Harley-Davidson FLHTCUSE4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
16,790 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 to 2009 model years. Data updated: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 6 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Braking behavior
3
50.0%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Service Brakes
2
Exterior Lighting
1
Power Train
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
Suspension:Rear
1
Tires
1
Wheels
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Service Brakes
2
Exterior Lighting
1
Power Train
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
Suspension:Rear
1
Tires
1
Wheels
1
Service Brakes: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Power Train: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Suspension:Rear: 1; Tires: 1; Wheels: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
2010
1
2012
1
2016
2
2018
2
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2010
1
2012
1
2016
2
2018
2
2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2016: 2; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
I DECIDED ONE MORNING TO RIDE MY BIKE DOWN TO THE BMV TO RENEW LICENSE PLATES. THE RIDE DOWN TO THE BMV BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FUNCTION AND OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN I GET BACK ON THE BIKE TO LEAVE, I GET READY TO STOP JUST PRIOR TO ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL IS ROCK SOLID WITH NO TRAVEL AND NO REAR BRAKES WHATSOEVER. I DID HAVE FRONT BREAKS, BUT BEING SURPRISED BY NOT HAVING ANY REAR BRAKES I OVERCOMPENSATED MY FRONT BRAKES ALMOST SPILLING THE BIKE INTO TRAFFIC. AFTER READING MANY HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE…
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
6 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
100.0%Usable mileage6 / 6 records
100.0%Valid incident date6 / 6 records
100.0%Valid filing date6 / 6 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates6 / 6 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2009
Service Brakes
233.3%ODI 10874995 · 15 mi
I DECIDED ONE MORNING TO RIDE MY BIKE DOWN TO THE BMV TO RENEW LICENSE PLATES. THE RIDE DOWN TO THE BMV BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FUNCTION AND OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN I GET BACK ON THE BIKE TO LEAVE, I GET READY TO STOP JUST PRIOR TO ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL IS ROCK SOLID WITH NO TRAVEL AND NO REAR BRAKES WHATSOEVER. I DID HAVE FRONT BREAKS, BUT BEING SURPRISED BY NOT HAVING ANY REAR BRAKES I OVERCOMPENSATED MY FRONT BRAKES ALMOST SPILLING THE BIKE INTO TRAFFIC. AFTER READING MANY HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE…
THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS IN A TRANSPORT CARRIER. THE BIKE WAS SECURED INSIDE THE TRANSPORT TRAILER WITH THE KEY SO THE ALARM SHOULD NOT ACTIVATE THE LED LOAD BALANCER FROM KURYAKYN CAUGHT ON FIRE, THIS IS AN AFTERMARKET PART CERTIFIED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR THIS APPLICATION. WHEN I CONTACTED KURYAKYN ABOUT IT, THEY SAID THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER RECALLED THE PARTS AND TOLD ME THE REPLACEMENT PART TO ORDER. THEY TOLD ME IT'S BECAUSE THE ALARM WAS ACTIVE ON THE BIKE AND CAUSED THE LOAD BALANCER TO OVERHEAT AND CATCH FI…
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE, FLHTCUSE4 EQUIPPED, WITH DUNLOP D407 P180/65/16 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE INVOLVING AN ABNORMAL AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY REPLACED BOTH TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,769.
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Service Brakes
Too few reports for a range
5,898 mi
2 (sparse)
ODI 10874995 · 15 mi
I DECIDED ONE MORNING TO RIDE MY BIKE DOWN TO THE BMV TO RENEW LICENSE PLATES. THE RIDE DOWN TO THE BMV BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FUNCTION AND OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN I GET BACK ON THE BIKE TO LEAVE, I GET READY TO STOP JUST PRIOR TO ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL IS ROCK SOLID WITH NO TRAVEL AND NO REAR BRAKES WHATSOEVER. I DID HAVE FRONT BREAKS, BUT BEING SURPRISED BY NOT HAVING ANY REAR BRAKES I OVERCOMPENSATED MY FRONT BRAKES ALMOST SPILLING THE BIKE INTO TRAFFIC. AFTER READING MANY HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE…
THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS IN A TRANSPORT CARRIER. THE BIKE WAS SECURED INSIDE THE TRANSPORT TRAILER WITH THE KEY SO THE ALARM SHOULD NOT ACTIVATE THE LED LOAD BALANCER FROM KURYAKYN CAUGHT ON FIRE, THIS IS AN AFTERMARKET PART CERTIFIED BY HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR THIS APPLICATION. WHEN I CONTACTED KURYAKYN ABOUT IT, THEY SAID THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT NEVER RECALLED THE PARTS AND TOLD ME THE REPLACEMENT PART TO ORDER. THEY TOLD ME IT'S BECAUSE THE ALARM WAS ACTIVE ON THE BIKE AND CAUSED THE LOAD BALANCER TO OVERHEAT AND CATCH FI…
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE, FLHTCUSE4 EQUIPPED, WITH DUNLOP D407 P180/65/16 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE INVOLVING AN ABNORMAL AND EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY REPLACED BOTH TIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,769.
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2009: 1 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2009
1
1
1
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2009
6
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Service Brakes
Exterior Lighting
Power Train
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Suspension:Rear
Tires
Wheels
Service Brakes
—
0
0
0
0
0
0
Exterior Lighting
0
—
0
0
0
0
0
Power Train
0
0
—
0
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
0
0
0
—
1ODI 10462651 · 21,800 mi
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED SEVERELY DAMAGING THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKE. THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED SHAKING AND WOBBLING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO BRING IT TO A STOP AND STAY UPRIGHT.
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Brake response concerns
1 mentions · 16.7% of complaints
Median mileage: 15 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10874995 · 15 mi
I DECIDED ONE MORNING TO RIDE MY BIKE DOWN TO THE BMV TO RENEW LICENSE PLATES. THE RIDE DOWN TO THE BMV BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FUNCTION AND OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN I GET BACK ON THE BIKE TO LEAVE, I GET READY TO STOP JUST PRIOR TO ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL IS ROCK SOLID WITH NO TRAVEL AND NO REAR BRAKES WHATSOEVER. I DID HAVE FRONT BREAKS, BUT BEING SURPRISED BY NOT HAVING ANY REAR BRAKES I OVERCOMPENSATED MY FRONT BRAKES ALMOST SPILLING THE BIKE INTO TRAFFIC. AFTER READING MANY HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS WITH FOLKS WHO HAVE…