2008 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
81 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
25,606 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 70 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 81 complaints (37.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 36 | 44.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.2% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 30 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
Service Brakes: 30; Power Train: 7; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 33 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 11 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 13 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 13; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 11; 2012: 2; 2013: 6; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 14; 2017: 7; 2018: 6; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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.
Owner report 10208374 · 2007-11-08 (November 8, 2007)
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT THE DAY HE BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE. MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MOTORCYCLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP, HE BEGAN TO GEAR THE MOTORCYCLE DOWN FROM A SPEED OF 35 MPH AND BEGAN TO FEATHER THE FRONT BRAKE TO REDUCE SPEED. THE SECOND TIME HE GENTLY SQUEEZED THE FRONT BRAKE HANDLE, AND IT DIDN'T FEEL COMPLETELY NORMAL. THE THIRD TIME HE TOUCHED THE BRAKE LEVER THE FRONT BRAKE AND WHEEL COMPLETE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10208374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233930 · 2008-07-09 (July 9, 2008)
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE HAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE MAKING A SCREAMING NOISE. *NJ THE DEALER CLEANED THE PADS WITHOUT REMOVING THEM WITH BRAKE CLEAN. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE PAD PINS, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED 10 MILES LATER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10233930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10391711 · 2011-03-16 (March 16, 2011)
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON. CONSUMER STATES DESIGN FLAW AND SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MOTORCYCLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN AT THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE SEPT 9, 2010 BECAUSE OF A THROTTLE PROBLEM CREATED BY THE BIKE GOING INTO LIMP MODE ON ITS OWN WHILE BEING DRIVEN OR WHILE AT A STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO WAY TO TEST THE BIKE UNTIL THE WEATHER IMPROVES IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECTIFIED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10391711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511056 · 2013-05-08 (May 8, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE WIRING IN THE THROTTLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT GUARANTEE A REMEDY TO THE FAILURE AND IF THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE THROTTLE WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232134 · 2008-06-24 (June 24, 2008)
FUEL FILTER HOUSING INSIDE GAS TANK. FAULTY HOUSING BREAKS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10682924 · 2015-02-12 (February 12, 2015)
2008 ULTRA CLASSIC ELECTRA GLIDE HARLEY DAVIDSON. GAS TANK LINING PEALED OFF INSIDE THE TANK RESULTING IN SHEDDING FUEL FILTERS, LINE, PUMP, INJECTORS. ALL PARTS INSIDE THE TANK HAND TO BE REPLACED. $1800 WORTH OF PARTS PLUS THE TANK HAD TO BE BLASTED AND RECOATED $600. POWER WOULD CUT OUT WHEN RIDING MOTOR WOULD QUIT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10682924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10241724 · 2008-09-10 (September 10, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC FLHTCU. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, HE HEARD A CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO DEFECTS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,061 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10595171 · 2014-05-30 (May 30, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE O-RING AND THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V357000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 45,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10595171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11322224 · 2020-04-25 (April 25, 2020)
I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION NEAR MY HOME. I HAD TO STOP QUICKLY AS A CAR TURNED INTO MY LANE JUST A HEAD OF ME. I APPLIED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES OF MY MOTORCYCLE BUT THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER DID NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT WAS AS IF IT WAS FROZEN IN PLACE. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE FRONT BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW USING THE REAR BRAKE AND AVOIDED A COLLISION BY STEERING OUT OF THE WAY. AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND INVESTIGATING, I FOUND THE ABS MODULE HAD FAILED. I ALSO FOUND THIS IS AN ISSUE KNOWN BY HARLEY DAVIDSON OF T…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,080 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322224 at NHTSA ↗