RoadVitals

2008 Harley-Davidson Flstc

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
3
Latest Jul 15, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flstc, most frequently naming the body & structure, other / unspecified and suspension categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 17 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure133.3%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%
  • Suspension133.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE08043ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

MOTORCYCLE STALLING

Opened Jul 17, 2008
Closed Aug 8, 2008

THE SUBJECT FUEL FILTER HOUSING (P/N 62229-08) CRACKS, RESULTING IN SUDDEN ENGINE STALL DUE TO UNREGULATED FUEL PRESSURE.HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS MODIFIED THE HOUSING WITH A NEW PART NUMBER 62229-08A.SHORTLY AFTER OPENING THIS PE, ODI RECEIVED HARLEY'S DEFECT NOTIFICATION INDICATING THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE BEING RECALLED TO INSTALL THE NEW FUEL FILTER HOUSING.WITH THAT RECALL, RECEIVED PRIOR TO RELEASE OF OUR INFORMATION REQUEST, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CONCLUDED.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERYLed to recall 08V357000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Suspension
Filed Jul 15, 2014

WHEEL BEARING LOCKED UP ON REAR WHEEL. GILLETTE WY HARLEY DAVIDSON SERVICE FOREMAN TOLD ME THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS USED WERE KNOWN TO FAIL AS EARLY AS 5000 MILES, AND COULD LAST UP TO 50,000 MILES. IN MY OPINION, THESE UN SAFE BEARINGS SHOULD NOT BE USED. BEARING WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME TYPE THAT FAILED. H.D. PART NO.IS 9276A, BALL BEARING 25MM, DEEP GR. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY BEARING AVAILABLE.. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THESE BEARINGS WERE NOT CONSIDERED SEALED OR SERVICEABLE BEARINGS. SERVICE MANAGER EASILY REMOVED SIDE COVER OF BEARING AND I COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS NOT MUCH GREASE INSIDE. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN THESE BEARINGS FULL OF RUST, INDICATING TO ME THAT THESE BEARINGS ARE NOT WATER PROOF. THESE BEARINGS ARE NOT ON A SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM BY H.D. NEITHER IS THERE A RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE. AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THESE BEARINGS WITH THOSE THAT ARE MORE RELIABLE FROM A REPUTABLE MANUFACTURER? WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF ANY? I DO NOT FEEL SAFE RIDING ON THESE BEARINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610622
Incident
Jul 7, 2014
Mileage
36,622 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 29, 2012

REAR BEARINGS BLEW OUT AT 25,300 MILES. HARLEY DAVIDSON REPLACED THE BEARINGS. 350 MILES LATER, SAME REAR BEARING BLEW OUT AGAIN EXCEPT NOW THERE IS DAMAGE TO FLY WHEEL, TIRE SHROUD AND TIRE DUE TO TIRE SHIFTING TO LEFT SIDE OF MOTORCYCLE. POSSIBLE FENDER DAMAGE. *JS

NHTSA ID
10468143
Incident
Jul 29, 2012
Mileage
25,630 mi
Body & structure
Filed Feb 9, 2009

I OWN A 2008 DIABLO PERFORMANCE CHOPPER THAT HAS A CRACKED FRAME LOCATED RIGHT UNDER THE GUSSET. I PURCHASED THE BIKE ON 21 MAY 2008. SINCE THEN THE BIKE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR FAULTY CHARGING SYSTEM, SPROCKET SCREWS BROKE IN HUB, BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT, BAD REAR SHOCKS, NEW IGNITION MODULE, AND THE BIKE HAD ONE THROTTLE CABLE WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE HAD TWO SO IT RESORTED IN THROTTLE CABLE BREAKING TWICE SINCE MAY OF 2008. THE ABOVE VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED IN THE DROP DOWN MENU. PLEASE INCLUDE IN LIST. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258039
Incident
Feb 7, 2009
Mileage
960 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

M1684

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1684: MARKET SPECIFIC BATTERY INTRODUCTION. PURPOSE: Initial Release. This bulletin informs dealers of the availability of new batteries for new Original Equipment (OE) vehicle production and in the Parts and Accessories (P&A) catalog. Availability of the new Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries will vary by market and will be transitioning over the next few months. NOTE: The ring terminal screws are not compatible between Leoch and East Penn batteries. The new batteries will include new ring terminal screws, which must be used. The ring terminal screws from the old battery need to be discarded.

M1317

ENGINE

SERVICE BULLETIN M1317: NEW BALANCER BEARING REMOVER TOOL HD-48457-A. PURPOSE: The purpose of this bulletin is to inform dealers of an update to the BALANCER SHAFT REMOVER (PART NUMBER: HD-48457). When using these tools to remove the counter balancer assembly, the balance shaft bearing can remain in the crankcase. To remove the bearing without the balance shaft, additional tools were added to the balancer and bearing remover.

M1650

ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SERVICE BULLETIN M1650: MILWAUKEE EIGHT AND TWIN CAM CAMSHAFT DRIVE GEAR RETENTION KIT CHANGES. PURPOSE: This bulletin informs dealers that changes have been made to the Camshaft Drive Gear Retention Kit and service proceduresfor the Milwaukee-Eight and Twin Cam applications. In an effort to increase the clamp load of the camshaft drive sprocket bolted joint and prevent the drive bolt from loosening in high lift camshaft applications, the following changes have been made: a. The camshaft drive bolt final torque has been increased to 40 ft-lbs (54 N·m) for all Milwaukee-Eight and certain Twin Cams models. See Vehicles Affected. This increase in torque will make the bolt a one time use application. Never re-use a camshaft drive bolt for service after tightening to the increased specification. See service manual for updated procedure. b. A new camshaft drive gear retention kit (Part No. 91800088) has been created. This new kit is compatible with all Milwaukee-Eight and Twin Cam engines using Parts and Accessories (P&A) camshaft and Original Equipment (OE) camshaft applications. See Instruction sheet for specific fitment on Twin Cam OE camshaft applications. The new kit utilizes friction washers to prevent unwanted rotation of components in the drive sprocket bolted joint under stress. The use of liquid threadlocker on the threads of the bolt and pre-lube to the head of the bolt flange and outside of the washer help the bolt reach full stretch when tightening. NOTE: Engines produced at all Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC) plants will not come with the new kits installed. They will continue to be produced with (Part No. 25566-06).

M1555

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1555 (REV E): BATTERY WARRANTY GUIDELINES. PURPOSE: Revision E. Added: Added procedures for the DCA-8000 E Battery Tester.* Updated: All sections. This bulletin informs the dealership network that Harley-Davidson has provided guidelines for battery warranty.

M1490

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.8.8): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version 24.8.8. Release Date: Week of August 5, 2024. New Features for Harley-Davidson vehicles: Advanced Module Replace for 2021 and later Revolution Max; 2023 and later CVO Touring; and 2024 Street Glide (FLHX), Road Glide (FLTRX). New Features for LiveWire vehicles: Updated calibrations for 2024 S2DM EV1/ EV6; 2024 S2MH EV1; and 2024 S2DM, S2MH. Changes: Added Hand Control Module (HCM) (Part No. 71500522A and 71500536A) for reflash support.

PAB1158

ENGINE; POWER TRAIN

GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1158: OIL FILTER PACKAGING AND CASE QUANTITY UPDATE. PURPOSE: To inform dealerships that Harley-Davidson has made updates to oil filters including new part numbers, packaging design, and bulk case quantity changes.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Harley-Davidson Flstc by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017000
2016200
2015200
2014300
2013200
2012120036.3
2011500
2010100
2009110026.9
2008Viewing301
2007810
2006100
2005210
2004010
2003010
2002210
2001100
2000900
1999110
1998300
1997000
1996400
1995000
1992010
1991020
1990120
1989020
1988010
1987010
1986010

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.