Menu

2008 Harley-Davidson FlhrcProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 12 owner complaints about the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flhrc, most often about the vehicle speed control. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-076 the manufacturer reports only 49% of affected cars repaired.

–
CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 49%Owner complaints120 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage11kVehicle speed control, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 1, 2020. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flhrc has problems

12 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Vehicle speed control20
Service brakes20
Steering20
Electrical system20
Power train20
Engine and engine cooling10
Fuel system, gasoline10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2008 Harley-Davidson Flhrc recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

49%repaired · 2019 Q4

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Recall 18V-076 · Jan 29, 2018 · 174,636 vehicles · 86,160 repaired

Risk. These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Tank assembly: filler pipe and cap

Recall 08V-357 · Jul 30, 2008 · 47,579 vehicles

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Harley-Davidson.

Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other Flhrc year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Flhrc median. How we score

'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flhrc, and the recalls they led to.

  1. MOTORCYCLE STALLINGPE08043 · closed Aug 8, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-357
  2. Sudden Brake Failure - MotorcyclePE16009 · closed Apr 23, 2018
    Led to recall 18V-076
In owners' words

What Flhrc owners report

Recent vehicle speed control complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH, I ENCOUNTERED A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I APPLIED MY FOOT OPERATED REAR BRAKE FIRST AND FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. ONLY AFTER I APPLIED MY FRONT HAND BRAKE COULD I GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE. THIS IS A VERY…
Complaint 10526088 · Jul 22, 2013 · 17,749 miles
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE BELTWAY AT 60 MILES AN HOUR MY MOTORCYCLE WENT INTO A LIMP MODE. SPEED DROPPED TO 15 MILES AN HOUR QUICKLY AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 15 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES. RECENTLY TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A SENSOR IN THE HANDLE BAR. THIS DID NOT FIX…
Complaint 10509345 · Apr 23, 2013 · 5,000 miles

Own a 2008 Flhrc?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.