2008 Harley-Davidson FXD: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
1,650 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 14.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 14.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Fuel System, Other: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Suspension:Rear: 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 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 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 (6). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2008: 4; 2010: 2; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior 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 10229325 · 2008-05-30 (May 30, 2008)
UNCONTROLLABLE IDLE, HARLEY DAVIDSON FLY BY WIRE THROTTLE. IDLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL GO ABOVE 1800 RPM. A FACTORY KNOWN ISSUE WITH NO PERMANENT REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. I HAVE HAD THIS BIKE 2 MONTHS NOW IT IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 8 TIMES. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS HOW I TURNED MY BIKE OFF. THEY SAID TO TURN THE IGNITION ON AND OFF 2-3 TIMES TO RESET THE THROTTLE POSITION PROBLEM IS IN THE FLY BY WIRE CIRCUIT AND COMPUTER WHICH LOOSES MEMORY AND GOES INTO A HIGH RPM. THE EXPERIENCE IS LIKE CRUISE CONTROL BEING TURNED ON AND YOU CANNOT SLOW DOWN WH…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231871 · 2008-06-20 (June 20, 2008)
THE "TOP PLATE ASSEMBLY" PART # 75076-08 ON MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC FAILED. THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING IN THIS ASSEMBLY CRACKED AND THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY AND ABRUPTLY LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC. THIS VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 2,100 MILES AND 9 MONTHS OF USE SINCE NEW. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES OF THIS DOCUMENTED ON THE "HD FORUMS" WEBSITE. THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BREAK AT ANY TIME WITH THE RESULTING FAILURE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER AT A CRITICAL TIME (MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, CLEARING AN INTERSECTION,…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232153 · 2008-06-24 (June 24, 2008)
REAR BRAKES SQUEAL ON BRAND NEW 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC: VEHICLE CHOICES WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO LIST THIS MODEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10232153 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232931 · 2008-07-01 (July 1, 2008)
FUEL PUMP ON 2008 HARLEY ULTRA CLASSIC CAUSED PIPES TO GET SO HOT ( GLOWING RED )WHEN I CHECKED OIL LEVEL THE RAG I WAS USING CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALSO THE PIPES ARE NOW REALLY DISCOLORED AND HARLEY WON'T REPLACE THEM BACK TO ORIGINAL CONDITION. THEY WON'T EVEN CHANGE THE OIL THAT I'M SURE WAS BROKEN DOWN BY THE HEAT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10344775 · 2010-07-22 (July 22, 2010)
MY BRAND NEW 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT ROD (VRSCD) CAME WITH A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE (SENDER). TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. THE GAUGE (SENDER) WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE GAUGE DISPLAYS INCORRECTLY ALL THE TIME. I'M RESORTING TO RESETTING THE TRIP ODOMETER AT EVERY FILL-UP TO ENDURE THAT I DON'T RUN OUT OF FUEL. FOR $17,000 DOLLARS YOU'D THINK A COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER A CENTURY COULD GET A SIMPLE THING LIKE THIS FIGURED OUT. ( THERE WAS NO MODEL LISTED IN THE PULLDOWN MENU TO S…
Owner-reported narrative. 78 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359435 · 2010-10-06 (October 6, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT RIDER SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE (NA). WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE TANK WAS FULL. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SINCE APRIL 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE CONTACT HAD TO SET THE TRIP ODOMETER AFTER HE FUELED TO MONITOR THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10400364 · 2011-05-10 (May 10, 2011)
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXD DYNA SUPER GLYDE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AT 8368 MILES, THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL THE 2008 AND NEWER MODELS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED THE BEARING FROM 1 INCH TO 25MM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,368 miles reported. Look up ODI 10400364 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
07V535000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Reported: 2007-11-20 (November 20, 2007)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES BUILT AND SHIPPED TO CALIFORNIA, THE CATALYTIC MUFFLER PROTECTIVE HEAT SHIELD WAS NOT INSTALLED. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW DIRECT CONTACT WITH THIS MUFFLER AND CAUSE INJURY.
Consequence: IF CONTACT OCCURS WHILE RIDING, IT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE, LEADING TO INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE HEAT SHIELDS TO THE MUFFLERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
NHTSA campaign record ↗