2008 Harley-Davidson Flhr Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flhr, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance423.5%
- Electrical317.6%
- Engine317.6%
- Brakes211.8%
- Fuel system211.8%
- Suspension211.8%
- Other / unspecified15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
STOCK COMPENSATOR FAILED AT 12300 MILES. HD SUGGESTS REPLACING WITH UPGRADED SCREAMING EAGLE COMPENSATOR. HIGH SPEED FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. *TR
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF REAR BRAKE; PEDAL GOES TO THE MAXIMUM LIMIT WITHOUT RESISTANCE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .