Model year record
2009 Harley-Davidson Soft Tail recalls & problems
The 2009 Harley-Davidson Soft Tail has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 23 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (6 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2009 Harley-Davidson Soft Tail.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 6 | 1,600 mi |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 4 | 1,250 mi |
| Power trainDriveline | 4 | 1,700 mi |
| Exterior lightingTurn signal | 3 | 2,900 mi |
| SeatsMotorcycle | 2 | — |
| Tires | 2 | — |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 2 | — |
| Fuel system, other | 1 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system
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. PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE I HAVE NEVER DISCONNECTED THE FUEL LINE, BIKE HAS NEVER BEEN DROPPED AND THERE HAS BEEN NO OTHER ADVERSE EVENTS TO THIS AREA. WITH THE EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE (LESS THAN 3,000), METICULOUS CARE AND RUNNING THE FUEL TANK DRY BEFORE STORAGE THERE SHOULD NOT BE A FAILURE OF THIS NATURE. FUEL LEAKING FROM THIS FITTING DRIPS DIRECTLY ON THE ENGINE. ON-LINE RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE SOMEWHAT COMMON.…
- Engine and engine cooling
MOTORCYCLE DIED IN INTERSECTION. 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? I HAVE READ ON LINE THE BIKES OF THAT TIME PERIOD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY A CAR. *TR
- Service brakes, hydraulicFire
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. *TR
- Vehicle speed control
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. CLUTCH WOULD POP AND JUMP FORWARD ALMOST CAUSING TO FALL OVER MANY TIMES. TOOK IN FOR REPAIR.....LUBED AND GROUND OUT THE INSIDE OF WEAR AREA ON LEVER AND UNIT THAT THE CLUTCH CABLE COMES INTO. WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD WEAR DOWN IN TIME AND BECOME SMOOTH, THAT THIS IS TYPICAL OF THIS MODEL OF MOTORCYCLE. PROBLEM NOT FIXED AND DEALER DOES NOT KNOW OF ANY WAY TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE DUMPED THE BIKE SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THE…
- Tires
I OWN A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL CUSTOM FXSTC WITH 5,800 MILES ON IT AND THE FRONT TIRE IS SHOWING NOTABLE CUPPING AND EXCESSIVE WEAR. 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. REPORTED AS CASE #[XXX] TO HARLEY DAVIDSON. THIS ISSUE IS MENTIONED ON SEVERAL HARLEY DAVIDSON RIDER FORUMS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *KB
- Exterior lighting
TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO FLASH AFTER THE APPLICATION OF THE SERVICE BRAKES ON HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE. *TR
- Power train
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. KNOCK APPEARS TO ORIGINATE FROM THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET ASSEMBLY WHICH CUSHIONS THE DRIVE SIDE CRANKSHAFT SPROCKET AND THE PRIMARY DRIVE ASSEMBLY WHEN STRIKING EACH OTHER AT ENGINE STARTUP. MANY COMPENSATOR SPROCKET ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN FOUND IN FAILURE MODE AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH A MORE ROBUST UNIT (FACTORY INSTALLED ON 2010 AND LATER MODELS) UNDER WARRANTY. FAILURE IN SERVICE COULD BE CATASTROPHIC AND OPERATOR INJURY OR DEATH COULD RESULT. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF ISSUES BUT HAVE NOT RECALLED ANY UNITS FOR…
- Fuel system, gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL. AFTER REFUELING HE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED HE NOTICED FUEL BEGAN TO LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE CAP. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE FUEL TANK WAS APPROXIMATELY HALF FULL. HE ALSO MENTIONED FUEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SPRAY OUT OF THE FUEL TANK WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,300.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.