RoadVitals

2008 Harley-Davidson Softail Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
1
Latest Aug 25, 2008
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
2
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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Harley-Davidson Softail, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Exterior lighting150.0%
  • Visibility150.0%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL CUSTOM. WHENEVER THE CONTACT RIDES HIS BIKE DURING THE DAY OR NIGHT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHT MOUNT IS UNSTABLE AND SHAKES. THE FAILURE CAUSES A STROBE LIGHT EFFECT AT NIGHT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MOUNT WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 718 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1. UPDATED 09/29/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED THE FAULTY HEADLAMPS AT HIS EXPENSE.UPDATED 09/29/08. *JB

NHTSA ID 10239579 · filed Aug 25, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL CUSTOM. WHENEVER THE CONTACT RIDES HIS BIKE DURING THE DAY OR NIGHT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHT MOUNT IS UNSTABLE AND SHAKES. THE FAILURE CAUSES A STROBE LIGHT EFFECT AT NIGHT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MOUNT WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 718 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1. UPDATED 09/29/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE REPLACED THE FAULTY HEADLAMPS AT HIS EXPENSE.UPDATED 09/29/08. *JB

NHTSA ID 10239579 · filed Aug 25, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .