2008 Harley-Davidson FXDL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
3,893 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 6 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 33.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 16.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 16.7% |
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 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 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 | 5 |
| 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: 5; 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 (5). 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 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2008: 4; 2011: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10226769 · 2008-05-06 (May 6, 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 JUST BOUGHT A NEW HARLEY AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS 2 TIMES BOTH TIMES THE DEALER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS WELL..SAID IT WAS FIXED AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ONLY FOR THE HIGH RPM ISSUE TO RETURN. CALLED HARLEY TECHLINE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.. AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM SINCE JULY OF 07 WITH NO IDEA HOW TO RESOLVE IT. PROBL…
Owner-reported narrative. 11 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232008 · 2008-06-23 (June 23, 2008)
2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE W/3,893 MILES. ON SUNDAY, JUNE 15TH ABOUT 40 MILES FROM HOME MY BIKE STARTED JERKING AROUND AND ACTING AS IF I SLAMMED THE BRAKES ON. I COULD TELL IT WAS A FUEL ISSUE OF SOME SORT. WITH HELP FROM FRIENDS AND 3 HOURS LATER WE MANAGED TO LIMP IT HOME BY SHUTTING IT DOWN AND REFIRING WHEN IT WAS STARVING FOR FUEL. THE DEFECTIVE PART IS THE FUEL FILTER BRACKET THAT HAS PLASTIC TABS THAT BREAK. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WITH BRACKETS ON ALL 2008 TOURING BIKES WHICH HAVE THE 6 GALLON FUEL TANK. MY BIKE IS STILL…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,893 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232350 · 2008-06-26 (June 26, 2008)
REPORTEDLY, A NUMBER OF 2008 TOURING HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP PART THAT CAUSES THE MOTORCYCLE TO STOP PUMPING FUEL AND STOPPING ABRUPTLY. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN BY HARLEY DAVIDSON (PART #62229-08) AND IS BEING REPLACED BY AN IMPROVED PART (#62229-08A) THAT IS NOT DEFECTIVE. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AS I COMMUTE 100+ MILES DAILY ON MY MOTORCYCLE AND I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10232350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246545 · 2008-10-23 (October 23, 2008)
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE, WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF ON IT'S OWN, HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, DEALER AND HARLEY ARE OF NO ASSISTANCE IN RECTIFYING THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND MOST RECENT DATE, HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,371 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10424287 · 2011-09-08 (September 8, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDL. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WHEEL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424287 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10543448 · 2013-09-13 (September 13, 2013)
APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, GEARING DOWN TO STOP, THE IDLE CONTINUED ABOVE 3000RPM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE BIKE STARTED EATING THE BATTERY. NOW, WHEN IT HAPPENS, I KNOW TO GET IT HOME TO THE BATTERY TENDER ASAP. THREE TIMES THE HD MECHANICS CHARGE THE BATTERY AND THEN, "CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG". I HAD TO FIRE OLD GLORY HD IN LAUREL, MD. LOOKING FOR A REAL MECHANIC HERE IN FLORIDA. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543448 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 ↗