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2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Soft Tail

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

21 reports with mileage · 2 unknown

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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

2 reports
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1,750 miles · Apr 4, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO FLASH AFTER THE APPLICATION OF THE SERVICE BRAKES ON HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394163

2,900 miles · Feb 4, 2009
Exterior Lighting

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL AND WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY ANOTHER DRIVER. THE OTHER DRIVER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SIGNAL DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE SIGNAL AND NOTICED THAT THE INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL AND WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY ANOTHER DRIVER. THE OTHER DRIVER INFORMED HIM THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SIGNAL DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE SIGNAL AND NOTICED THAT THE INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE AND THE SIGNAL LIGHT WAS BLOWN. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE DEFECT IS UNSAFE BECAUSE WHEN THE LIGHT BULB IS BLOWN AND THE SIGNAL INDICATOR STILL ILLUMINATES, THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE THAT THE SIGNAL IS NOT ILLUMINATING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO CURRENT RECALLS; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 3,000. UPDATED 03-06-09 *BF UPDATED 03/09/09. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10257461

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.