Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 11 of 11 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
11 reports
13,000 miles · Nov 1, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
A FRIEND WAS FOLLOWING ME AND TOLD ME MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RELEASED IT, BUT THE LIGHT STAYED ON. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO HARLEY DAVIDSON WORLD IN OKLAHOMA CITY FOR REPAIR. THEY REPAIRED IT BY REPLACING THE REAR BRAKE SWITCH. SINCE THEN HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS RECALLED ALL TOURING MODEL BIK…
Read full complaint
A FRIEND WAS FOLLOWING ME AND TOLD ME MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND RELEASED IT, BUT THE LIGHT STAYED ON. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO HARLEY DAVIDSON WORLD IN OKLAHOMA CITY FOR REPAIR. THEY REPAIRED IT BY REPLACING THE REAR BRAKE SWITCH. SINCE THEN HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS RECALLED ALL TOURING MODEL BIKES FROM 09 AND UP, BUT EXCLUDED SOFTTAIL MODELS LIKE MINE FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, HEAT CAUSES THE CONTACTS ON THE SWITCH TO MELT CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHT TO EITHER STAY ON OR NOT COME ON AT ALL OR ALLOW BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. I'VE CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON TO SEE IF THE SWITCH ON MY SOFTTAIL SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED DUE TO THE SIMILARITIES OF THE COMPLAINTS. HARLEY CUSTOMER CARE INDICATED THERE WAS NO CONNECTION BETWEEN MY SWITCH GOING OUT AND THE RECALL ON TOURING MODELS. THE CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE SAID MY FAILURE WAS A ONE IN A MILLION CHANCE. I DOUBT HIS ASSUMPTION AND BELIEVE THERE IS A CONNECTION AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE SWITCH THAT REPLACED MY FAULTY SWITCH MAY ALSO MALFUNCTION CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BY MY EITHER LOSING BRAKE FLUID AND THE RESULTING LOSS OF BRAKES OR BY MY GETTING REAR ENDED BY A MOTORIST NOT REALIZING THAT I WAS STOPPING DUE TO NO BRAKE LIGHTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10433863
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flstc Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year