RoadVitals

2008 Harley-Davidson Flhtcuse3 Owner Complaints

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.
11
Latest Jun 5, 2017
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.
3
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 Aug 3, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flhtcuse3. 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 1–11 of 11

Brakes
Filed Jun 5, 2017
Crash reported

BRAKE FAILURE ON MULTIPLE INSTANCES, LUCKILY NO SERIOUS INJURY, BIKE DID FALL AND ANKLE WAS SPRAINED. ABS FAILURE LIGHT HAS COME ON/OFF NOW ON PERMANENT. BROUGHT IT TO LOCAL DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS BOTH TIMES I WAITED OVER 1.5 HOURS BEYOND APPOINTMENT TIME AND BIKE WAS NOT TOUCHED, HAD TO LEAVE. ALSO, I ASKED IF THERE ANY RECALLS OR TECHNICAL BULLETINS AND BOTH TIMES THE ANSWER WAS NO.

NHTSA ID
10993282
Incident
May 5, 2017
Mileage
37,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 27, 2017

I HAVE A 2008 HARLEY ELECTRA GLIDE.REAR BRAKES DO NOT WORK.PEDAL IS SOLID.THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ABS MODULE. I CONTACTED HARLEY THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 1200 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND POSIBLY DEADLY! I WAS ON ROADWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THANKFULLY I DID NOT CRASH.A

NHTSA ID
10981150
Incident
Apr 27, 2017
Mileage
10,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 22, 2016

DURING A PANIC STOP CAUSED BY AUTOMOBILE PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ME MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO ITS DOWN STOP. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FRONT BRAKE REMAINING FUNCTIONAL. THERE WAS NO FLUID LOSS IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM LEADING TO THE EDUCATED (I'M AN ACTIVE FAA AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC) CONCLUSION THAT A BYPASS CONDITION EXISTS IN THE ANTI-LOCK UNIT. A TRIP TO MY LOCAL HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP REVEALED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK MODULE ON MY MOTORCYCLE AS IT DEEMED OBSOLETE AND AN UPGRADED UNIT IS ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS NOT BEEN MOVED FROM MY GARAGE SINCE THE INCIDENT AND HAS NOT UNDERGONE ANY MECHANICAL WORK DUE TO THE ESTIMATED $1200.00 REPAIR REQUIRED. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A DOCUMENTED DEALER SERVICE HISTORY SO IF REQUIRED BRAKE FLUID CHANGES WERE NOT DONE THEN IT IS THE FAULT OF THE INVOLVED DEALERS. I HAVE JUST STARTED DEALING WITH THIS BRAKE FAILURE AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE MOTORCYCLE TO BE TAMPERED WITH UNTIL AN INVESTIGATION CAN BE DONE BY THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

NHTSA ID
10918036
Incident
Sep 29, 2016
Mileage
35,498 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 28, 2016

WHILE RIDING I LOST CLUTCH CONTROL, THROTTLE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, PULLED OVER IN SAFE SPOT AND LET BIKE COOL (90+ DEGREE DAY). AFTER COOLING I HAD ENOUGH CLUTCH CONTROL TO GET TO MY DESTINATION.

NHTSA ID
10891486
Incident
Jul 25, 2016
Other / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Apr 1, 2014
Crash reported

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC CVO - CLOSED AND SEALED FRONT AXEL BEARINGS OF MOTORCYCLE SIZED IN MOTION CAUSING $1,600.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO SAID MOTORCYCLE (ACCORDING TO HARLEY DAVIDSON FOLSOM). WITH NO WARNING AT ONLY 12,000 MILES. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE HOW BAD (IN TERMS OF INJURY) THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IF IT HAPPENED AT SPEED. THIS IS CERTAINLY AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AND LEARNING THAT HD KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE WAS A SHOCK. HOW CAN SUCH A WELL KNOWN ORGANIZATION ALLOW THEIR CUSTOMERS TO BE PUT AT SUCH A SAFETY RISK. JUST DO A WEB SEARCH AND YOU SEE 100'S OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576448
Incident
Mar 28, 2014
Mileage
12,034 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 17, 2014
Fire reported

THE PROBLEM IS WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON'S COMPENSATOR ASSEMBLY. WHEN IT FAILS, IT CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH STARTING THAT CAN BREAK TEETH IN THE STARTING GEAR, LEAVING RIDERS STRANDED. AT TIMES, IT CAN POSE A SAFETY RISK BECAUSE IT CAUSES A BACKFIRE THAT SEND SMOKE AND FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE ENGINE THAT WOULD HURT ANYONE STANDING NEARBY WHEN TRYING TO START THE BIKE. THIS IS THE FOURTH COMPENSATOR ASSEMBLY THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS HAD TO REPLACE IN MY MOTORCYCLE, AND A PROBLEM THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF, YET THEY WILL NOT DO A RECALL. A "RECALL" SHOULD BE ORDERED BECAUSE OF THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF PEOPLE EFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM, AND LACK OF PERMANENT SOLUTION FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON, EXPOSING PEOPLE TO BE AT RISK, AND TO BE STRANDED AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10560368
Incident
Mar 20, 2012
Mileage
36,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 8, 2013

ON MARCH 2, 2013 WHILE DRIVING MY BIKE, THE THROTTLE CONTROL DISAPPEARED AND THE BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT, THEN ON JULY 7, 2013 IT STARTED ACTING UP AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, THE ON OCTOBER 3, 2013 WHILE DRIVING TO LAS VEGAS I WAS ON HIGHWAY 99 WHEN THE BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO SEMI TRUCKS WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE WITH MY WIFE ON THE BIKE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE FREEWAY SHOULDER. I HAD THE BIKE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN BAKERSFIELD, THEY TOLD ME THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND REPAIRED IT AGAIN. NO ON NOVEMBER 1, 2013 IT'S STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN. I HAVE READ ON THE HARLEY FORUMS THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND ISSUE A RECALL. THE MECHANIC SAID THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS TO SHORT AND THE VIBRATION OF THE ENGINE IS CAUSING THE CONNECTOR TO FAIL. THE MECHANIC SAY THE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED AND REPLACED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, I'M HOPING YOU CAN LOOK NOT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10551580
Incident
Mar 2, 2013
Mileage
15,535 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 15, 2011

WHILE RIDING AT APPROX 45 MPH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT OR WARNING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE BIKE WAS TOWED TO HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER FOR REPAIR RESULT FUEL FILTER HOUSING O-RING CAME OUT AND LOST FUEL PRESSURE THIS IS THE 2ND TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10430288
Incident
Oct 10, 2011
Mileage
18,604 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUSE3 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES FROM THE INSIDE OF THE FARING. THE CONTACT BECAME LIGHT HEADED AND NAUSEOUS DUE TO THESE FUMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE EIGHT OTHER CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER OFFERED A REPAIR AND HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 44 DAYS BUT NEVER REPAIRED IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ID
10334233
Incident
Mar 5, 2010
Mileage
2,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 10, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUSE3 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF CARBON DIOXIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESUMED OPERATION TO HIS RESIDENCE; AFTER WAITING TWO HOURS DUE TO THE EXPOSURE OF THE CARBON DIOXIDE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V357000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP). THE RECALL REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE UNKNOWN SERVICE REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED.

NHTSA ID
10329758
Incident
Aug 18, 2008
Mileage
3,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 3, 2009

I WISH TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DUNLOP D407F TIRES WHICH CAME OEM ON MY 2009 HARLEY FLHTCUSE4. MY TIRES STARTED EXPERIENCING SEVERE CUPPING AROUND 12K MILES AND HARLEY WOULD NOT COVER THEM UNDER ANY OF THEIR WARRANTIES. I HAD TO RIDE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON THIS DANGEROUS TIRE TO TRY TO GET IT REPLACED BY MY DEALER WHICH NEVER HAPPENED. THE TIRE NOW HAS 17K MILES ON IT WITH SEVERE CUPPING AND LESS THAN 3/32 OF TREAD IN THE BAD AREAS. THE GOOD SECTIONS OF THE TIRE (THE LEADING EDGE OF THE TREAD PATTERN) PROBABLY HAVE 15K MILES LEFT. I BELIEVE THE SEVERE BOUNCING OF THIS TIRE MAY HAVE CAUSED THE RADIO ON THE BIKE TO DIE. I BELIEVE DUNLOP HAS DISCONTINUED THIS TIRE AFTER ONLY A FEW MONTHS OF PRODUCTION BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. HARLEY NOW USES THE D408F TIRE WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME TIRE WITH THE TREAD BACKWARDS. A CUPPING TIRE IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AROUND CORNERS AND IN RAIN AND I FEEL ADAMANT THAT THESE TIRES NEED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. HARLEY WILL NOT REPLACE THESE TIRES BECAUSE THEY GO BY PERCENT OF TREAD WEAR AT THE MOST WORE PART OF THE TREAD PATTERN, NOT BY THE LEAST WORE PART WHICH LOOKS BRAND NEW. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279271
Incident
Jul 21, 2009

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .