Service Brakes. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

6 reports

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Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2022

Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or OtherInjury

ABS System failure causing brakes to fail

NHTSA ODI #11458977

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2021

Electrical SystemService BrakesCrashInjury

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I was riding my motorcycle with a group of bikes and had to make an emergency stop. When the brakes were applied, as directed in the owners manual, the ABS failed and caused the rear tire to lock and skid. The resulting skid caused a loss of control of the motorcycle and ultimately laying the bike down on the asphalt highway. This resulted in the rider and passenger sustaining injuries. The passenger received a Tramatic Brain Injury which a month and a half later she is still in recovery. The motorcycle has not yet been repaired or looked at by any Police or Technical personnel. There were no warnings or lights prior to the accident.

NHTSA ODI #11428227

30,000 miles · Sep 7, 2016

Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 30 MPH, IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS, CONNECTING THE THROTTLE AND CARBURETOR, WAS FAULTY. THE PINS ON THE HARNESS WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE…

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NHTSA ODI #10904281

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2011

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON. CONSUMER STATES DESIGN FLAW AND SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MOTORCYCLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN AT THE REPAIR SHOP SINCE SEPT 9, 2010 BECAUSE OF A THROTTLE PROBLEM CREATED BY THE BIKE GOING INTO LIMP MODE ON ITS OWN WHILE BEING DRIVEN OR WHILE AT A STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS NO WAY TO TEST THE BIKE UNTIL THE WEATHER IMPROVES IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECTIFIED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10391711

11,570 miles · Jun 29, 2009

Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

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MY MOTORCYCLE WHEN I STARTED REMAINED AT HIGH IDLE AND WOULD NOT REDUCE TO NORMAL. I WAS WITH A GROUP OF RIDERS WHO WERE LEAVING SO I TOOK OFF AS IS AND WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE BIKE ONLY SLOWED TO 2000 RPM'S ALMOST CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO CAR AHEAD OF ME. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND MOTOR COMPANY INSTRUCTION WAS TO USE A IDLE RESET PROCEDURE CONSISTING OF TURNING THE IGNITION ON-OFF 4 TIMES. THIS WORKED FOR A FEW STARTS THEN WOULD OCCUR AGAIN. I RECENTLY SAW A BLOG IN A CHAT ROOM WHERE MOTOR COMPANY HAD ISSUED A TECH BULLETIN WHERE A DOWNLOAD TO THE ECU WOULD RESET THE CALIBRATION TIMING OF THE IDLE PROCEDURE. I ASKED THE DEALER TO UPDATE MY ECU AND THE RESPONSE WAS THAT BECAUSE I HAD MODIFIED MY BIKE IT WOULD COST $150 FOR THE UPDATE. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER AND AFTER MANY TRANSFERS WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH BULLETIN OR UPDATE I THEN GAVE THE PHONE TO DEALERS SERVICE MGR WHO GAVE THEM INFO HE HAD AND TOLD HIM TO NOT CHARGE FOR THE UPDATE AS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ACTION AND THE DEALER UPDATED AND I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM SINCE. I THINK SINCE THIS IS A POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE THE UPDATE SHOULD BE ANNOUNCED AND PERFORMED UNDER NORMAL WARRANTY. THIS DEFECT ONLY SEEMS TO EFFECT 08M AND 09M BIKES WHERE MOTOR COMPANY UPDATED FROM CABLE THROTTLE CONTROL TO ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275198

8,300 miles · May 2, 2009

Electrical System

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI (ULTRA CLASSIC. ENGINE QUIT WHILE CRUISING AT 50MPH. DIAGNOSED AS IGNITION COIL FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267538

Official recalls

18V076000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid

Jan 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 & remedy

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

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.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid

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.

08V357000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap

Jul 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE16009 · Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle

Opened Jul 6, 2016 · Closed Apr 23, 2018

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation in July 2016 based on forty-three (43) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ).During the course of this investigation ODI received a total of 145 VOQs related to the alleged defect on the subject motorcycles.Owners allege they experience a sudden and complete loss of brakes on one or both wheels.To better understand the cause of the braking issue on the subject motorcycles, ODI requested NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) conduct inspections and testing of affected vehicle braking systems.Through its work, VRTC determined that deposits were forming on the valves in the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) of the Antilock Braking System (ABS). These deposits could prevent the proper function of the HCU and render the brakes ineffective.To understand why deposits were forming in the HCU, Harley Davidson completed an analysis of the Dow 460 brake fluid used as original equipment on the subject motorcycles and determined that it had stability issues if left in the brake system for an extended period of time.Harley Davidson found that if a brake fluid flush was not conducted as outlined in the owner?s manual for the motorcycles, and was left in the system for a period of time beyond their recommendation; deposits could form in the HCU.Through further testing, Harley Davidson identified an alternate, commercially available, brake fluid that did not have the same stability issues as the original fluid and could stop the proliferation of any current brake system deposits.ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to Harley Davidson and Dow Chemical (the supplier of the brake fluid on the subject motorcycles) to collect information about the subject bikes and the alleged defect.Harley Davidson responded in full on Sept 30, 2016 and Dow responded with a confidential submission on October 25, 2017.ODI analyzed the information contained in both IR responses and concluded that motorcycles manufactured during Model Years (MY) 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 were failing at a rate greater than their peers.Based on this analysis and the brake fluid study conducted by Harley Davidson, a group of motorcycles was identified that were potentially affected by the instability of the original brake fluid.2008 marked the introduction of ABS on Harley Davidson motorcycles and a change in the Dow 460 brake fluid used in the 2012 MY vehicles provided the bases for the scope of the affected population.With recall action 18V-076 taken by Harley Davidson this investigation is closed as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/ using the complaint identification numbers attached to this resume.

PE08043 · Motorcycle Stalling

Opened Jul 17, 2008 · Closed Aug 8, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

THE SUBJECT FUEL FILTER HOUSING (P/N 62229-08) CRACKS, RESULTING IN SUDDEN ENGINE STALL DUE TO UNREGULATED FUEL PRESSURE.HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS MODIFIED THE HOUSING WITH A NEW PART NUMBER 62229-08A.SHORTLY AFTER OPENING THIS PE, ODI RECEIVED HARLEY'S DEFECT NOTIFICATION INDICATING THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE BEING RECALLED TO INSTALL THE NEW FUEL FILTER HOUSING.WITH THAT RECALL, RECEIVED PRIOR TO RELEASE OF OUR INFORMATION REQUEST, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CONCLUDED.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery

Fuel System, Gasoline