Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Feb 12, 2018
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Nov 13, 2007
What this page shows
Our database holds 14 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flhr. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–14 of 14
Brakes
Filed Feb 12, 2018
MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE RECALL ON THE ABS BRAKES ON 2008 HD FLHR ROAD KING I TOWED MY MOTORCYCLE TO TUCSON HARLEY BECAUSE THE BACK BRAKE WOULDN'T WORK THEY TOLD ME DUE TO MAINTENANCE THE ABS MODULE IS BAD $800.00 PARTS ALONE I JUST BOUGHT THIS BIKE IN DEC USED I HAVEN'T PUT 50 MILES NO WAY TO CHECK MAINTENANCE ON THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN YOU BUY IT PRIVATE PARTY.THE RECALL SHOULD BE ON THE ABS MODULE BECAUSE THEY USED THE WRONG BRAKE FLUID, TO BEGIN WITH, THE PART ABS MODULE # 4688-08 IS THE PROBLEM IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET BLOGS IT ALSO SAYS DEAD MOTORCYCLE RIDERS CAN'T FILE A COMPLIANT
NHTSA ID
11072402
Incident
Feb 8, 2018
Mileage
21,038 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 22, 2014
SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF REAR BRAKE; PEDAL GOES TO THE MAXIMUM LIMIT WITHOUT RESISTANCE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10627377
Incident
Aug 22, 2014
Mileage
38,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 19, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported
FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP AT 40 MPH AND THREW ME OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. WE BELIEVE THE CAUSE TO BE A DEFECTIVE FRONT WHEEL BEARING. *TR
NHTSA ID
10583618
Incident
Apr 6, 2014
Mileage
27,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Dec 11, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported
I WAS TRAVELING ON A SURFACE ROAD AT APPROX. 50MPH. AS I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION OF EUCLID AND LAMBERT THE LIGHT STARTED TO CHANGE. I ROLLED ONTO THE THROTTLE TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION SAFELY. AS I CLEARED THE INTERSECTION I ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE AT WHICH POINT THE THROTTLE WENT TO THE WIDE OPEN POSITION BY ITSELF. THE SUDDEN SURGE FORWARD CAUSED ME TO LOSE MY GRIP ON THE HANDLE BARS, THROWING ME ONTO MY BACK FROM THE BIKE. THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED APPROX. 1/4 MILE DOWN THE ROAD AT THE WIDE OPEN THROTTLE POSITION ,GOING THROUGH ANOTHER INTERSECTION WITHOUT A RIDER. I SUFFERED A SHATTERED RIGHT WRIST AND ROAD RASH ON THE ARMS AND BACK. I WAS FORTUNATE TO KEEP MY LIFE. THE MOTORCYCLE IS TOTALED AND FORTUNATELY DIDN'T DO ANY HARM TO ANYONE ELSE BUT ME. *TR
NHTSA ID
10555753
Incident
Nov 30, 2013
Mileage
10,300 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 28, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING FLHR MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
NHTSA ID
10537735
Incident
Aug 19, 2013
Mileage
6,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 13, 2013
STOCK COMPENSATOR FAILED AT 12300 MILES. HD SUGGESTS REPLACING WITH UPGRADED SCREAMING EAGLE COMPENSATOR. HIGH SPEED FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10511738
Incident
May 1, 2013
Mileage
12,300 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Apr 9, 2012
BIKE WOULD JUST SHUT DOWN. ONCE RESTARTED IT WOULD IDLE AT APPROX 1500 RPM (LIMP MODE). THIS HAPPEN TWICE. THERE NO THROTTLE RESPONSE, IDLE WAS STILL AROUND 1500 RPM. TALK TO THE DEALER ABOUT MY ISSUES. BEFORE I COULD FINISH MY LITTLE SPEECH, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE ECM OR THE ATC PIN CONNECTORS. HE DESCRIBES MY PROBLEM TO ME. THEY HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM IN THAT PAST. *TR
NHTSA ID
10454567
Incident
Apr 4, 2012
Mileage
23,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 5, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AND DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10450322
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Mileage
10,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 9, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHR MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH,THE MOTORCYCLE DECELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE LUBRICANT WAS APPLIED TO THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONNECTORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 03/14/12 *BF
NHTSA ID
10443180
Incident
Sep 17, 2011
Mileage
22,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 3, 2011
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYLCE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RAPID ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE RIDING THE BIKE, IT STARTED TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE OVER THE SPEED SET ON THE ELECTRICAL SPEED CONTROL. THE SPEED CONTROL WAS SET AT 50 MPH. HOWEVER, THE BIKE RACED UP TO 70 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE CRUISE CONTROL DID SHUT OF WHEN THE CONSUMER MANUALLY PRESSED THE SET SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION. ONCE THE CRUISE CONTROL SETTING WAS TURNED OFF, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE SPEEDOMETER. UPON RETURNING HOME, THE CONSUMER ATTACHED HIS HARLEY DAVIDSON EMC CODE READ TO THE BIKE WHICH GAVE HE A DIAGNOSTICS CODE NUMBER PO557 CRUISE CONTROL INPUT. *JB
NHTSA ID
10434594
Incident
Oct 19, 2011
Electrical
Filed Sep 7, 2010
FLY BY WIRE THROTTLE FAILED, THROTTLE ONLY WORKS IN IDLE MODE. THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED, LAST TIME WAS A 400 HUNDRED DOLLAR TOW PLUS SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS IN HAULING COST. REPLACED TGS (THROTTLE GRIP SENSOR), TEMPORARILY FIXED FOR TWO MILES. THROTTLE WIRE LOOM NOT AVAILABLE FROM HARLEY, BACK ORDERED UNTIL 09/14/2010. KNOW FOR A FACT OF TWO OTHER '08 HD TOURING BIKE THIS HAPPENED ON. *TR
NHTSA ID
10354318
Incident
Aug 10, 2010
Mileage
15,282 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 4, 2008
WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 50- 70 MPH ON A LONG SWEEPING TURN, THE REAR END WILL BEGIN TO OSCILLATE. CAUSING A LACK OR LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR
NHTSA ID
10247642
Incident
Oct 31, 2008
Mileage
9,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 4, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 (NA) HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A SERVICE STATION AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE PRIMARY CASE. THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE COMPENSATION BRACKETS IN THE PRIMARY CASE CAME OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALER THAT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE STATED THAT THE BOLT WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED, AND THE INCORRECT LOCK TYPE WAS USED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,723 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,900.
NHTSA ID
10236829
Incident
Jul 29, 2008
Mileage
2,723 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 13, 2007
FRONT CYLINDER HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY 2008 H-D FLHRSE4 AT ONLY 1900 MILES RESULTING IN OIL LEAK. DEALER IS CHECKING BOTH CYLINDERS AND HEADS FOR WARPAGE PRIOR TO REPLACING GASKETS. THIS APPEARS TO BE AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH THE 110 MOTORS AND IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE VARIOUS OWNER FORUMS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10208806
Incident
Nov 11, 2007
Mileage
1,880 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.