2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdc Owner Complaints

The rear brake light switch failed. Yes it is available for inspection - I’ll hold onto the part after repair. My safety was put at risk when the switch failed causing a leak in brake fluid and a loss of pressure in the pedal. Losing my rear break functionality entirely. Then the leaking brake fluid went into the electrical connections on the switch and caught on fire. Not confirmed by a dealer but has happened on other Harley models and been recalled before just not for this model of bike. Not inspected by any of the listed. No warning notifications I just hit the pedal one day and it went completely soft then burst into flames.

NHTSA ID

11629572

Incident

Dec 8, 2024

MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT NOISE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND REAR WHEEL BEGAN LOSING TREAD AT ALARMING RATE. AFTER PROPPING THE MOTORCYCLE UP AND REMOVING THE REAR WHEEL TO REPLACE THE TIRE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD BEGUN TO DETERIORATE. LEFT SIDE BEARING WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE AND THE RIGHT SIDE BEARING SHOWED SIGNS OF RUST AND DAMAGE. REPLACE BOTH BEARING WITH FACTORY NEW AND REPLACED TIRE. 8000 MILES LATER THE REAR TIRE AGAIN BEGAN TO LOOSE TREAD. REMOVED AND REPLACE TIRE A SECOND TIME AND REPLACED BACK ONTO MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT CHANGING BEARINGS. AT APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES THE MOTORCYCLE AGAIN BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE NOISE AND VIBRATION. AGAIN REMOVED TIRE AND INSPECTED WHEEL BEARINGS. FOR A SECOND TIME THE BEARINGS WERE BOTH DAMAGED AND THE RIGHT SIDE THIS TIME SHOWED EXTREME LOSS OF BEARING COMPONENTS. CHECKED REMAINDER OF ALL DRIVE COMPONENTS FROM THE FORK TO THE PRIMARY AND FOUND NO OTHER PROBLEMS. AGAIN PURCHASED NEW BEARINGS. AFTER EXTINCTIVE INTERNET SEARCH, MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF BEARING PROBLEMS FROM CHANGE BY MOCO FROM A TAPERED TYPE TO A SEALED BEARING ON ALL FOUR WHEELS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10614587

Incident

Jul 30, 2010

Mileage

18,000 mi

CRUISING AT 40 MPH AND APPLIED REAR AND FRONT BRAKES. THERE WAS NO TENSION WHEN APPLIED CONTINUED A QUARTER MILE AND TURNED ONTO STREET OF MY HOUSE APPLIED BRAKES AND THERE WAS NO REAR BRAKE RESPONSE. UPON STOPPING IN MY DRIVEWAY USING THE FRONT BRAKES, I GOT OFF THE BIKE AND THERE WAS A FIRE AT THE REAR BRAKE RELAY SWITCH AND BRAKE LINE. I HAD TO PUT OUT THIS FIRE AND BRAKE FLUID CONTINUED TO LEAK. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, THE RELAY SWITCH IS 1 INCH FROM THE EXHAUST AND BELIEVE THIS WAS PART OF THE FAILURE THE HEAT SOURCE BEING SO CLOSE. I ALSO NOTICED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAD A SMALL LEAK AROUND THE SEAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10412541

Incident

Jul 9, 2011

Mileage

12,950 mi

THE GAS GAUGE FAILED THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS PART HAS FAILED ON MY MOTORCYCLE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN JULY 2009 WHICH THEY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE GAUGE GIVES FALSE READINGS, IT WILL SHOW FULL AND VARIOUS OTHER READINGS REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. FOR EXAMPLE I FILLED THE TANK AND IT READ FULL THEN 10 MILES LATER IT WENT TO EMPTY AND SHOWED REMAINING MILES TO EMPTY AS 25. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND HARLEY DAVIDSON STILL HASN'T COME UP WITH A FIX.

NHTSA ID

10412540

Incident

Jun 3, 2011

Mileage

12,639 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROCKER FXCW MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BOLTS SUPPORTING THE DRIVE SPROCKETS TO THE REAR WHEEL COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE HUB. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 1,000.

NHTSA ID

10335234

Incident

Apr 26, 2010

Mileage

1,000 mi

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES. THE PLASTIC FUEL FILTER HOUSING HAS PLASTIC LATCHES THAT ATTACH IT TO THE FUEL PUMP AND THE LATCHES ARE BREAKING ON HUNDREDS OF 2008 MOTORCYCLES, TO THE POINT THE PART HAS BEEN ON BACKORDER FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. I HAVE A 2008 FLHX 105 ANNIVERSARY STREET GLIDE, WHICH IS NOT LISTED IN YOUR DROP DOWN FOR VEHICLE MODEL... WHEN THE PART FAILS THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STOPS RUNNING DUE TO LOSS OF FUEL PRESSURE. THIS OF COURSE IS DISASTROUS WHEN MERGING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, GOING UP BRIDGES, ETC. THERE ARE MANY ACCOUNTS OF THIS ON HDFORUM.COM ALSO ON HDFORUMS.COM LOOK AT HTTP://WWW.HDFORUMS.COM/M_3507391/TM.HTM, AND HTTP://WWW.HDFORUMS.COM/M_3517184/TM.HTM, JUST TO MENTION A FEW. HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERS ARE SAYING THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. I SPOKE TO HARLEY DAVIDSON YESTERDAY 414-343-4056. THE GUY I SPOKE WITH WOULD NOT AGREE WITH ME THAT THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED, BUT DID AGREE IT HAS A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH HAS BEEN CAUSING IT'S LATCHES TO BREAK THUS CAUSING THE BIKE'S FUEL SYSTEM TO SUDDENLY DEPRESSURIZE. THIS OF COURSE STOPS THE BIKE IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I WONDER WHO OUT THERE HAS PULLED OUT IN PLENTY OF TIME TO MERGE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND THE BIKE SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING THUS RESULTING IN THERE DEATH. RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT REPORT WOULD OF COURSE READ: "HE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME", "I DIDN'T SEE HIM".....AFTER ALL WE DON'T DO AUTOPSY'S ON MOTORCYCLES, EVEN SO THE PLASTIC PART WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLY BEEN BROKEN AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT, RIGHT! SO WHO WOULD KNOW THE REAL CAUSE OF DEATH. MANY OF US ARE STILL WAITING ON THE PART TO COME OFF OF BACKORDER WHILE OUR MOTORCYCLES SIT AT THE DEALERSHIPS AND WE CONTINUE TO PAY THE NOTE. NOT TO MENTION THE COUNTLESS OTHER RIDERS WHO ARE UNAWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10231701

Incident

Jun 13, 2008

Mileage

5,700 mi