AI Damage2009 Harley-Davidson Fltru: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Harley-Davidson Fltru filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 33% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 33% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 17% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 17% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 17% of all complaints
- 8 Wheels 17% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 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.
This is the third time when accelerating in traffic the throttle response and engine power shifts into limp home mode. Unable to maintain a safe speed and required rapid response to clear the road and get to the shoulder.
When starting hot the compensator makes a loud grinding noise. This is a known issue from reading the harley forums. Check the harley site and there was no recall.
The motorcycle had gone into "limp mode", meaning the motor will idle at 1,500 regardless of throttle position. This was a very dangerous situation and depending on when it occurs, could be fatal. I found out harley knows about this and has a service bulletin on this problem.
This was causing fluid to hit my exhaust pipe chrome and smoke. I immediately shut down the bike and the switch itself started to flame up. I then went to my saddle bag wet a rag and put the flame out, along with wiping the remaining brake fluid off of my chrome. I burnt my hand, but saved my bike.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 harley davidson flhx street glide (n/a). The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, vehicle speed decreased independently and the vehicle failed to accelerate over 10 mph. The contact also mentioned that the failure recurred numerous times.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 harley davidson flhtcutg motorcycle. The contact was traveling 30 mph when engine exhaust emitted heat and burned the contact's right leg. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired.
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 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Fltru has 7 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 6, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Harley-Davidson Fltru?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, powertrain. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (17%), loss of power / limp mode (17%), smoke, burning smell, fire (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Harley-Davidson Fltru?
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 Fltru 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.