2009 Harley-Davidson Soft Tail: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 28 complaints
28
Total Complaints
1,750mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
0
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

1,225 25th Percentile
1,750 Median Mileage
6,100 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
4
POWER TRAIN
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
TIRES
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2
SEATS
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
1
SEATS:MOTORCYCLE
1

Severity Assessment

0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"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 THA..."
"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 THA..."
"WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE SEAT GOT DETACHED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE SEAT IS ATTACHED AT TWO POINTS. THERE IS A TAB AT THE REAR OF THE SEAT WHICH ATTACHES TO THE FENDER. THE OTHER ATTACHMENT POINT IS UNDER THE SEAT, WHERE A FRAME MOUNTED TAB SLIDES INTO A HOLE IN THE SEAT. THE ATTA..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

When Were Complaints Filed?

Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.

When Does Each Component Fail?

Median mileage at complaint for top components.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6 complaints
25th: 1,500 mi Median: 1,600 mi 75th: 1,750 mi
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 4 complaints
25th: 1,200 mi Median: 1,250 mi 75th: 2,525 mi
POWER TRAIN 3 complaints
Median: 1,700 mi

Where Are Complaints Coming From?

Top states by complaint count.

TX: 7 FL: 4 WI: 2 VA: 2 CO: 2 WA: 1 NM: 1 CA: 1 WV: 1 MD: 1

Who Files Complaints?

7.1%
Original Owners
92.9%
Second+ Owners

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28