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2008 Harley-Davidson FlhtProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 4 owner complaints about the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flht, most often about the power train. 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 complaints41 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage28kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 1, 2018. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flht 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
Power train20
Engine and engine cooling11
Service brakes10

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

2 recalls

2008 Harley-Davidson Flht 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 Flht 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 Flht median. How we score

'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'19'20'21'22
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flht, 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 Flht owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

GROWLING NOISE FROM A BAD BEARING IN PRIMARY. HAD BIKE AT A HARLEY SHOP WHERE BIKE WAS PURCHASED TO BE INSPECTED FOR COMPLAINT. FOUND PRIMARY BEARING FAILED. NO OTHER FAILURE. WAS TOLD FAILURE NO FAULT OF OWNER. CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON AND RECEIVED A REFERENCE NUMBER FOR TRACKING. HARLEY HAS A…
Complaint 10520806 · Jun 20, 2013 · 24,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A ROLLING NOISE COMING FORM THE SHIFTER. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT A METAL COMPONENT HAD FALLEN AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY…
Complaint 10472683 · Aug 27, 2012 · 31,000 miles

Own a 2008 Flht?

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