NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdl Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdl has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 6 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 Fxdl. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdl owner complaints

Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdl, describing incidents dated May 3, 2008 to September 14, 2011.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10543448 · Filed September 13, 2013
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…
ODI #10424287 · Filed September 8, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDL. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WHEEL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND THE CURRENT…
ODI #10246545 · Filed October 23, 2008
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!…

Read all 6 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdl 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 Fxdl. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

6 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdl.

Electrical System; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10543448

Incident: September 14, 2011 · Filed: September 13, 2013

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 HAD TO FIRE OLD GLORY HD IN LAUREL, MD. LOOKING FOR A REAL MECHANIC HERE IN FLORIDA. *TR

Suspension

ODI #10424287

Incident: September 7, 2010 · Filed: September 8, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDL. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WHEEL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Electrical System

ODI #10246545

Incident: October 22, 2008 · Filed: October 23, 2008

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! *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10232350

Incident: June 26, 2008 · Filed: June 26, 2008

REPORTEDLY, A NUMBER OF 2008 TOURING HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP PART THAT CAUSES THE MOTORCYCLE TO STOP PUMPING FUEL AND STOPPING ABRUPTLY. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN BY HARLEY DAVIDSON (PART #62229-08) AND IS BEING REPLACED BY AN IMPROVED PART (#62229-08A) THAT IS NOT DEFECTIVE. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AS I COMMUTE 100+ MILES DAILY ON MY MOTORCYCLE AND I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10232008

Incident: June 15, 2008 · Filed: June 23, 2008

2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE W/3,893 MILES. ON SUNDAY, JUNE 15TH ABOUT 40 MILES FROM HOME MY BIKE STARTED JERKING AROUND AND ACTING AS IF I SLAMMED THE BRAKES ON. I COULD TELL IT WAS A FUEL ISSUE OF SOME SORT. WITH HELP FROM FRIENDS AND 3 HOURS LATER WE MANAGED TO LIMP IT HOME BY SHUTTING IT DOWN AND REFIRING WHEN IT WAS STARVING FOR FUEL. THE DEFECTIVE PART IS THE FUEL FILTER BRACKET THAT HAS PLASTIC TABS THAT BREAK. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS WITH BRACKETS ON ALL 2008 TOURING BIKES WHICH HAVE THE 6 GALLON FUEL TANK. MY BIKE IS STILL IN THE SHOP WAITING ON A SUPPOSED TO BE NEW AND IMPROVED PART THAT I WAS FIRST TOLD WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON THE 6/17, AND HAVE NOW HEARD THE 23RD. H-D NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THESE BIKES, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE REAL BIG INCONVENIENCE, BUT IT'S DANGEROUS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10226769

Incident: May 3, 2008 · Filed: May 6, 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 JUST BOUGHT A NEW HARLEY AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS 2 TIMES BOTH TIMES THE DEALER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AS WELL..SAID IT WAS FIXED AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ONLY FOR THE HIGH RPM ISSUE TO RETURN. CALLED HARLEY TECHLINE AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.. AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM SINCE JULY OF 07 WITH NO IDEA HOW TO RESOLVE IT. 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.... *TR

Other Harley-Davidson Fxdl model years

Check your 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdl VIN

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

Check a Harley-Davidson VIN