WAY TO DE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10257461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274616 · 2009-06-22 (June 22, 2009)
WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE SEAT GOT DETACHED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE SEAT IS ATTACHED AT TWO POINTS. THERE IS A TAB AT THE REAR OF THE SEAT WHICH ATTACHES TO THE FENDER. THE OTHER ATTACHMENT POINT IS UNDER THE SEAT, WHERE A FRAME MOUNTED TAB SLIDES INTO A HOLE IN THE SEAT. THE ATTACHMENT POINT UNDER THE SEAT IS WHERE THE SEAT DETACHED. THE SEAT PAN FOR THIS MODEL BIKE (FLTRSE3) IS QUITE FLEXIBLE. WHEN A RIDER SITS ON THE SEAT, IT ALLOWS THE SEAT TO FLEX. THE FLEXION OF THE SEAT CAUSES THE SEAT TO PULL AWAY FROM THE FRAME MO…
Owner-reported narrative. 120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274679 · 2009-06-22 (June 22, 2009)
IMPROPER SEAT FITMENT (SIZING) CAUSED SEAT TO BECOME UNATTACHED DURING NORMAL RIDING. AFTER HITTING A BUMP ON THE HIGHWAY, THE FRONT PORTION OF MY SEAT BECAME UNHOOKED CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. HAD I NOT BEEN GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, THE SEAT COULD HAVE SLID OFF THE BIKE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10279212 · 2009-08-03 (August 3, 2009)
BATTERY COVER DOES NOT STAY CLOSED DURING THE OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE COVER WILL FALL OPEN WHILE RIDING CAUSING IT TO HIT THE RIDERS LEG. ALTHOUGH THE COVER IT'S SELF DOES NOT WEIGH ENOUGH TO CAUSE INJURY, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT DISTRACTION WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL. BOTH BIKES HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS, UNFORTUNATELY THE REPAIR PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. CONTINUED DIFFICULTY IN GETTING THE COVER TO STAY CLOSED ON THE 08 BIKE CAUSED THE DEALER TO REMOVE THE COVER AS A TEMPORARY FIX UNTIL THE REPAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279212 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10279214 · 2009-08-03 (August 3, 2009)
BATTERY COVER DOES NOT STAY CLOSED DURING THE OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE COVER WILL FALL OPEN WHILE RIDING CAUSING IT TO HIT THE RIDERS LEG. ALTHOUGH THE COVER IT'S SELF DOES NOT WEIGH ENOUGH TO CAUSE INJURY, IT IS A SIGNIFCANT DISTRACTION WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL. BOTH BIKES HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIRS, UNFORTINATLY THE REPAIR PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. CONTINUED DIFFICULTY IN GETTING THE COVER TO STAY CLOSED ON THE 08 BIKE CAUSED THE DEALER TO REMOVE THE COVER AS A TEMPORARY FIX UNTIL THE REPAIR …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326844 · 2010-04-21 (April 21, 2010)
HARLEY DAVIDSON FXSTC SOFTAIL CUSTOM 2009 FUEL CAP LEAK UNDER PRESSURE. WHENEVER FUEL TANK IS FILLED TO AT OR ABOVE THE TAB IN THE TANK FUEL IS COMING OUT UNDER PRESSURE THROUGH THE CAP AND SPRAYING ON THE RIDERS LEG AND RUNNING DOWN THE TANK DRIPPING ONTO THE ENGINE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10327265 · 2010-04-24 (April 24, 2010)
2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTSSE3 HD OEM DUNLOP D407 TIRES SHOWING WEAR AT 5,000 MILES, LOCAL DEALER & EMAIL TO DUNLOP WOULD NOT COVER THEM. LATER, PROVIDED LOCAL DEALER SERVICE MANAGER PRINTED COPIES OF HD BULLETINS & INTERNET COMMENTS FROM HD FORUMS ON PROBLEM AND HE GOT APPROVAL TO REPLACE FRONT TIRE WITH D408 AT NO CHARGE BECAUSE IT HAD SIGNS OF CUPPING. WOULD NOT COVER REAR D407 240/40R18 TIRE EVEN THOUGH AT 6,000 MILES SHOWING EARLY WEAR. DUNLOP WEB SITE ADVERTISES THE D407 & D408 TIRES HAVE MT FOR LONGER LIFE, YET MANY 2008 - 2009 HD…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10327265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10335962 · 2010-06-12 (June 12, 2010)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2009 FLHSTN SOFTTAIL DELUXE ON A TWO WEEK ROAD TRIP, I EXPERIENCED LEAKAGE FROM THE GAS CAP AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES. THIS LEAKAGE CONSISTED OF SEVERAL OUNCES OF GASOLINE RUNNING DOWN THE GAS TANK AND ONTO BOTH MYSELF AND THE HOT ENGINE. THIS REQUIRED ME TO STOP THE BIKE AND CLEAN THE GAS OFF WITH RAGS OR RISK A FIRE. AFTER THE FIRST TIME, I DOUBLE CHECKED AFTER EVERY FILL UP TO ENSURE THAT I HAD TIGHTENED THE GAS CAP PROPERLY, HOWEVER THE LEAKAGE CONTINUED. AFTER THIS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIM…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10335962 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.