AI Damage2009 Harley-Davidson Soft Tail: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Harley-Davidson Soft Tail filed 23 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 23
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 26% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 22% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 9% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 9% of all complaints
- 6 Seats 9% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 8 Tires 9% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (26% of all).
- Fuel system: 5 complaints (22% of all).
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (13% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (9% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 2 complaints (9% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 23 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 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 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.
While getting off of the bike passenger noticed fuel leaking from the fuel line at the gas tank connection. Upon closer inspection found that the quick connect fitting at the fuel tank was leaking.upon closer inspection of the quick connect it appears to have two internal "o" rings.
When I went to restart it, it took several tries and each time I tried I got a grinding noise. Finally started but light had already turned and I was in intersection past red. This has become more frequent. Only happens when motor is warmed up. Starter? Compensator?
Applied the rear brake to stop, pedal went all the way down, fire started by rear brake lite switch by brake fluid on hot exhaust.
Clutch lever seemed far to reach, took in for inspection and/or possible adjustment. Came back with clutch lever sticking or ratcheting, no longer smooth to operate. This made it very hard to operate in the friction zone needed for slow operation and turning around.
This model of tire dunlop d407f is no longer being sold and is superseded by the d408f. Service bulletin m-1258a covers other harley models with a similar tire and issue. Since a motorcycle only has two wheels the cupping and premature wear are a hazard that needs to be addressed as a safety concern.
Harley davidson 2009 flhtcu (placed here as vehicle section only lists 5 models and not this one) audible loud knock coming from the primary chain case on each engine startup.
Purchased a 2009 harley davidson ( new ) in june of 2010. At 1700 miles the bolts that hold the rear sprocket to the wheel have backed out causing what could have been a catastrophic failure ie: rear wheel locking up at a highway speed and causing a crash.
The fuel gauge on my new harley davidson 2009 vrod muscle constantly malfunctions. I was nearly stranded twice because the gauge changes from empty to full and vice a versa. Truly poor technology. Accuracy changes on the move.
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 7,735 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 21% most complained about).
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Harley-Davidson Soft Tail?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, fuel system, powertrain. Total complaints: 23. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (13%), knocking, grinding or other noise (9%), smoke, burning smell, fire (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Harley-Davidson Soft Tail?
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 Soft Tail 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.