2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THE REAR BRAKES ON A 2009 HD TRIKE HAS VERY LITTLE STOPPING POWER,HARLEY KNOWS IT HAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY STARTED PUTTING BIGGER BRAKES ON THE 2011 MODELS. I THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIX THE 2009,AND 2010 MODELS.BUT THERE NEVER WAS A RECALL ON THEM.THERE IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN YOU CAN'T STOP. PLUS NOW MY REAR BRAKES QUIT WORKING ALL TOGETHER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUTG. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEED THERE WAS A SLIGHT VIBRATION WHICH CAUSED TWO BOLTS TO DETACH FROM THE EXHAUST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT DISLODGED AND THE HEAD WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY ONCE THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,219.

ON THE ABOVE DATE THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE LESS THAN A MINUTE AFTER STARTING IT. I HAD RODE THIS VEHICLE TO WORK AND WAS AT WORK FOR AROUND TWO HOURS. UPON LEAVING WORK, I STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT GETTING ON AND WAS REACHING TO PUT ITEMS IN THE TRUNK WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. WHEN WALKING UP TO THE VEHICLE I DID NOT SMELL GASOLINE OR NOTICE ANY LEAKING FUEL BEFORE STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES VERY QUICKLY. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO BEING BURNED. SOME CO-WORKERS AND MYSELF ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE, BUT WERE UNABLE TO GET CLOSE ENOUGH DUE TO THE INTENSE HEAT AND FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED FAIRLY QUICKLY TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE MARSHAL STATED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE. TO THIS DATE HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS NOT RESPONDED TO MY INQUIRIES ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND HAS REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FIRE. *TR

RIDER EXPERIENCED 2ND DEGREE BURNS DUE TO HEAT EMANATING FROM THE ENGINE DURING HOT WEATHER AND STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC; REAR CYLINDER SHUTS OFF AND THEN MOTORCYCLE RUNS POORLY (NO ACCELERATION); ALSO AFFECTS BRAKING (REAR BRAKE GETS "MUSHY"); HAS RESULTED IN DISCOLORATION OF HORN AND AIR FILER COVER; OIL PRESSURE DROPS TO 0; HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 QTS. OF OIL IN 1300 MILES; LITERALLY WAS "SMOKING"; AMBIENT TEMP. PEGGED OUT AT 120 DEGREES. EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD TO RIDER AND DEALER CAN OFFER NO SOLUTION; CAN'T EVEN TUNE THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DYNO A TRIKE. *TR

HEAT COMING OFF THE EXHAUST/ENGINE MAKES THE BIKE UNBEARABLE TO RIDE...ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER GETS WARMER AND YOU ARE STOPPED OR GOING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC. IT WILL BURN YOUR RIGHT CALF SEVERELY AND HARLEY DAVISDON REFUSES TO ADMIT THE PROBLEM OR OFFER A REMEDY FOR IT. ALSO REAR BRAKES SQUEAL CONSTANTLY AND ARE BARELY ADEQUATE FOR STOPPING. *TR