NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Harley-Davidson FXD Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Harley-Davidson FXD has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 7 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Harley-Davidson dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Harley-Davidson FXD. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2008 Harley-Davidson FXD owner complaints

Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Harley-Davidson FXD, describing incidents dated May 7, 2008 to May 2, 2011.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 5 complaints
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint

Of the 7 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10400364 · Filed May 10, 2011
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXD DYNA SUPER GLYDE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AT 8368 MILES, THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL THE 2008 AND NEWER MODELS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER…
ODI #10359435 · Filed October 6, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT RIDER SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE (NA). WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE TANK WAS FULL. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SINCE APRIL 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED…
ODI #10344775 · Filed July 22, 2010
MY BRAND NEW 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT ROD (VRSCD) CAME WITH A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE (SENDER). TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. THE GAUGE (SENDER) WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE GAUGE DISPLAYS INCORRECTLY ALL THE TIME. I'M RESORTING TO RESETTING THE TRIP ODOMETER AT…

Read all 7 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2008 Harley-Davidson FXD in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE08-043: MOTORCYCLE STALLING
Closed August 8, 2008
- Recall 08V-357

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

CATALYTIC MUFFLER PROTECTIVE HEAT SHIELD

NHTSA #07V535000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Exhaust System — Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe · NHTSA notice

Reported November 20, 2007 · HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 538 vehicles

Harley-Davidson campaign 0133 · Owners notified November 26, 2007 · Vehicles built July 3, 2007 – September 6, 2007 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES BUILT AND SHIPPED TO CALIFORNIA, THE CATALYTIC MUFFLER PROTECTIVE HEAT SHIELD WAS NOT INSTALLED. THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW DIRECT CONTACT WITH THIS MUFFLER AND CAUSE INJURY.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE HEAT SHIELDS TO THE MUFFLERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

Notes

HARLEY-DAVIDSON RECALL NO. 0133.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2008 Harley-Davidson FXD. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

7 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Harley-Davidson FXD.

Suspension

ODI #10400364

Incident: May 2, 2011 · Filed: May 10, 2011

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXD DYNA SUPER GLYDE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO WHEEL BEARING PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AT 8368 MILES, THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL THE 2008 AND NEWER MODELS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER CHANGED THE BEARING FROM 1 INCH TO 25MM. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10359435

Incident: August 15, 2008 · Filed: October 6, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT RIDER SPECIAL MOTORCYCLE (NA). WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE TANK WAS FULL. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SINCE APRIL 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER. THE CONTACT HAD TO SET THE TRIP ODOMETER AFTER HE FUELED TO MONITOR THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10344775

Incident: July 10, 2008 · Filed: July 22, 2010

MY BRAND NEW 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT ROD (VRSCD) CAME WITH A FAULTY FUEL GAUGE (SENDER). TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. THE GAUGE (SENDER) WAS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE GAUGE DISPLAYS INCORRECTLY ALL THE TIME. I'M RESORTING TO RESETTING THE TRIP ODOMETER AT EVERY FILL-UP TO ENDURE THAT I DON'T RUN OUT OF FUEL. FOR $17,000 DOLLARS YOU'D THINK A COMPANY THAT HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR OVER A CENTURY COULD GET A SIMPLE THING LIKE THIS FIGURED OUT. ( THERE WAS NO MODEL LISTED IN THE PULLDOWN MENU TO SELECT FROM ON THIS FORM, SO I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO SELECT ONE TO CONTINUE. MY MODEL IS VRSCD ). *TR

Fuel System, Other

ODI #10232931

Fire

Incident: June 25, 2008 · Filed: July 1, 2008

FUEL PUMP ON 2008 HARLEY ULTRA CLASSIC CAUSED PIPES TO GET SO HOT ( GLOWING RED )WHEN I CHECKED OIL LEVEL THE RAG I WAS USING CAUGHT ON FIRE. ALSO THE PIPES ARE NOW REALLY DISCOLORED AND HARLEY WON'T REPLACE THEM BACK TO ORIGINAL CONDITION. THEY WON'T EVEN CHANGE THE OIL THAT I'M SURE WAS BROKEN DOWN BY THE HEAT. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10232153

Incident: May 30, 2008 · Filed: June 24, 2008

REAR BRAKES SQUEAL ON BRAND NEW 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC: VEHICLE CHOICES WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO LIST THIS MODEL. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10231871

Incident: June 5, 2008 · Filed: June 20, 2008

THE "TOP PLATE ASSEMBLY" PART # 75076-08 ON MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC FAILED. THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING IN THIS ASSEMBLY CRACKED AND THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY AND ABRUPTLY LOST POWER IN TRAFFIC. THIS VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 2,100 MILES AND 9 MONTHS OF USE SINCE NEW. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES OF THIS DOCUMENTED ON THE "HD FORUMS" WEBSITE. THIS DEFECTIVE PART HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BREAK AT ANY TIME WITH THE RESULTING FAILURE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER AT A CRITICAL TIME (MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, CLEARING AN INTERSECTION, ETC.) WITH A HIGH PROBABILITY FOR A FATAL INCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO THIS ONE MODEL OF HARLEY DAVIDSON, OTHER "TOURING" SIZED MOTORCYCLES WITH THE SAME CONFIGURATION CAN, AND HAVE SUFFERED THIS CRITICAL FAILURE. THE PART WAS REPLACED, RICHMOND HARLEY DAVIDSON OR HARLEY DAVIDSON, INC. HAS POSSESSION OF THE DEFECTIVE PART AS IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

Fuel System, Other

ODI #10229325

Incident: May 7, 2008 · Filed: May 30, 2008

UNCONTROLLABLE IDLE, HARLEY DAVIDSON FLY BY WIRE THROTTLE. IDLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL GO ABOVE 1800 RPM. A FACTORY KNOWN ISSUE WITH NO PERMANENT REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT. I HAVE HAD THIS BIKE 2 MONTHS NOW IT IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 8 TIMES. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS HOW I TURNED MY BIKE OFF. THEY SAID TO TURN THE IGNITION ON AND OFF 2-3 TIMES TO RESET THE THROTTLE POSITION PROBLEM IS IN THE FLY BY WIRE CIRCUIT AND COMPUTER WHICH LOOSES MEMORY AND GOES INTO A HIGH RPM. THE EXPERIENCE IS LIKE CRUISE CONTROL BEING TURNED ON AND YOU CANNOT SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU RELEASE THE THROTTLE.... . THIS HAS HAD MIXED RESULTS AND NOT ALWAYS WORKED. *TR

Other Harley-Davidson FXD model years

Check your 2008 Harley-Davidson FXD VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Harley-Davidson FXD at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Harley-Davidson VIN