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: 1 of 1 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reports
2,500 miles · Jun 9, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXSTSSE2 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 55 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH. HE BLACKED OUT UPON IMPACT AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, SCRATCHES, AND ABRASIONS ON BOTH KNEES AND HEAD. HE ALSO…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXSTSSE2 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 55 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH. HE BLACKED OUT UPON IMPACT AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, SCRATCHES, AND ABRASIONS ON BOTH KNEES AND HEAD. HE ALSO SUFFERED A HAIRLINE FRACTURE BEHIND HIS KNEES. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DESTROYED WITH $20,000 WORTH OF DAMAGES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY COVERED THE COSTS. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, WHICH STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAD BRAKING ISSUES AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH AND/OR DEATH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 2,500.
HARLEY DAVIDSON IS RECALLING 11,005 FLSTSB, FXSTSSE2, AND FXSTSSE3 MY 2008 AND 2009 MOTORCYCLES. THE ACORN STUD AT THE BRAKE REACTION LINK MAY FALL OUT DURING USE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE FRONT BRAKE AND FENDER ASSEMBLY WOULD NO LONGER BE ADEQUATELY RETAINED. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO A CRASH AND POTENTIAL INJURY TO OR DEATH OF THE RIDER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ACORN STUD WITH A NEW ACORN STUD AND RETAINING CLIP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 2009. 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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTSSE2 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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