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2008 Harley-Davidson FxdlProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 6 owner complaints about the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdl, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls1Free fix at dealersOwner complaints60 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage3kElectrical system, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 13, 2013. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdl has problems

6 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
Electrical system20
Fuel system, gasoline20
Engine and engine cooling10
Fuel/propulsion system10
Suspension10

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

1 recall

2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdl 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.

–no report yet

Exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

Recall 07V-535 · Nov 20, 2007 · 538 vehicles

Risk. IF CONTACT OCCURS WHILE RIDING, IT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE, LEADING TO INJURY OR DEATH.

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 Fxdl 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 Fxdl median. How we score

'99'00'01'03'04'06'07'08'09'14'15'16
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

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

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

What Fxdl owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, GEARING DOWN TO STOP, THE IDLE CONTINUED ABOVE 3000RPM. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE BIKE STARTED EATING THE BATTERY. NOW, WHEN IT HAPPENS, I KNOW TO GET IT HOME TO THE BATTERY TENDER ASAP. THREE TIMES THE HD MECHANICS CHARGE THE BATTERY AND THEN, "CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG". I…
Complaint 10543448 · Sep 13, 2013 · 4,200 miles
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE, WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF ON IT'S OWN, HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, DEALER AND HARLEY ARE OF NO ASSISTANCE IN RECTIFYING THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND MOST RECENT DATE, HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY!…
Complaint 10246545 · Oct 23, 2008 · 2,371 miles

Own a 2008 Fxdl?

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