Owners have filed 13 complaints
about the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg with NHTSA between 2008 and 2011.
The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
969.2%
Median failure at 2,400 miles
Brakes
215.4%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 5,100 mi
Equipment & Accessories
17.7%
Engine & Cooling
17.7%
Median failure at 2,500 miles
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 2008peak 5Jun 2011
NHTSA investigations into the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE08043Opened 17 Jul 2008Closed 8 Aug 2008FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
MOTORCYCLE STALLING
THE SUBJECT FUEL FILTER HOUSING (P/N 62229-08) CRACKS, RESULTING IN SUDDEN ENGINE STALL DUE TO UNREGULATED FUEL PRESSURE.HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS MODIFIED THE HOUSING WITH A NEW PART NUMBER 62229-08A.SHORTLY AFTER OPENING THIS PE, ODI RECEIVED HARLEY'S DEFECT NOTIFICATION INDICATING THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE BEING RECALLED TO INSTALL THE NEW FUEL FILTER HOUSING.WITH THAT RECALL, RECEIVED PRIOR TO RELEASE OF OUR INFORMATION REQUEST, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CONCLUDED.
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Cagnes-Sur-Mer, France, AECrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAND: HARLEY DAVIDSON. MODEL: XR1200 (NEW MODEL NOT REPORTED IN YOUR MODEL LIST). CRASH WITH INJURIES. FRONT BRAKES FAILURE BY LOCK-UP ON A NEW HD XR1200 OWNED BY HD AND LENT TO ME FOR A DEMO-RIDE (OR TEST). THE MAIN WITNESS HAS STATED IN WRITING THAT HE HAS CHECKED AND DOUBLE-CHECKED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL WAS STILL BLOCKED BY THE FRONT BRAKES EVEN AFTER THE CRASH. THERE IS ALSO A POLICE REPORT WITH PICS, AND A MEDICAL REPORT WITH XRAYS. ALL THE DOCUMENTS ARE AT YOUR DISPOSAL.
NHTSA complaint #10269581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,500 milesJacksonville, FL1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I RECEIVED FIRST DEGREE BURNS TO MY THIGHS. THIS ENGINE IS KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM WITH BEING HOT AS I FOUND OUT AFTER I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE. I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC, DUE TO AN AUTO ACCIDENT. WHILE MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED OR STOPPED THIS ENGINE GETS HUNDREDS HOTTER THAN NORMAL OPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10233296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 5,100 milesSouth Jordan, UT
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT ROD SPECIAL REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS LOCATED 1/2" FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THIS SWITCH GETS HOT AND MELTS THE SWITCH ALLOWING ALL THE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND CREATE A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10403977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,500 milesWinston Salem, NC
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY GAS GAUGE HAS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. IT WILL GO TO EMPTY AND STAY THERE WITH 1/2 TANK OF GAS, UNTIL I CUT THE POWER OF AND BACK ON IT WILL RESET TO I/2 TANKS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. HAVE REPLACED SENDING UNTIL 3 TIME . HARLEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON ALL V-ROD SINCE 2003 THE FIRST YEAR THEY CAME OUT. NEED SOMEONE HELP. IF IT WAS A CAR THE WOULD HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. I HAVE HAD TO WALL ONE TIME TO GET GAS.
NHTSA complaint #10355226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28 milesToledo, OH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON NIGHT ROD VROD. FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK. IT HASN'T WORKED SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE BIKE. THERE ARE MORE BROKEN GAUGES THAN WORKING ONES ON THIS MODEL OF BIKE. HARLEY THROWS RANDOM PARTS AND NEVER FIXES THE REAL PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10344787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cagnes-Sur-Mer, France, AECrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAND: HARLEY DAVIDSON. MODEL: XR1200 (NEW MODEL NOT REPORTED IN YOUR MODEL LIST). CRASH WITH INJURIES. FRONT BRAKES FAILURE BY LOCK-UP ON A NEW HD XR1200 OWNED BY HD AND LENT TO ME FOR A DEMO-RIDE (OR TEST). THE MAIN WITNESS HAS STATED IN WRITING THAT HE HAS CHECKED AND DOUBLE-CHECKED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL WAS STILL BLOCKED BY THE FRONT BRAKES EVEN AFTER THE CRASH. THERE IS ALSO A POLICE REPORT WITH PICS, AND A MEDICAL REPORT WITH XRAYS. ALL THE DOCUMENTS ARE AT YOUR DISPOSAL.
NHTSA complaint #10269581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,580 milesDES Moines, IA
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
FUEL FILTER CANISTER FAILURE FOR 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC. BIKE HAS A BUILD DATE OF 09/07. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE EARLY MODEL O8'S AND HARLEY IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. YET THEY HAVE UPDATED THE FILTER CANISTER. THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS FAILURES. THESE HAVE BEEN NOTED ON THE VARIOUS HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUM WEBSITES. MANY RIDERS LIKE MYSELF ARE TAKING A PROACTIVE APPROACH AND REPLACING CANISTER BEFORE IT FAILS AND LEAVES THE RIDER STRANDED OR WORSE IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT ONLY FAILS ONCE. DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN IT FAILS, THIS COULD HAVE DEADLY EFFECT ON RIDER. CORRECTED PROBLEM BY BUYING NEW UPDATED CANISTER AND REPLACING OLD ONE. UPON INSPECTION OF OLD ONE, IT HAD STRESS CRACKS ON CANISTER TABS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON PART # 62229-08. THE UPDATED PART # IS 62229-08A. HAD TO PUT THIS UNDER FXDWG, BECAUSE THERE IS NO FLHCUI LISTED ON WEBSITE.
NHTSA complaint #10235698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,611 milesJonesboro, AR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE MOTORCYCLE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. FUEL TANK WAS FULL BUT NO FUEL WAS GETTING TO THE ENGINE. LEFT ME STRANDED. WOULD NOT START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. HTTP://WWW.HDFORUMS.COM/M_3599675/TM.HTM.
NHTSA complaint #10235065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,862 milesFranklin, TN
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
AIT APROX 1,800 MILES, MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTC EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE FUEL FILTER SHELL WHILE I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE. I WAS EXITING INTERSTATE 65 SOUTH IN BRENTWOOD, TN AND UPON ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM THE EXIT, I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND BY A CAR. THE MOTORCYCLE GAVE NO WARNING/INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. UPON ATTEMPTING TROUGH THE EXIT RAMP. THE BIKE SPUTTERED AND ALMOST STOPPED, WHILE THE AUTOMOBILES BEHIND ME LOCKED UP THEIR BRAKES TRYING TO AVOID ME. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME AFTER SUFFERING INTERMITTENT SPUTTERING AND THE BIKE HAS REMAINED IN MY GARAGE SINCE THEN. MY NEAREST DEALER HAS A PART ON ORDER, BUT NOT IN STOCK. I WAS TOLD THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OF THESE PARTS FAIL ON YEAR 2008 MOTORCYCLES. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THESE ARE DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10235070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,250 milesWellington, FL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ON SUNDAY JULY 6 2008 I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 95 AROUND PORT ST LUCY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN MY 2008 FLHTCU JUST DIED FOR NO APPARENT REASON FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT I DID A SEARCH OF THIS SORT OF PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR ONES BUT WITH NO RECALL NOTICE FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON ,I DID BRING IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THAT THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS ,I FEEL THAT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE SCENARIO HAD THE BEEN NO WAY FOR ME TO PULL OVER QUICKLY WITHOUT TRAFFIC AND THAT SERIOUS INJURY COULD HAVE HAPPENED PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE OTHERS GET INJURED OR DIE.
NHTSA complaint #10233594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,500 milesJacksonville, FL1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I RECEIVED FIRST DEGREE BURNS TO MY THIGHS. THIS ENGINE IS KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM WITH BEING HOT AS I FOUND OUT AFTER I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE. I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC, DUE TO AN AUTO ACCIDENT. WHILE MOVING AT A SLOW SPEED OR STOPPED THIS ENGINE GETS HUNDREDS HOTTER THAN NORMAL OPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10233296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,400 milesHaslet, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
ENGINE ALMOST DIED WHILE PULLING OUT INTO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. REAL BAD MIS-FIRE WITH SPITTING AND SPUTTERING. TOOK TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAS A CRACKED FUEL LINE FITTING. I READ A FORUM AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO SAFETY RECALL. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A DEATH. MY HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC IS AN 2008 MODEL THAT I HAVE HAS LESS THAN A MONTH AND HAVE ABOUT 2400 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND MIGHT HAVE A GRIM OUTCOME.
NHTSA complaint #10232701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,150 milesEast Moline, IL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL PUMP AND/OR LINES INTERNAL TO FUEL TANK FAIL AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO RUN POORLY OR EVEN DIE OUT AND FAIL TO RESTART.
NHTSA complaint #10232617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 958 milesCypress, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE RIDING IN HEAVY MORNING TRAFFIC IN HOUSTON TX. MOTORCYCLE BEGINS TO DISPLAY LOSS OF FUEL SYMPTOMS AND QUIT RUNNING ALMOST CAUSING SEVER ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BIKE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY. WHERE I WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND LIMP THE BIKE A FEW BLOCKS THEN IT HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. BIKE HAD A BUILD DATE OF 9/07 IT WAS PURCHASED 6/08. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP PRESSURE REGULATORS ON ITS 08 MODELS FOR MANY MONTHS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN POSSESSION OF ITS DEALER SINCE OCT. 07 AND NO ONE ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART OR NOTIFY ME THAT A POTENTIALLY HAZZARDOUS SITUATION COULD OCCURE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY (7) '08 HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE AT MY DEALER WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ALL WAITING ON A BACK ORDERED REDESIGNED PART
NHTSA complaint #10232565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Henderson, NV
EQUIPMENT:MOTORCYCLE:HELMETS
I FEEL THE HELMET LAWS FOR MOTORCYCLE RIDERS IS AN INFRINGMENT OF MY RIGHTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
NHTSA complaint #10216481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.