2008 Harley-Davidson FLHR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
12,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 14 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Suspension: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 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: 11; 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 (11). 1 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 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10208806 · 2007-11-13 (November 13, 2007)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 1,880 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236829 · 2008-08-04 (August 4, 2008)
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 2,9…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,723 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10247642 · 2008-11-04 (November 4, 2008)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10354318 · 2010-09-07 (September 7, 2010)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 15,282 miles reported. Look up ODI 10354318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10434594 · 2011-11-03 (November 3, 2011)
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 ATTACHE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10434594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10443180 · 2012-01-09 (January 9, 2012)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10443180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450322 · 2012-03-05 (March 5, 2012)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10454567 · 2012-04-09 (April 9, 2012)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454567 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V357000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
Reported: 2008-07-30 (July 30, 2008)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V076000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Fluid
Reported: 2018-01-29 (January 29, 2018)
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 Owners Manual.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗