2008 Harley-Davidson Flhr

Routine

Owners filed 14 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System3
101
Service Brakes2
000
Wheels1
101
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Suspension › Rear1
000
Suspension1
000
Fuel/Propulsion System1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip18V076000
Filed Jan 29, 2018174,636 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Company

Defect. Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling all 2008-2011 Touring, CVO Touring and VSRC motorcycles equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), including Road King (FLHR), Road King Police (EFI) (FLHP), Road King Police (EFI) (FLHPE), Electra Glide Standard Police (EFI) (FLHTP), Electra Glide Classic (EFI) (FLHTC), Electra Glide Ultra Classic (EFI) (FLHTCU) and Street Glide (EFI) (FLHX), 2008 VROD (VRSCAWA), CVO Road King 4 (FLHRSE4), Night Rod (VRSCDA), CVO Ultra Classic 3 (FLHTCUSE3), Night Rod Special (VRSCDXA), 2008-2010 Road King Classic (EFI) (FLHRC), 2008-2009 Road Glide (EFI) (FLTR) and Electra Glide Standard (EFI) (FLHT), 2009-2010 V-Rod (VRSCAW), 2009 CVO Ultra Classic (FLHTCUSE4) and CVO Road Glide 3 (FLTRSE3), 2009-2011 Night Rod Special (VRSCDX) and V-Rod Muscle (VRSCF), 2010 CVO Ultra Classic 5 (FLHTCUSE5) and CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), 2010-2011 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (FLHTK) and Road Glide Custom (FLTRX), 2011 Road Glide Ultra 103 (FLTRU103), Street Glide 103 (FLHX103), Road King Classic 103 (FLHRC103), CVO Ultra Classic 6 (FLHTCUSE6), CVO Road Glide Ultra (FLTRUSE), Road Glide Custom 103 (FLTRX103), and CVO Street Glide 2 (FLHXSE2) motorcycles. Deposits may form on components within the brake system if the DOT 4 brake fluid is not replaced for a prolonged period of time beyond the 2-year maintenance schedule specified in the Owner’s Manual.

Risk. These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will flush the entire brake system with new Platinum Label DOT 4 brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0171.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap08V357000
Filed Jul 30, 200847,579 vehiclesHarley-Davidson Motor Company

Defect. HARLEY DAVIDSON IS RECALLING 47,579 MY 2008 FLHP, FLHPE, FLHR, FLHRC, FLHRSE4, FLHT, FLHTC, FLHTCU, FLHTCUSE3, FLHTP, FLHX, AND FLTR MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES MAY EXPERIENCE A CRACKING OF THE FUEL FILTER SHELL LEADING TO LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE. THIS LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE CAN CAUSE DIMINISHED PERFORMANCE AND, IN SOME CASES, MAY CAUSE AN ENGINE STALL OR A NO-START CONDITION.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER SHELL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Feb 12, 201821,038 milesAZ

MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE RECALL ON THE ABS BRAKES ON 2008 HD FLHR ROAD KING I TOWED MY MOTORCYCLE TO TUCSON HARLEY BECAUSE THE BACK BRAKE WOULDN'T WORK THEY TOLD ME DUE TO MAINTENANCE THE ABS MODULE IS BAD $800.00 PARTS ALONE I JUST BOUGHT THIS BIKE IN DEC USED I HAVEN'T PUT 50 MILES NO WAY TO CHECK MAINTENANCE ON THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN YOU BUY IT PRIVATE PARTY.THE RECALL SHOULD BE ON THE ABS MODULE BECAUSE THEY USED THE WRONG BRAKE FLUID, TO BEGIN WITH, THE PART ABS MODULE # 4688-08 IS THE PROBLEM IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET BLOGS IT ALSO SAYS DEAD MOTORCYCLE RIDERS CAN'T FILE A COMPLIANT

Service Brakes
Filed Aug 22, 201438,000 milesKS

SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF REAR BRAKE; PEDAL GOES TO THE MAXIMUM LIMIT WITHOUT RESISTANCE. *TR

WheelsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 19, 201427,000 milesID

FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP AT 40 MPH AND THREW ME OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. WE BELIEVE THE CAUSE TO BE A DEFECTIVE FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *TR

Electrical SystemCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 11, 201310,300 milesCA

I WAS TRAVELING ON A SURFACE ROAD AT APPROX. 50MPH. AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION OF EUCLID AND LAMBERT THE LIGHT STARTED TO CHANGE. I ROLLED ONTO THE THROTTLE TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION SAFELY. AS I CLEARED THE INTERSECTION I ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE AT WHICH POINT THE THROTTLE WENT TO THE WIDE OPEN POSITION BY ITSELF. THE SUDDEN SURGE FORWARD CAUSED ME TO LOSE MY GRIP ON THE HANDLE BARS, THROWING ME ONTO MY BACK FROM THE BIKE. THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED APPROX. 1/4 MILE DOWN THE ROAD AT THE WIDE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION ,GOING THROUGH ANOTHER INTERSECTION WITHOUT A RIDER. I SUFFERED A SHATTERED RIGHT WRIST AND ROAD RASH ON THE ARMS AND BACK. I WAS FORTUNATE TO KEEP MY LIFE. THE MOTORCYCLE IS TOTALED AND FORTUNATELY DIDN'T DO ANY HARM TO ANYONE ELSE BUT ME. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 28, 20136,000 milesLA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING FLHR MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Engine
Filed May 13, 201312,300 milesFL

STOCK COMPENSATOR FAILED AT 12300 MILES. HD SUGGESTS REPLACING WITH UPGRADED SCREAMING EAGLE COMPENSATOR. HIGH SPEED FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Apr 9, 201223,000 milesAZ

BIKE WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN. ONCE RESTARTED IT WOULD IDLE AT APPROX 1500 RPM (LIMP MODE). THIS HAPPEN TWICE. THERE NO THROTTLE RESPONSE, IDLE WAS STILL AROUND 1500 RPM. TALK TO THE DEALER ABOUT MY ISSUES. BEFORE I COULD FINISH MY LITTLE SPEECH, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE ECM OR THE ATC PIN CONNECTORS. HE DESCRIBES MY PROBLEM TO ME. THEY HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM IN THAT PAST. *TR

Suspension
Filed Mar 5, 201210,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 9, 201222,000 milesNH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHR MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH,THE MOTORCYCLE DECELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE LUBRICANT WAS APPLIED TO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONNECTORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 03/14/12 *BF

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Nov 3, 2011NV

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYLCE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RAPID ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE RIDING THE BIKE, IT STARTED TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE OVER THE SPEED SET ON THE ELECTRICAL SPEED CONTROL. THE SPEED CONTROL WAS SET AT 50 MPH. HOWEVER, THE BIKE RACED UP TO 70 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL DID SHUT OF WHEN THE CONSUMER MANUALLY PRESSED THE SET SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION. ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL SETTING WAS TURNED OFF, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE SPEEDOMETER. UPON RETURNING HOME, THE CONSUMER ATTACHED HIS HARLEY DAVIDSON EMC CODE READ TO THE BIKE WHICH GAVE HE A DIAGNOSTICS CODE NUMBER PO557 CRUISE CONTROL INPUT. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Sep 7, 201015,282 milesIL

FLY BY WIRE THROTTLE FAILED, THROTTLE ONLY WORKS IN IDLE MODE. THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED, LAST TIME WAS A 400 HUNDRED DOLLAR TOW PLUS SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS IN HAULING COST. REPLACED TGS (THROTTLE GRIP SENSOR), TEMPORARILY FIXED FOR TWO MILES. THROTTLE WIRE LOOM NOT AVAILABLE FROM HARLEY, BACK ORDERED UNTIL 09/14/2010. KNOW FOR A FACT OF TWO OTHER '08 HD TOURING BIKE THIS HAPPENED ON. *TR

Suspension › Rear
Filed Nov 4, 20089,000 milesLA

WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 50- 70 MPH ON A LONG SWEEPING TURN, THE REAR END WILL BEGIN TO OSCILLATE. CAUSING A LACK OR LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 4, 20082,723 milesWI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 (NA) HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A SERVICE STATION AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE PRIMARY CASE. THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE COMPENSATION BRACKETS IN THE PRIMARY CASE CAME OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALER THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE STATED THAT THE BOLT WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED, AND THE INCORRECT LOCK TYPE WAS USED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,723 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,900.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 13, 20071,880 milesAL

FRONT CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY 2008 H-D FLHRSE4 AT ONLY 1900 MILES RESULTING IN OIL LEAK. DEALER IS CHECKING BOTH CYLINDERS AND HEADS FOR WARPAGE PRIOR TO REPLACING GASKETS. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH THE 110 MOTORS AND IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE VARIOUS OWNER FORUMS. *TR

14 of 14 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2008
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20220100Routine
20210100Routine
20201100Routine
20192000Routine
20185100Routine
20173200Routine
20152100Routine
20143200Routine
20132000Routine
20122100Routine
20119201Fatalities reported
20103300Routine
200910300Routine
2008 — this page14200Routine
20074010Routine
20052000Routine
20041000Routine
20033100Routine
20022100Routine
20014100Routine
19998100Routine
19971000Routine
19956000Routine

Compare every Flhr year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 29, 2018. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.