Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Apr 2, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
30%
of 30 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flhx submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming brake
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Brakes
Filed Apr 2, 2026
after Harley Davidson performed the recall, the brakes are now lock up due to deposits in brake hydraulic control unit making the motorcycle unsafe to ride. they are stating this is not part of the recall, in the first paragraph of the recall it states that that is the problem that happens from the defective brake fluid. This is exactly why the recall is out there, they had me using defective brake fluid for 10 years before they release the new fluid in February of 2018. This a complete band aid fix from a manufacture if i have ever seen one.
NHTSA ID
11728727
Incident
Mar 26, 2026
Brakes
Filed Jan 17, 2023
I hit my brakes and I felt the abs system kick in and after I let off the brakes the next time I attempted to use the rear brake the pedal was extremely hard to push and I had no braking power on the rear of the motorcycle.
NHTSA ID
11502301
Incident
Nov 24, 2022
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 7, 2021
ABS Module failed causing loss of all brakes on motorcycle. Brakes were working. Brought cycle to Harley Dealer for brake fluid flush as part of recall. Upon mechanic using Digitech to perform service it caused ABS module to fail. Because of failure motorcycle was left with zero brakes. Had to pay out of pocket for new ABS module. Due to design of module when it fails it causes brakes not to function leaving rider and other motorists at risk. I had to pay $641.61 out of pocket to remedy this failure that Harley Davidson was aware of.
NHTSA ID
11423726
Incident
Jul 6, 2021
Brakes
Filed Apr 23, 2019
REAR PEDAL BECAME TO HARD TO PRESS ABS MODULE FAIL WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY
NHTSA ID
11203164
Incident
Apr 23, 2019
Brakes
Filed Feb 27, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000(SERVICE BRAKES). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO REDDING HARLEY-DAVIDSON (1268 TWINVIEW BLVD, REDDING, CA 96003) FOR SERVICE. AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED, THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
NHTSA ID
11075274
Incident
Feb 24, 2018
Mileage
68,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Jul 20, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAILURE INVESTIGATION-- UNABLE TO STOP SAFELY WHEN ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. BRAKES WERE APPLIED MC SKIDDED AND LOST CONTROL AND I WAS EJECTED FROM THE MC. MC SUSTAINED ROLL OVER DAMAGE WHICH CONSISTED OF BROKEN FORKS, BROKEN FRONT FAIRING, BROKEN FRONT WINDSCREEN, SCRATCHES TO THE LEFT SIDE, BROKEN LEFT SADDLEBAG, AND DENTS TO THE CRASH BAR RIDER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BROKEN BONES AND LACERATIONS.
NHTSA ID
10886283
Incident
Apr 2, 2016
Mileage
24,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 15, 2016
AFTER APPROX 15 MIN OF RIDING, THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE REAR BRAKE WILL DEPRESS ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THERE WILL BE NO BRAKES. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SQUEEZE AND ONLY APPLIES MINIMAL STOPPING ABILITY. THIS HAS HAPPENED THE LAST 3 TIMES I HAVE RIDDEN AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO RUN A RED LIGHT THROUGH CROSS TRAFFIC. ONCE I GET THE BIKE HOME I CAN PUMP THE BRAKE AND IT WILL EVENTUALLY WORK PROPERLY AGAIN OR IF IT DOES NOT, IT WILL THE NEXT DAY.
NHTSA ID
10885170
Incident
Jul 8, 2016
Brakes
Filed Jul 11, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHX. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS HE TURNED LEFT, THE BRAKE FAILED, THE MOTORCYCLE FLIPPED OVER, AND THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED INTO THE DITCH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,135.
NHTSA ID
10884079
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Mileage
32,135 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 22, 2015
REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE -- IMPROPER CLUTCH CABLE ROUTING RUBBED AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE RESULTING A RUPTURE.
NHTSA ID
10767403
Incident
Sep 18, 2015
Mileage
59,000 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.