2008 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu Problems

ABS System failure causing brakes to fail

I was riding my motorcycle with a group of bikes and had to make an emergency stop. When the brakes were applied, as directed in the owners manual, the ABS failed and caused the rear tire to lock and skid. The resulting skid caused a loss of control of the motorcycle and ultimately laying the bike down on the asphalt highway. This resulted in the rider and passenger sustaining injuries. The passenger received a Tramatic Brain Injury which a month and a half later she is still in recovery. The motorcycle has not yet been repaired or looked at by any Police or Technical personnel. There were no warnings or lights prior to the accident.

I HAD JUST GOT ON I65 HEADING SOUTH. I WENT MAYBE 2 MILES, AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, MY MOTORCYCLE ACTED LIKE IT HAD JUST RAN OUT OF GAS. OR SOMEBODY HAD HIT THE KILL SWITCH. I KNOW IT HAD GAS. AS IT WAS WINDING DOWN IN REVOLUTIONS, I TRIED EVERYTHING WITH THROTTLE, KILL SWITCH, IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED, I TRIED STARTING IT, NOTHING. IT ACTED LIKE I HAD NO GAS. I OPENED THE TANK AND ROCKED THE BIKE A LITTLE, AND I HAD AT LEAST A HALF A TANK LIKE MY GAUGE READ. AFTER GETTING IT HOME I PUNCHED MY VIN NUMBER IN TO HE'S RECALL PAGE, AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL FILTER ENCLOSURE. I PURCHASED ANOTHER ENCLOSURE AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. STILL NOTHING. I CHECKED FIRE AND THE PLUGS LIT ON FIRE. SO I SPRAYED EITHER INTO THROAT OF CARBURETOR, AND IT STARTED FOR A SECOND AND DIED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY ONE OF THE GASKETS WAS NOT SEATING CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR.

2008 ULTRA CLASSIC ELECTRA GLIDE HARLEY DAVIDSON. GAS TANK LINING PEALED OFF INSIDE THE TANK RESULTING IN SHEDDING FUEL FILTERS, LINE, PUMP, INJECTORS. ALL PARTS INSIDE THE TANK HAND TO BE REPLACED. $1800 WORTH OF PARTS PLUS THE TANK HAD TO BE BLASTED AND RECOATED $600. POWER WOULD CUT OUT WHEN RIDING MOTOR WOULD QUIT. *TR

COMPENSATOR SPROCKET ASSEMBLY IS MAKING A LOUD BANGING NOISE ON START UP AND WORSE WHEN ENGINE IS HOT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE O-RING AND THE FUEL FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT RECTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V357000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 45,000.

COMPENSATOR SPROCKET ASSEMBLY IS MAKING A LOUD BANGING NOISE ON START UP AND WORSE WHEN ENGINE IS HOT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 30 MPH, IT SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS, CONNECTING THE THROTTLE AND CARBURETOR, WAS FAULTY. THE PINS ON THE HARNESS WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 11/07/16*LJ *TR

ABS System failure causing brakes to fail

I was riding my motorcycle with a group of bikes and had to make an emergency stop. When the brakes were applied, as directed in the owners manual, the ABS failed and caused the rear tire to lock and skid. The resulting skid caused a loss of control of the motorcycle and ultimately laying the bike down on the asphalt highway. This resulted in the rider and passenger sustaining injuries. The passenger received a Tramatic Brain Injury which a month and a half later she is still in recovery. The motorcycle has not yet been repaired or looked at by any Police or Technical personnel. There were no warnings or lights prior to the accident.

KNOWN DEFECT IN THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WIRING IS NOT BEING CORRECTED BY LOCAL DEALERS WHEN PROBLEM VEHICLES ARE PRESENTED FOR SERVICE. I BELIEVE A RECALL IS WARRANTED TO ENSURE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS ALREADY IDENTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER ARE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE MORE OPERATORS/RIDERS ARE PLACED IN DANGER. THIS DEFECT CAN BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AS THE MOTORCYCLE INSTANTLY REDUCES THE ENGINE POWER AVAILABLE WITHOUT PREVIOUS NOTICE TO THE RIDER, WHICH CAN RESULT IN THE MOTORCYCLE FAILING TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE SPEED TO MAINTAIN STABILITY IN A TURN. THIS SO-CALLED "LIMP MODE" CONTINUES UNTIL THE MOTORCYCLE IS BROUGHT TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. THIS "LIMP MODE" BEHAVIOR MAY IN AND OF ITSELF ALSO CAUSE A HAZARD TO BOTH THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR AND NEARBY VEHICLES SHOULD THE FAILURE OCCUR WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS ON A ROADWAY WITH LIMITED OR NON-EXISTENT EMERGENCY OR BREAKDOWN AREAS. (A WEB SEARCH FOR "LIMP MODE HARLEY" RESULTS IN OVER 400,000 RESULTS, MOST OF WHICH WILL REFER TO THIS ISSUE.) TO HELP TECHNICIANS RESOLVE THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM NATURE OF THIS DESIGN ISSUE (BY REPLACING TERMINALS IN THE WIRING HARNESS WITH A MORE RESILIENT TYPE) THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED MULTIPLE THEORY AND DIAGNOSTICS PAPERS (TT418 IN 2009 AND TT418A IN 2011) DESCRIBING ACTIONS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. OF NOTE IS THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) WHICH IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM ARE UNIQUE AND CAN ONLY BE REMOVED FROM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) MANUALLY. MY MOTORCYCLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS EPISODES OF THIS FAILURE OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. IN THE LATEST CASE, I ALMOST DROPPED THE BIKE LEAVING A PARKING LOT AS THE LIMP MODE KICKED IN. ALTHOUGH THE DTC CODES (P2135 AND P1511) WERE PRESENT IN THE ECM THE DEALER CHARGED ME FOR THEIR TECHNICIAN TIME WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE REPAIRS CLEARLY IDENTIFIED IN THE TT418A PAPER.

1. SUDDEN THROTTLE LOST CONTROL, GET TO SHOULDER, TURNED BIKE OFF AND STARTED. RANDOMLY HAPPENED. 2. LAST YEAR I REPLACE ECU - IT'S OK OVER A YEAR AND NOW IT HAPPENED AGAIN. 3. I SEARCH IN INTERNET - MANY OWNER HAVE SAME ISSUES AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX. THE DEALER SERVICE CHARGE ME A LOT OF MONEY AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT SINCE WHEN IT'S IN THE SHOP THE BIKE SEEM TO BE OK. NOW THE ISSUE SEEM TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN 4. CODE P1511 AND P2135

THERE IS A SPEED WOBBLE STARTING IN THE 60'S AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE 70'S+ ON STRAIGHT ROADS AND CURVES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS AND I STILL CONTINUE TO SPEND MONEY ADJUSTING ETC. THE BIKE I'VE SPENT THOUSANDS IN LABOR AND PARTS TO FIX AND OR ADJUST THE BIKE WITHOUT SUCCESS. I'VE CALLED HARLEY DAVIDSON MORE THAN ONCE TO BE TOLD THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF AN ISSUE AND I'M ON MY OWN BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I'VE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND DOZENS OF NEWS AND PRIVATE COMPLAINTS TO THE PROBLEM. EVEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT WEBSITE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE COTNACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRONT END WOBBLED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE INSIDE OF TIRE CAME APART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE, WITH DUNLOP D402 TIRES, LINE SIZE MU85B16 M/C77H, DOT NUMBER: 301823DAF4M18M. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, WHEN THE REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY, AND LANDED FLAT AS THE CONTACT AND PASSENGER WERE THROWN 100 FEET FROM THE VEHICLE. BOTH THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 8/29/11 *CN UPDATED 09/26/11

I AM CONTACTING YOU TO IMPLORE THAT YOU LOOK INTO THE POSSIBLE NEED TO HAVE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY OF THE HARLEY DAVIDSON 2008 TOURING MODELS. I HAVE NOW REPLACED PORTIONS OF MY REAR WHEEL ON MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU THAT SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED OR REPLACED AS OFTEN AS THEY HAVE. UPON RESEARCH, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE RUBBER ISOLATORS INSIDE THE BOWL COMPENSATOR FAILING, THEREBY CAUSING THE BOLTS THAT CONNECT THE BOWL COMPENSATOR TO THE REAR WHEEL TO FAIL. THERE ARE 5 BOLTS AND ONCE THEY FAIL, THE MOTORCYCLE WILL BE LEFT WITHOUT POWER TO THE REAR WHEEL, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CRASH. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS REDESIGNED THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY CONSIDERABLY FOR THE 2009 MODEL YEAR BY CREATING A ONE PIECE RUBBER ISOLATOR AND ELIMINATING THE BOWL COMPENSATOR COMPLETELY.

I HAVE A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC THAT HAS DEVELOPED A REAR WHEEL WOBBLE WHILE CORNERING OR GOING THROUGH CURVES. THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE THE REAR WHEEL SLIDES OR SHIFTS TO THE SIDE WHILE CORNERING UPSETTING THE BALANCE OF THE BIKE AND MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE/DANGEROUS TO RIDE. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND I WILL NO LONGER RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE. I'VE HAD THE MOTORCYCLE INTO THE DEALER AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THEY ADVISED ME THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE AT A H-D DEALER SERVICE SHOP. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL CUSTOMERS WITH THIS COMPLAINT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX IT BY THE USE OF AFTERMARKET PARTS HOWEVER I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS INVOLVED WITH FIXING THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. I'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT H-D MAY HAVE SENT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERS TELLING THEM NOT TO DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM WITH BIKE OWNERS DUE TO POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION. I HAVE CONTACTED H-D CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE ME A FILE NUMBER ON MY CASE AND TOLD ME TO GIVE IT TO MY DEALER AND HAVE THEM CALL H-D ABOUT IT. PRIOR TO TAKING THE MOTORCYCLE IN TO THE DEALER TODAY I HAD A POLICE MOTORCYCLE PATROL OFFICER/INSTRUCTOR WITH THE IL. STATE POLICE RIDE THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF HE FELT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AS I DID. HE ADVISED ME HE COULD FEEL WHAT FELT LIKE THE REAR WHEEL SLIDE AS HE WENT THROUGH CURVES AND IT WAS SCARY. *TR

MOTORCYCLE RIDING ON A CLEAR DAY ON NEW CONCRETE 2 LANE HIGHWAY, VERY LITTLE TRAFFIC IN RURAL IOWA. TOTAL OF THREE MOTORCYCLES. ALL THREE BRAND NEW HARLEY TOUR BIKES, ALL WITH LESS THAN 1000 MILES. I WAS LAST BIKE IN GROUP WHEN MIDDLE BIKE EXPERIENCED REAR WHEEL WOBBLE WHILE ENTERING A SWEEPING CURVE AT 60 MPH.BIKE "WALKED" ITSELF ACROSS ONCOMING LANE AND INTO DITCH BEFORE RIDER COULD STOP IT. BIKE AND RIDER WERE NOT SERIOUSLY HURT. BIKE WAS DRIVABLE BUT FOR SAFETY, HAULED TO DEALER. DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG AND NEVER HEARD OF PROBLEM BEFORE. UPON SEARCHING WEBSITES, FIND OUT MANY WITH SAME PROBLEM AND SAME RESPONSE FROM DEALER AND HARLEY, OWNER REFUSED DEALERS CLAIM OF NOTHING WRONG WITH BIKE AND ENDED UP ACCEPTING LOW BALL BUYBACK OFFER FROM DEALER. PROBLEM IS INHERENT DESIGN FLAW IN RUBBER ISOLATOR DONUTS IN REAR SWING ARM ALLOWING LATERAL MOVEMENT OF REAR WHEEL. *TR

WOBBLE IN FRAME OF 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. MANY AFTERMARKET PARTS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, BUT THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THE FLAW COULD BE LIFE THREATENING AND CAUSE CRASHES. *TR

THERE IS A SPEED WOBBLE STARTING IN THE 60'S AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE 70'S+ ON STRAIGHT ROADS AND CURVES. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR YEARS AND I STILL CONTINUE TO SPEND MONEY ADJUSTING ETC. THE BIKE I'VE SPENT THOUSANDS IN LABOR AND PARTS TO FIX AND OR ADJUST THE BIKE WITHOUT SUCCESS. I'VE CALLED HARLEY DAVIDSON MORE THAN ONCE TO BE TOLD THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF AN ISSUE AND I'M ON MY OWN BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I'VE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND DOZENS OF NEWS AND PRIVATE COMPLAINTS TO THE PROBLEM. EVEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT WEBSITE.

I HAVE A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC THAT HAS DEVELOPED A REAR WHEEL WOBBLE WHILE CORNERING OR GOING THROUGH CURVES. THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE THE REAR WHEEL SLIDES OR SHIFTS TO THE SIDE WHILE CORNERING UPSETTING THE BALANCE OF THE BIKE AND MAKING IT UNCOMFORTABLE/DANGEROUS TO RIDE. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND I WILL NO LONGER RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE. I'VE HAD THE MOTORCYCLE INTO THE DEALER AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THEY ADVISED ME THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE AT A H-D DEALER SERVICE SHOP. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL CUSTOMERS WITH THIS COMPLAINT AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX IT BY THE USE OF AFTERMARKET PARTS HOWEVER I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COSTS INVOLVED WITH FIXING THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. I'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT H-D MAY HAVE SENT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERS TELLING THEM NOT TO DISCUSS THIS PROBLEM WITH BIKE OWNERS DUE TO POSSIBLE LEGAL ACTION. I HAVE CONTACTED H-D CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY WOULD ONLY GIVE ME A FILE NUMBER ON MY CASE AND TOLD ME TO GIVE IT TO MY DEALER AND HAVE THEM CALL H-D ABOUT IT. PRIOR TO TAKING THE MOTORCYCLE IN TO THE DEALER TODAY I HAD A POLICE MOTORCYCLE PATROL OFFICER/INSTRUCTOR WITH THE IL. STATE POLICE RIDE THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF HE FELT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AS I DID. HE ADVISED ME HE COULD FEEL WHAT FELT LIKE THE REAR WHEEL SLIDE AS HE WENT THROUGH CURVES AND IT WAS SCARY. *TR

FAULTY COMPENSATOR ON HARLEY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC FLHTCU. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, HE HEARD A CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO DEFECTS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,061 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

I HAVE A HARLEY DAVIDSON 2004 ULTRA CLASSIC ELECTRAGLIDE AND AS MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING LAST SATURDAY, SHE FELT THE BACK OF HERE SEAT GO BACK. SHE ALMOST FELL OFF THE BIKE AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THE LICENSE PLATE BRACKET NOT ONLY WOULD I HAVE LOST THE TOUR PACK, BUT MY WIFE WOULD HAVE BEEN SCATTERED ON THE STREET. THE BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE TOUR PACK BROKE WERE THE SCREWS GO THROUGH IT LIKE IF SOMEONE HAD HACKSAW THE PIPE. I FELL THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAVE HERD THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. SOME OF MY FELLOW RIDERS HAVE TAKE TO ME ABOUT THIS. I WOULD APPRECIATE AN ANSWER TO THIS PROBLEM. THANKYOU, RAFAEL *TR