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2008 Harley-Davidson FltrProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 14 owner complaints about the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fltr, most often about the service brakes. 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 complaints142 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage31kService brakes, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 9, 2019. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fltr has problems

14 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
Service brakes71
Structure20
Engine10
Fuel system, other10
Power train10
Service brakes, hydraulic10
Steering10
Electrical system10
Visibility10
1 other systems10

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

2 recalls

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

'94'95'96'97'98'99'03'07'08'09
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

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

  1. MOTORCYCLE STALLINGPE08043 · closed Aug 8, 2008
    Led to recall 08V-357
In owners' words

What Fltr owners report

Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

WHILE RIDING ON 3/31/2018 I WAS APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AND BEGAN MY DOWN SHIFTING AND BRAKING. I STEPPED ON THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS LITTLE RESISTANCE, I PUMPED THE PEDAL AGAIN ONLY TO HAVE THE SAME RESULT. I THEN PUMPED THE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES NOTING SAME RESULT AS…
Complaint 11193282 · Apr 2, 2019 · 31,250 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTR. WHILE DRIVING 5-65 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES SEIZED SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FORT WORTH HARLEY-DAVIDSON, 3025 W LOOP 820 S, FORT WORTH, TX 76116, [PHONE]) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. MONTHS LATER, THE…
Complaint 11071624 · Feb 7, 2018 · 50,000 miles
FRONT BRAKES FAILED DUE TO BAD ABS MODULE WITH NO WARNING. VERY HARD TO PULL IN WHEN TRYING TO STOP. WORKED FINE AND NOW NOTHING. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MYSELF WRECKING (REAR ENDING) SOMEONE IF IT HAPPENED A BUSY ROAD.
Complaint 11054639 · Dec 14, 2017 · 66,000 miles

Own a 2008 Fltr?

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