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2008 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE4Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 4 owner complaints about the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE4, 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.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 49%Owner complaints40 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage6kVehicle speed control, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 29, 2018. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE4 has problems

4 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
Electrical system10
Equipment10
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 FLHRSE4 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 FLHRSE4 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 FLHRSE4 median. How we score

'08
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE4, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Sudden Brake Failure - MotorcyclePE16009 · closed Apr 23, 2018
    Led to recall 18V-076
In owners' words

What FLHRSE4 owners report

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

RIDING VEHICLE WHEN SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE THROTTLE CONTROL ACTUATOR. HD HAS REVISED THIS ASSEMBLY, BUT IT IS STILL PROBLEMATIC. SEARCH RESULTS ARE LOADED WITH OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. HD KNOWS ABOUT IT AND HAS…
Complaint 10789686 · Nov 10, 2015 · 11,650 miles
I WAS OPERATING MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHRSE4 ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THE THROTTLE BY WIRE CUT OUT IN TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND EACH TIME, THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED FOR REPAIR. EACH TIME, THE…
Complaint 10282699 · Sep 2, 2009 · 434 miles

Own a 2008 FLHRSE4?

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