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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

6 reports

Clear category filter

72,716 miles · Oct 11, 2016

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Read full complaint

AT THE END OF AUGUST 2016, I WAS RIDING MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY REAR BRAKE FAILED. THANK GOD, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, NOT ON THE MAIN STREET. I TOOK IT DOWN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT TOOK OVER TWO HOURS OF LABOR TO FIGURE OUT THAT IT WAS THE ABS UNIT THAT FAILED. EVEN THE TECHNICIAN WAS SURPRISED THAT THE ABS LIGHT NEVER LIT TO INDICATE A FAILURE. I FOUND IT STRANGE THAT ABS FAILURE WILL DISABLE THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAD AN ABS FAILURE ON A CAR BEFORE AND BOTH SYSTEM ARE INDEPENDENT. I AM A CANADIAN, AND I DID REPORT TO TRANSPORT CANADA THE ABS UNIT ITSELF IS $1000, WITH LABOR AND MISC PARTS, THE BILL CAME OVER $1800. IT TOOK OVER A MONTH TO GET MY MOTORCYCLE BACK, THE ABS PART WAS ON BACK ORDERED. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

NHTSA ODI #10917014

36,584 miles · May 20, 2016

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND UTILIZING A HAND BRAKE AND FOOT BRAKE TO STOP, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE MOTORCYCLE RODE INTO AN INTERSECTION. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,584. UPDATED 08/02/16*LJ ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE BRAKE PEDAL AND LEVER WERE HARD AND THE BIKE WOULD NOT STOP. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER AND HYDRAULIC CLUTCH UNIT. ALSO, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 08/15/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10870040

9,600 miles · Aug 26, 2011

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Read full complaint

I WAS OPERATING MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU WHEN I APPLIED MY REAR BREAKS ONLY TO FIND I HAD NO REAR BREAKS. I STILL HAD MY FRONT BREAKS THAT WORKED VERY WELL. I HAVE 9,600 MILES ON THE MOTROCYCLE. I TOOK MY MOTORCYCLE TO THE HARLEY DEALER AND ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER TO CHECK MY REAR BREAKS AS I TOLD HIM THERE WERE NO BREAKS. THE SERVICE WRITER WALKED OUT TO MY MOTORCYCLE BENT DOWN ON ONE KNEE UNDER THE RUNNING BOARD ON THE RIGHT SIDE, PUSHED DOWN ON THE BREAK AND SAID YOU HAVE A PIN HOLE IN YOUR BREAK LINE CAUSED BY THE CLUTCH CABLE RUBBING ON THE BREAK LINE. I HAD CONCERNED THAT HE KNEW EXACLTY WHERE TO LOOK AND I ASKED IF THIS WAS SOMETHING HE HAD SEEN BEFORE, HE ANSWERED YES I HAVE SEEN IT A FEW TIMES AND AS A MATTER OF FACT HE JUST HAD ANOTHER ONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, IT WAS A 2003 AND HE WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PART AND ASKED THAT I BRING IT BACK THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY. HAVING BEEN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INVESTIGATOR FOR MANY YEARS AS A MOTOR POLICE OFFICER. I SENT AN E-MAIL TO HARLEY CUSTOMER CARE AND GOT A PHONE CALL BACK AND I TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM, THE REPRESENATIVE THERE HAD NOT HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE AND I STATED I THOUGHT THEY HAD A PROBLEM WHEN THE DEALER SERVICE WRITER GOES TO THE EXACT PLACE WHERE THE PIN HOLE WAS. I TOLD HIM I WAS CONCERNED IF THIS HAD HAPPEND AT LEAST THREE TIMES AT THE SAME DEALER IT HAD TO BE MORE OF A PROBLEM AND HE SHOULD CHECK TO SEE HOW MANY BREAKLINES HAD BEEN ORDERED FOR THE SAME MODEL. HIS STATEMENT TO ME WAS THEY RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM DEALERS ALL OVER AND IF IT WAS A PROBLEM THEY WOULD KNOW ABOUT IT. I TOLD HIM NOT IF THEY ARE GETTING VARIED REASONS FOR THE DEALERSHIP AND MY CONCER WAS NO PERSON GET INJURED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MAYBE A SERVICE NOTICE SHOULD BE PUT OUT TO CHECK THESE LINES. HE DID NOT APPEAR TO BE VERY CONCERNED AND THIS IS WHY I AM REPORTING THIS TO YOU. LINE REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. I DID NO KEEP OLD PART. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)

NHTSA ODI #10421627

12,946 miles · Apr 26, 2011

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FRONT BRAKE ROTOR FOUND TO BE WARPED AT 12,946 MILES AFTER BRAKE PADS CHANGED AT 10,163 MILES. ONLY ONE ROTOR WARPED CAUSING A LESSENING OF BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS. WARPING OF ROTOR (S) APPEARS TO BE ON-GOING HARLEY DAVIDSON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10397474

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2008

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE HAS A BRAKE PROBLEM. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR BRAKES ARE MAKING A SCREAMING NOISE. *NJ THE DEALER CLEANED THE PADS WITHOUT REMOVING THEM WITH BRAKE CLEAN. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE PAD PINS, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED 10 MILES LATER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10233930

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2007

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

Read full complaint

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE DEFECTIVE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT THE DAY HE BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE. MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE MOTORCYCLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO STOP, HE BEGAN TO GEAR THE MOTORCYCLE DOWN FROM A SPEED OF 35 MPH AND BEGAN TO FEATHER THE FRONT BRAKE TO REDUCE SPEED. THE SECOND TIME HE GENTLY SQUEEZED THE FRONT BRAKE HANDLE, AND IT DIDN'T FEEL COMPLETELY NORMAL. THE THIRD TIME HE TOUCHED THE BRAKE LEVER THE FRONT BRAKE AND WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED. HE IMMEDIATELY RELEASED THE BRAKE LEVER GRIP WHEN THE WHEEL LOCKED. THE SPEED AT THAT TIME WAS 5-10 MPH. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND IT WENT OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE PAVEMENT THEN FELL OVER ON THE CONSUMERS LEG. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE THAT HIS BIKE WAS EQUIPPED WITH BREMBO BRAKES THAT WERE CONSIDERED HIGH END BRAKES USED ON EXOTIC CARS AND RACING BIKES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE BRAKES WOULD BUILD UP PRESSURE WHEN FEATHERING FOR A STOP, INSTEAD OF RELEASING PRESSURE WHEN THE LEVER WAS RELEASED, IT WOULD HOLD THE PRESSURE AND WHEN ENOUGH PRESSURE BUILT UP THE BRAKE WOULD LOCK THE NEXT TIME IT WAS TOUCHED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10208374

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