2008 Harley-Davidson FXDWG: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
2,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 13 complaints (61.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 23.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 23.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Equipment:Motorcycle:Helmets | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Equipment:Motorcycle:Helmets: 1; Fuel System, Other: 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 | 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: 11; 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 (11). 2 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 | 9 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2008: 9; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 10216481 · 2008-01-30 (January 30, 2008)
I FEEL THE HELMET LAWS FOR MOTORCYCLE RIDERS IS AN INFRINGMENT OF MY RIGHTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10216481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232565 · 2008-06-27 (June 27, 2008)
WHILE RIDING IN HEAVY MORNING TRAFFIC IN HOUSTON TX. MOTORCYCLE BEGINS TO DISPLAY LOSS OF FUEL SYMPTOMS AND QUIT RUNNING ALMOST CAUSING SEVER ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BIKE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. WHERE I WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND LIMP THE BIKE A FEW BLOCKS THEN IT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. BIKE HAD A BUILD DATE OF 9/07 IT WAS PURCHASED 6/08. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE REGULATORS ON ITS 08 MODELS FOR MANY MONTHS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAD BEE…
Owner-reported narrative. 958 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232617 · 2008-06-29 (June 29, 2008)
FUEL PUMP AND/OR LINES INTERNAL TO FUEL TANK FAIL AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO RUN POORLY OR EVEN DIE OUT AND FAIL TO RESTART. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232701 · 2008-06-30 (June 30, 2008)
ENGINE ALMOST DIED WHILE PULLING OUT INTO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. REAL BAD MIS-FIRE WITH SPITTING AND SPUTTERING. TOOK TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAS A CRACKED FUEL LINE FITTING. I READ A FORUM AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO SAFETY RECALL. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A DEATH. MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC IS AN 2008 MODEL THAT I HAVE HAS LESS THAN A MONTH AND HAVE ABOUT 2400 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND MIGHT HAVE A GRIM OUTCOME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233296 · 2008-07-06 (July 6, 2008)
I RECEIVED FIRST DEGREE BURNS TO MY THIGHS. THIS ENGINE IS KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM WITH BEING HOT AS I FOUND OUT AFTER I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE. I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC, DUE TO AN AUTO ACCIDENT. WHILE MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED OR STOPPED THIS ENGINE GETS HUNDREDS HOTTER THAN NORMAL OPERATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233594 · 2008-07-08 (July 8, 2008)
ON SUNDAY JULY 6 2008 I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 95 AROUND PORT ST LUCY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN MY 2008 FLHTCU JUST DIED FOR NO APPARENT REASON FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT I DID A SEARCH OF THIS SORT OF PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR ONES BUT WITH NO RECALL NOTICE FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON ,I DID BRING IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THAT THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS ,I FEEL THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233594 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235065 · 2008-07-20 (July 20, 2008)
THE MOTORCYCLE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. FUEL TANK WAS FULL BUT NO FUEL WAS GETTING TO THE ENGINE. LEFT ME STRANDED. WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. HTTP://WWW.HDFORUMS.COM/M_3599675/TM.HTM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,611 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235070 · 2008-07-20 (July 20, 2008)
AIT APROX 1,800 MILES, MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE FUEL FILTER SHELL WHILE I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE. I WAS EXITING INTERSTATE 65 SOUTH IN BRENTWOOD, TN AND UPON ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM THE EXIT, I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR. THE MOTORCYCLE GAVE NO WARNING/INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. UPON ATTEMPTING TROUGH THE EXIT RAMP. THE BIKE SPUTTERED AND ALMOST STOPPED, WHILE THE AUTOMOBILES BEHIND ME LOCKED UP THEIR BRAKES TRYING TO AVOID ME. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME AFTER SUFFERING INTERMITTENT SPUTTERI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,862 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235070 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 ↗