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2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Sportster

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
2Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
20051
20072
2008
Compare all Sportster years →

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

What owners reported most

Steering
1Wheels
1

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: 2 of 2 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.

  • Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Wheels. 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Steering complaints

1 reports
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9,000 miles · Sep 9, 2011
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN A NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT FENDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE STEERING COLUMN HAD STRUCK THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFA…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN A NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT FENDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE STEERING COLUMN HAD STRUCK THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI #10424484

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.