2009 Harley-Davidson Flhx Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 2, 2026 · 29 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Flhx years
Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 19 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhx. That ranks 2nd out of 19 Flhx model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (10 complaints, 34%), typically at around 26,800 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhx problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System10 · ~26,800 mi
Service Brakes7 · ~26,199 mi
Fuel/propulsion System6 · ~19,896 mi
Vehicle Speed Control6 · ~18,063 mi
Power Train3 · ~24,079 mi
Engine2 · ~41,849 mi
Steering2 · ~31,280 mi
Wheels2 · ~31,280 mi
Electronic Stability Control (esc)1 · ~18,000 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling1 · ~12,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System1034%26,800——
Service Brakes724%26,199——
Fuel/propulsion System621%19,896——
Vehicle Speed Control621%18,063——
Power Train310%24,079——
Engine27%41,849——
Steering27%31,280——
Wheels27%31,280——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)13%18,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling13%12,000——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic13%69,000——
Tires13%31,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2012, with 6 complaints
2011: 2201122012: 6201262013: 3201332014: 2201422015: 2201522016: 4201642017: 1201712018: 3201832019: 2201922021: 1202112022: 1202212023: 1202312026: 120261

n = 29 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2009 Harley-Davidson Flhx recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; service brakes, hydraulic:fluidJan 29, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V076000 · 174,636 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switchOct 19, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V506000 · 250,757 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:mountingDec 1, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V457000 · 111,569 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle (PE16009) — opened Jul 6, 2016, closed Apr 23, 2018, led to recall 18V076000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The anti-lock braking system has been defective. A little over a year ago I took the motorcycle to Biggs Harley in San Marcos, CA to address the cause of the ABS light coming on intermittently. They said they fixed it. Shortly after leaving the dealer the ABS light came on again intermittently. It…

Service Brakes · received Oct 2, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11768558

The contact owns a 2009 Harley Davidson HLFX equipped with Shinko Tire Line: Shinko Tires E705, Tire Size: 180/65/R16, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that while riding 20-25 MPH in the rain, the rear tire began to skid while rounding a curve and the contact lost control of the motorcycle…

Tires · received Sep 27, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11546934

I took my bike in to Myrtle Beach Harley Davidson for the repair as described in the recall. My bike had no issues with brakes or ABS light. The service department hooked it up to their computer and the ABS light was triggered. The service caused the ABS Module to fail. They refuse to repair the…

Service Brakes · received Oct 28, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11491305

The contact owns a 2009 Harley-Davidson Street Glide (FLHX). The contact stated while driving out of his driveway at 10 MPH, the front hand-brake pedal was depressed, however felt hard. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. There was no crash. The contact stated he researched the…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · received Nov 23, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11441475

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT CAME TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, THE REAR WHEEL SPED OFF AND THE CONTACT WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FLIPPED OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AND ONTO THE CONCRETE. THE MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A FAILED "FLY BY WIRE…

Vehicle Speed Control · received Aug 28, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11252070

Other Harley-Davidson Flhx years

← 2008 Flhx · 2010 Flhx →

See all Harley-Davidson Flhx problems by year, every Harley-Davidson model, or the Harley-Davidson VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhx?

Owners most often report electrical system, service brakes, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 10 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhx?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhx a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Flhx model years, the 2009 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.