AI Damage2009 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 40% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 20% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The rear brakes on a 2009 hd trike has very little stopping power,harley knows it has a problem because they started putting bigger brakes on the 2011 models. I thought that they would have to fix the 2009,and 2010 models.but there never was a recall on them.there is a safety problem when you can't stop.
The contact stated while driving various speed there was a slight vibration which caused two bolts to detach from the exhaust. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who stated that the engine mount dislodged and the head would need to be replaced for the second time.
On the above date this vehicle caught on fire less than a minute after starting it. I had rode this vehicle to work and was at work for around two hours. Upon leaving work, I started the motorcycle without getting on and was reaching to put items in the trunk when the fire started.
Of oil in 1300 miles; literally was "smoking"; ambient temp. Pegged out at 120 degrees. Extreme safety hazard to rider and dealer can offer no solution; can't even tune the motorcycle because they can't dyno a trike.
Heat coming off the exhaust/engine makes the bike unbearable to ride...especially when the weather gets warmer and you are stopped or going slowly in traffic. It will burn your right calf severely and harley davisdon refuses to admit the problem or offer a remedy for it.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Flhtcutg has 5 complaints (17 years in the data). This year has 5, about average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
- Flhtcutg 20109 sources
- Flhtcutg 20119 sources
- Flhtcutg 20127 sources
- Flhtcutg 20137 sources
- Flhtcutg 20145 sources
- Flhtcutg 20156 sources
- Flhtcutg 201652 sources
- Flhtcutg 201792 sources
- Flhtcutg 201875 sources
- Flhtcutg 201974 sources
- Flhtcutg 202076 sources
- Flhtcutg 202163 sources
- Flhtcutg 202259 sources
- Flhtcutg 202355 sources
- Flhtcutg 202442 sources
- Flhtcutg 202526 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, engine, fuel system. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (40%), knocking, grinding or other noise (20%), vibration (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 Harley-Davidson Flhtcutg from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.