2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUSE3 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

BRAKE FAILURE ON MULTIPLE INSTANCES, LUCKILY NO SERIOUS INJURY, BIKE DID FALL AND ANKLE WAS SPRAINED. ABS FAILURE LIGHT HAS COME ON/OFF NOW ON PERMANENT. BROUGHT IT TO LOCAL DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS BOTH TIMES I WAITED OVER 1.5 HOURS BEYOND APPOINTMENT TIME AND BIKE WAS NOT TOUCHED, HAD TO LEAVE. ALSO, I ASKED IF THERE ANY RECALLS OR TECHNICAL BULLETINS AND BOTH TIMES THE ANSWER WAS NO.

Crash

I HAVE A 2008 HARLEY ELECTRA GLIDE.REAR BRAKES DO NOT WORK.PEDAL IS SOLID.THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ABS MODULE. I CONTACTED HARLEY THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 1200 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM.THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN. IT IS VERY UNSAFE AND POSIBLY DEADLY! I WAS ON ROADWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED AND THANKFULLY I DID NOT CRASH.A

DURING A PANIC STOP CAUSED BY AUTOMOBILE PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ME MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO ITS DOWN STOP. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FRONT BRAKE REMAINING FUNCTIONAL. THERE WAS NO FLUID LOSS IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM LEADING TO THE EDUCATED (I'M AN ACTIVE FAA AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC) CONCLUSION THAT A BYPASS CONDITION EXISTS IN THE ANTI-LOCK UNIT. A TRIP TO MY LOCAL HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP REVEALED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK MODULE ON MY MOTORCYCLE AS IT DEEMED OBSOLETE AND AN UPGRADED UNIT IS ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS NOT BEEN MOVED FROM MY GARAGE SINCE THE INCIDENT AND HAS NOT UNDERGONE ANY MECHANICAL WORK DUE TO THE ESTIMATED $1200.00 REPAIR REQUIRED. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A DOCUMENTED DEALER SERVICE HISTORY SO IF REQUIRED BRAKE FLUID CHANGES WERE NOT DONE THEN IT IS THE FAULT OF THE INVOLVED DEALERS. I HAVE JUST STARTED DEALING WITH THIS BRAKE FAILURE AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE MOTORCYCLE TO BE TAMPERED WITH UNTIL AN INVESTIGATION CAN BE DONE BY THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS YET TO BE DETERMINED.

WHILE RIDING I LOST CLUTCH CONTROL, THROTTLE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, PULLED OVER IN SAFE SPOT AND LET BIKE COOL (90+ DEGREE DAY). AFTER COOLING I HAD ENOUGH CLUTCH CONTROL TO GET TO MY DESTINATION.

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC CVO - CLOSED AND SEALED FRONT AXEL BEARINGS OF MOTORCYCLE SIZED IN MOTION CAUSING $1,600.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO SAID MOTORCYCLE (ACCORDING TO HARLEY DAVIDSON FOLSOM). WITH NO WARNING AT ONLY 12,000 MILES. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE HOW BAD (IN TERMS OF INJURY) THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IF IT HAPPENED AT SPEED. THIS IS CERTAINLY AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AND LEARNING THAT HD KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE WAS A SHOCK. HOW CAN SUCH A WELL KNOWN ORGANIZATION ALLOW THEIR CUSTOMERS TO BE PUT AT SUCH A SAFETY RISK. JUST DO A WEB SEARCH AND YOU SEE 100'S OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. *TR

Crash

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ULTRA CLASSIC CVO - CLOSED AND SEALED FRONT AXEL BEARINGS OF MOTORCYCLE SIZED IN MOTION CAUSING $1,600.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO SAID MOTORCYCLE (ACCORDING TO HARLEY DAVIDSON FOLSOM). WITH NO WARNING AT ONLY 12,000 MILES. I CANNOT EMPHASIZE HOW BAD (IN TERMS OF INJURY) THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IF IT HAPPENED AT SPEED. THIS IS CERTAINLY AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AND LEARNING THAT HD KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE WAS A SHOCK. HOW CAN SUCH A WELL KNOWN ORGANIZATION ALLOW THEIR CUSTOMERS TO BE PUT AT SUCH A SAFETY RISK. JUST DO A WEB SEARCH AND YOU SEE 100'S OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. *TR

Crash

THE PROBLEM IS WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON'S COMPENSATOR ASSEMBLY. WHEN IT FAILS, IT CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH STARTING THAT CAN BREAK TEETH IN THE STARTING GEAR, LEAVING RIDERS STRANDED. AT TIMES, IT CAN POSE A SAFETY RISK BECAUSE IT CAUSES A BACKFIRE THAT SEND SMOKE AND FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE ENGINE THAT WOULD HURT ANYONE STANDING NEARBY WHEN TRYING TO START THE BIKE. THIS IS THE FOURTH COMPENSATOR ASSEMBLY THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS HAD TO REPLACE IN MY MOTORCYCLE, AND A PROBLEM THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF, YET THEY WILL NOT DO A RECALL. A "RECALL" SHOULD BE ORDERED BECAUSE OF THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF PEOPLE EFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM, AND LACK OF PERMANENT SOLUTION FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON, EXPOSING PEOPLE TO BE AT RISK, AND TO BE STRANDED AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. *TR

Fire

THE PROBLEM IS WITH HARLEY DAVIDSON'S COMPENSATOR ASSEMBLY. WHEN IT FAILS, IT CAUSES PROBLEMS WITH STARTING THAT CAN BREAK TEETH IN THE STARTING GEAR, LEAVING RIDERS STRANDED. AT TIMES, IT CAN POSE A SAFETY RISK BECAUSE IT CAUSES A BACKFIRE THAT SEND SMOKE AND FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE ENGINE THAT WOULD HURT ANYONE STANDING NEARBY WHEN TRYING TO START THE BIKE. THIS IS THE FOURTH COMPENSATOR ASSEMBLY THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS HAD TO REPLACE IN MY MOTORCYCLE, AND A PROBLEM THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF, YET THEY WILL NOT DO A RECALL. A "RECALL" SHOULD BE ORDERED BECAUSE OF THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF PEOPLE EFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM, AND LACK OF PERMANENT SOLUTION FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON, EXPOSING PEOPLE TO BE AT RISK, AND TO BE STRANDED AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. *TR

Fire

ON MARCH 2, 2013 WHILE DRIVING MY BIKE, THE THROTTLE CONTROL DISAPPEARED AND THE BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT, THEN ON JULY 7, 2013 IT STARTED ACTING UP AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, THE ON OCTOBER 3, 2013 WHILE DRIVING TO LAS VEGAS I WAS ON HIGHWAY 99 WHEN THE BIKE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO SEMI TRUCKS WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE WITH MY WIFE ON THE BIKE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE FREEWAY SHOULDER. I HAD THE BIKE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN BAKERSFIELD, THEY TOLD ME THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND REPAIRED IT AGAIN. NO ON NOVEMBER 1, 2013 IT'S STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN. I HAVE READ ON THE HARLEY FORUMS THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND ISSUE A RECALL. THE MECHANIC SAID THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR WAS TO SHORT AND THE VIBRATION OF THE ENGINE IS CAUSING THE CONNECTOR TO FAIL. THE MECHANIC SAY THE HARNESS NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED AND REPLACED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, I'M HOPING YOU CAN LOOK NOT THIS. *TR

WHILE RIDING AT APPROX 45 MPH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT OR WARNING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE BIKE WAS TOWED TO HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER FOR REPAIR RESULT FUEL FILTER HOUSING O-RING CAME OUT AND LOST FUEL PRESSURE THIS IS THE 2ND TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUSE3 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES FROM THE INSIDE OF THE FARING. THE CONTACT BECAME LIGHT HEADED AND NAUSEOUS DUE TO THESE FUMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE EIGHT OTHER CONSUMERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER OFFERED A REPAIR AND HAD THE VEHICLE FOR 44 DAYS BUT NEVER REPAIRED IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUSE3 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF CARBON DIOXIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESUMED OPERATION TO HIS RESIDENCE; AFTER WAITING TWO HOURS DUE TO THE EXPOSURE OF THE CARBON DIOXIDE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TWICE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THERE WAS A PRIOR RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V357000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP). THE RECALL REPAIR WAS INSUFFICIENT AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE UNKNOWN SERVICE REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED.

I WISH TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE DUNLOP D407F TIRES WHICH CAME OEM ON MY 2009 HARLEY FLHTCUSE4. MY TIRES STARTED EXPERIENCING SEVERE CUPPING AROUND 12K MILES AND HARLEY WOULD NOT COVER THEM UNDER ANY OF THEIR WARRANTIES. I HAD TO RIDE ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON THIS DANGEROUS TIRE TO TRY TO GET IT REPLACED BY MY DEALER WHICH NEVER HAPPENED. THE TIRE NOW HAS 17K MILES ON IT WITH SEVERE CUPPING AND LESS THAN 3/32 OF TREAD IN THE BAD AREAS. THE GOOD SECTIONS OF THE TIRE (THE LEADING EDGE OF THE TREAD PATTERN) PROBABLY HAVE 15K MILES LEFT. I BELIEVE THE SEVERE BOUNCING OF THIS TIRE MAY HAVE CAUSED THE RADIO ON THE BIKE TO DIE. I BELIEVE DUNLOP HAS DISCONTINUED THIS TIRE AFTER ONLY A FEW MONTHS OF PRODUCTION BECAUSE THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. HARLEY NOW USES THE D408F TIRE WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME TIRE WITH THE TREAD BACKWARDS. A CUPPING TIRE IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AROUND CORNERS AND IN RAIN AND I FEEL ADAMANT THAT THESE TIRES NEED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD. HARLEY WILL NOT REPLACE THESE TIRES BECAUSE THEY GO BY PERCENT OF TREAD WEAR AT THE MOST WORE PART OF THE TREAD PATTERN, NOT BY THE LEAST WORE PART WHICH LOOKS BRAND NEW. *TR