The 2009 Harley-Davidson Flht has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 536,962 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC18V0760002018-01-29174,636 affected
Defect
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)…
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.
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.
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…
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.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES
4
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
1
SEATS
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
WHEELS
1
Total complaints8
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 harley-davidson flht electra glide motorcycle. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 18v076000 (service brakes, hydraulic). While unloading the vehicle from a trailer, it was noticed that the brakes did not work. The vehicle was taken to queen city…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 harley-davidson flht. While driving 60 mph, the brakes failed to respond when the brake handle was depressed. The failure recurred intermittently. The motorcycle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the anti-lock brake module failed and…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 harley-davidson flht electra glide. While backing out of a parking space, the front brakes failed to respond. The motorcycle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the anti-brake system module failed and needed to be replaced. The motorcycle was repaired.…”
“While pulling away from a stop light, the seat started to slide off the rear fender. The bottom of the seat is hard plastic some how it cracked all the way around the seat mounting bracket so the seat will not stay in place when you drive. The seat retention nut and the seat bracket and the fender…”
“Tl* the contact owns 2009 harley davidson motorcycle flht. The contact stated that while driving at any speed the motorcycle lost power and the rpm dropped to 1,000. The failure occurred intermittently but it began to do so more frequently. The motorcycle was not taken to the dealer to have a…”
“My 2009 harley flht was making a loud clunking noise at start-up. I searched the internet and found many owners having a compensator bolt loose from factory. I took the motorcycle to bruchmhlbach harley davidson in bruchmhlbach germany and when they took the primary cover off they found the bolt…”
“At around 20,000 miles I took my motorcycle in to have the tires changed and the rear wheel bearings were bad and the dealership replace the rear wheel bearing. A few thousand miles later the front wheel bearings failed on me in montana, I am from washington state, on the freeway and I almost…”
“Anti-lock brakes, motorcycle purchased in 2009, at appr. 12000 miles, front brake rotors warped and had to be replaced. This is an issue that has to be addressed around every 12000 miles since new and I have 90,000 miles on it now. At appr. 40,000 miles, the hole front brake system had to be…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE16009 Opened 2016-07-06 · closed 2018-04-23
Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation in July 2016 based on forty-three (43) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ).During the course of this investigation ODI received a total of 145 VOQs related to the alleged defect on the subject motorcycles.Owners allege they experience a sudden and…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flht as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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