RoadVitals

2008 Harley-Davidson Flht Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
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Latest Mar 1, 2018
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flht, 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

  • Powertrain (other)250.0%
  • Brakes125.0%
  • Engine125.0%

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

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

GROWLING NOISE FROM A BAD BEARING IN PRIMARY. HAD BIKE AT A HARLEY SHOP WHERE BIKE WAS PURCHASED TO BE INSPECTED FOR COMPLAINT. FOUND PRIMARY BEARING FAILED. NO OTHER FAILURE. WAS TOLD FAILURE NO FAULT OF OWNER. CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON AND RECEIVED A REFERENCE NUMBER FOR TRACKING. HARLEY HAS A ISSUE WITH BEARINGS, BOTH IN PRIMARY AND TRANSMISSION. NEITHER HARLEY MANUFACTURING OR LOCAL DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE SEEMS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT FAILURE. DEALER IS LIMITED TO A FACTORY REPAIR FOR THERE IS NO ALTERNATE BEARING FOR REPAIR. SHOP REPAIRED BIKE AND INSTALLED NEW BEARING AND ASSOCIATED PARTS TO CORRECT COMPLAINT. PARTS INSTALLED HAVE NOT BEEN UPDATED SO I PROBABLY WILL HAVE THE SAME CONCERN IN ANOTHER 24,000 MILES. WHEN I DISCUSSED THIS WITH HARLEY MANUFACTURING. I WAS TOLD THAT HARLEY KEEPS TRACK OF COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS BUT COULD NOT GIVE CONSUMER ANY INDICATION AS TO WHEN OR HOW MANY COMPLAINTS, AND EVEN IF FATALITY OR INJURY WOULD RESULT FROM SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, THAT HARLEY WOULD GET SERIOUS IN CORRECTING FAILING BEARING IN DRIVE TRAIN. SO AS TO SAFETY I GUESS IT IS JUST A GAMBLE AS TO HOW LONG THIS REPAIR WILL LAST AND HOPEFULLY I WILL GET A GROWLING NOISE NEXT TIME ALSO TO FOR WARN OPERATOR OF IMPENDING FAILURE... *TR

NHTSA ID 10520806 · filed Jun 20, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A ROLLING NOISE COMING FORM THE SHIFTER. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT A METAL COMPONENT HAD FALLEN AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ROTOR STATOR ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000..UPDATED11/19/12 *BF UPDATED 11/20/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID 10472683 · filed Aug 27, 2012

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE FLHT. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TIMMS HARLEY-DAVIDSON (4110 CLEMSON BLVD, ANDERSON, SC 29621, (864) 224-1531) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ID 11075665 · filed Mar 1, 2018

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRAGLIDE THE BACK CYLINDER HEAD AND EXHAUST ARE SO HOT AS TO CAUSE BLISTERS ON LEGS DURING NORMAL RIDING. THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM EVEN AFTER PURCHASING HEAT SHIELDS AND INSTALLATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THE MOTORCYCLE DESIGN IS FLAWED. I HAVE HAD BLISTERS ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS NOW TO THE INSIDE AND BACK OF MY LEGS. THIS IS NOT FROM TOUCHING THE PIPES OR HEAD IT IS FROM NORMAL RIDING . *TR

NHTSA ID 10208448 · filed Nov 8, 2007

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

Data on this page last refreshed .