2008 Harley-Davidson VRSCDX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
3,050 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 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 4 of 9 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 22.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 11.1% |
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 | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Electrical System: 2; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 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: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 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 (7). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2010: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 2; 2015: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10354872 · 2010-09-10 (September 10, 2010)
FUEL GAUGE IS ALWAYS ERRATIC IN DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF REMAINING FUEL (GENERALLY REPORTS MORE THAN IS REMAINING). THIS MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF FUEL, LOSS OF POWER AND STALL. NO CORRECTION CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10354872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10389791 · 2011-03-10 (March 10, 2011)
FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING ALL THE TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10389791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10402553 · 2011-05-24 (May 24, 2011)
ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE. OFTEN READS FULL WHEN IT'S ACTUALLY MUCH LOWER. THIS IS MORE CRITICAL ON A MOTORCYCLE (AND ON MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS) AS THE DRIVEN WHEEL AND TIRE ARE DIRECTLY CONNECTED FROM THE ENGINE TO THE ROAD. IF THE MOTORCYCLE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTS DOWN, THE RIDER COULD BE CAUGHT OFF GUARD AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. ANOTHER CONCERN WOULD BE CROSSING A BUSY INTERSECTION WHERE THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY SHUTS OFF, LEAVING THE RIDER GROSSLY EXPOSED TO SEVERE INJURY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10410812 · 2011-07-07 (July 7, 2011)
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCDX (NIGHT ROD SPECIAL) AFTER PURCHASING MY MOTORCYCLE, 5 MONTHS PASSED WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE WENT OUT. I TOOK IT BACK TO HARLEY, AS IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THEY REPLACED SOME PARTS WHICH FIXED THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE RESURFACED AGAIN LAST MONTH (JUNE 2011) WHERE THE FUEL GAUGE IS CONSTANTLY READING EMPTY. IT APPEARS THAT HARLEY HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10410812 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10432905 · 2011-10-26 (October 26, 2011)
I OWN A 2008 VRSCDX HARLEY DAVIDSON - THE REAR BRAKE FAILED AS IT IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, DUE TO ITS PROXIMITY TO THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE FAILURE IS CAUSED BY THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE SWITCH MELTING ALLOWING THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT OF THE SYSTEM. I HAVE CONTACTED HD AND PROVIDED THEM WITH MULTIPLE CASES OF OTHER VRSCDX BIKES HAVING THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND HD DID NOT INCLUDE THIS MODEL IN THEIR CURRENT RECALL OF OTHER MODELS WITH IDENTICAL PROBLEMS - ALSO HD HAS RE-DESIGNED THE BRAKE SWITCH LOCATION…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465304 · 2012-07-11 (July 11, 2012)
FUEL GAUGE READS ERRATICALLY LOW FROM EMPTY UP TO ACTUAL LEVEL. POSSIBLE FUEL SENSOR FAILURE. UNCOMMANDED CHANGES IN POWER APPARENTLY RELATED TO THIS COMMON PROBLEM MAKE IT A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO ERRATIC SPEED/THRUST BEHAVIOR. IT HAS OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEEDS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FORCING ME TO PULL OVER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 26,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10474394 · 2012-09-09 (September 9, 2012)
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS BIKE ARE REPORTING THAT THE FUEL GAUGE IS A PROBLEM THAT THE COMPANY IS UNWILLING TO FIX. SEE THREAD: HTTP://WWW.1130CC.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=106786. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10816486 · 2015-12-28 (December 28, 2015)
FUEL GAUGE NEVER READS ACCURATE. WHEN BIKE IS FULL THE GAUGE WILL READ FULL BUT WHEN I TURN BIKE OFF AND RESTART IT AGAIN THE FUEL GAUGE WILL READ 1/4 FULL. GAUGE IS VERY INDEPENDABLE. RESULTING IN THE BIKE RUNNING OUT OF GAS BECAUSE THE IMPROPER READING FROM THE FUEL GAUGE. ALSO RESULTING IN HAVING TO CALL AND AUTO SERVICE FOR A TOW OR FUEL.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10816486 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.