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2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Fxd

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

7 reports
8,368 miles · May 10, 2011
Suspension

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXD DYNA SUPER GLYDE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AT 8368 MILES, THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL THE 2008 AND NEWER MODELS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED THE BEARING FROM 1 IN…

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2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXD DYNA SUPER GLYDE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AT 8368 MILES, THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL THE 2008 AND NEWER MODELS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED THE BEARING FROM 1 INCH TO 25MM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10400364

1,200 miles · Oct 6, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT RIDER SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE (NA). WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE TANK WAS FULL. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SINCE APRIL 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT RIDER SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE (NA). WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE TANK WAS FULL. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SINCE APRIL 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE CONTACT HAD TO SET THE TRIP ODOMETER AFTER HE FUELED TO MONITOR THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.

NHTSA ODI #10359435

78 miles · Jul 22, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY BRAND NEW 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT ROD (VRSCD) CAME WITH A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE (SENDER). TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. THE GAUGE (SENDER) WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE GAUGE DISPLAYS INCORRECTLY ALL THE TIME. I'M RESORTING TO RESETTING THE TRIP ODOMETER AT EVERY FILL-UP TO ENDURE T…

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MY BRAND NEW 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT ROD (VRSCD) CAME WITH A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE (SENDER). TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. THE GAUGE (SENDER) WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE GAUGE DISPLAYS INCORRECTLY ALL THE TIME. I'M RESORTING TO RESETTING THE TRIP ODOMETER AT EVERY FILL-UP TO ENDURE THAT I DON'T RUN OUT OF FUEL. FOR $17,000 DOLLARS YOU'D THINK A COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER A CENTURY COULD GET A SIMPLE THING LIKE THIS FIGURED OUT. ( THERE WAS NO MODEL LISTED IN THE PULLDOWN MENU TO SELECT FROM ON THIS FORM, SO I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO SELECT ONE TO CONTINUE. MY MODEL IS VRSCD ). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10344775

3,400 miles · Jul 1, 2008
Fuel System, OtherFire

FUEL PUMP ON 2008 HARLEY ULTRA CLASSIC CAUSED PIPES TO GET SO HOT ( GLOWING RED )WHEN I CHECKED OIL LEVEL THE RAG I WAS USING CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALSO THE PIPES ARE NOW REALLY DISCOLORED AND HARLEY WON'T REPLACE THEM BACK TO ORIGINAL CONDITION. THEY WON'T EVEN CHANGE THE OIL THAT I'M SURE WAS BROKEN DOWN BY THE HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232931

Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REAR BRAKES SQUEAL ON BRAND NEW 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC: VEHICLE CHOICES WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO LIST THIS MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232153

2,100 miles · Jun 20, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE "TOP PLATE ASSEMBLY" PART # 75076-08 ON MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC FAILED. THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING IN THIS ASSEMBLY CRACKED AND THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY AND ABRUPTLY LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC. THIS VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 2,100 MILES AND 9 MONTHS OF USE SINCE NEW. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES OF THIS DOCUMEN…

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THE "TOP PLATE ASSEMBLY" PART # 75076-08 ON MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC FAILED. THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING IN THIS ASSEMBLY CRACKED AND THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY AND ABRUPTLY LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC. THIS VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 2,100 MILES AND 9 MONTHS OF USE SINCE NEW. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES OF THIS DOCUMENTED ON THE "HD FORUMS" WEBSITE. THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BREAK AT ANY TIME WITH THE RESULTING FAILURE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER AT A CRITICAL TIME (MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, CLEARING AN INTERSECTION, ETC.) WITH A HIGH PROBABILITY FOR A FATAL INCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO THIS ONE MODEL OF HARLEY DAVIDSON, OTHER "TOURING" SIZED MOTORCYCLES WITH THE SAME CONFIGURATION CAN, AND HAVE SUFFERED THIS CRITICAL FAILURE. THE PART WAS REPLACED, RICHMOND HARLEY DAVIDSON OR HARLEY DAVIDSON, INC. HAS POSSESSION OF THE DEFECTIVE PART AS IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231871

500 miles · May 30, 2008
Fuel System, Other

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 HAVE HAD THIS BIKE 2 MONTHS NOW IT IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 8 TIMES. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS HOW I TURNED MY BIKE OFF. THEY SAID TO TURN THE IGNITION ON AND OFF…

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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 HAVE HAD THIS BIKE 2 MONTHS NOW IT IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 8 TIMES. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS HOW I TURNED MY BIKE OFF. THEY SAID TO TURN THE IGNITION ON AND OFF 2-3 TIMES TO RESET THE THROTTLE POSITION PROBLEM IS IN THE FLY BY WIRE CIRCUIT AND COMPUTER WHICH LOOSES MEMORY AND GOES INTO A HIGH RPM. THE EXPERIENCE IS LIKE CRUISE CONTROL BEING TURNED ON AND YOU CANNOT SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU RELEASE THE THROTTLE.... . THIS HAS HAD MIXED RESULTS AND NOT ALWAYS WORKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10229325

Official recalls

1

07V535000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Nov 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 & remedy

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.

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

1

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

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline

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.