2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHX Recalls, Complaints & Safety

I hit my brakes and I felt the abs system kick in and after I let off the brakes the next time I attempted to use the rear brake the pedal was extremely hard to push and I had no braking power on the rear of the motorcycle.

Motorcycle goes in to limp mode . No throttle response

ABS Module failed causing loss of all brakes on motorcycle. Brakes were working. Brought cycle to Harley Dealer for brake fluid flush as part of recall. Upon mechanic using Digitech to perform service it caused ABS module to fail. Because of failure motorcycle was left with zero brakes. Had to pay out of pocket for new ABS module. Due to design of module when it fails it causes brakes not to function leaving rider and other motorists at risk. I had to pay $641.61 out of pocket to remedy this failure that Harley Davidson was aware of.

WHILE RIDING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BIKE WENT INTO A 'LIMP' MODE ALL OF A SUDDEN AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 15-20 MPH. HAD TO CUT ACROSS TRAFFIC WITHOUT GETTING HIT TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED OFF BIKE AND IT RESET WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON LINE AND HAVE SEEMS SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS YEAR AND IT'S BEING TRACED BAD PINS USED IN SOME OF THE CONNECTORS DURING THIS TIME.

WHEN RIDING THE THROTTLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE. ON THE FREEWAY WHILE CHANGING LANES LOST MY THROTTLE IN FRONT OF CARS GOING 75 MPH THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS!

REAR PEDAL BECAME TO HARD TO PRESS ABS MODULE FAIL WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000(SERVICE BRAKES). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO REDDING HARLEY-DAVIDSON (1268 TWINVIEW BLVD, REDDING, CA 96003) FOR SERVICE. AFTER THE RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED, THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE ABS INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

RIDING MY FLHX THE OTHER DAY AND BIKE STARTED MAKING NOISE FROM MY PRIMARY AND I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED NOISE AND COMFIRMED IT WAS COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE(PRIMARY). MADE IT HOME SAFE; WASN'T FAR FROM HOME. TOOK OFF THE PRIMARY COVER AND CHECKED OVER THE INNER PRIMARY COMPONENTS. THE COMPENSATOR AND ADJUSTER WERE BAD. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE AUTO-ADJUSTED CHAIN TENSIONER TIGHTENS SO BAD OVER TIME THAT IT RATCHETS ALL THE SPROKET PARTS DOWN SO BAD THAT IT STARTES TO CREATE WEAR ON COMPONENTS SO BAD THAT PARTS CAN BREAK LOOSE, LOCK UP, AND THE COMPONENTS IN MY YEAR FLHX ARE SEVERLY UNDER RATED. THIS COMPENSATOR WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE USED FOR ANYTHING BIGGER THAN AN 80 CUBIC INCH MOTOR; MY BIKE CAME STOCK WITH A 96 CUBIC INCH MOTOR. FLHX IS PAST ANY WARRANTY, BUT THIS IS AN INCREASING PROBLEM THAT HARLEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR AND BE MADE TO CORRECT IT. REPAIR IS GOING TO COST OVER $1000.00 FOR REPAIR FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR A MOTORCYCLE THAT IS SO POPULAR AND VASTLY SOLD ACCROSSED THE COUNTRY. IF THESE PARTS WERE TO LOCK UP WHILE RIDING, IT COULD CAUSE SEVER INJURY OR DEATH TO RIDER AND ANYONE AROUND THE BIKE DURING THE TIME.

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAILURE INVESTIGATION-- UNABLE TO STOP SAFELY WHEN ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. BRAKES WERE APPLIED MC SKIDDED AND LOST CONTROL AND I WAS EJECTED FROM THE MC. MC SUSTAINED ROLL OVER DAMAGE WHICH CONSISTED OF BROKEN FORKS, BROKEN FRONT FAIRING, BROKEN FRONT WINDSCREEN, SCRATCHES TO THE LEFT SIDE, BROKEN LEFT SADDLEBAG, AND DENTS TO THE CRASH BAR RIDER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BROKEN BONES AND LACERATIONS.

Crash 1 injured

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAILURE INVESTIGATION-- UNABLE TO STOP SAFELY WHEN ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. BRAKES WERE APPLIED MC SKIDDED AND LOST CONTROL AND I WAS EJECTED FROM THE MC. MC SUSTAINED ROLL OVER DAMAGE WHICH CONSISTED OF BROKEN FORKS, BROKEN FRONT FAIRING, BROKEN FRONT WINDSCREEN, SCRATCHES TO THE LEFT SIDE, BROKEN LEFT SADDLEBAG, AND DENTS TO THE CRASH BAR RIDER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BROKEN BONES AND LACERATIONS.

Crash 1 injured

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAILURE INVESTIGATION-- UNABLE TO STOP SAFELY WHEN ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. BRAKES WERE APPLIED MC SKIDDED AND LOST CONTROL AND I WAS EJECTED FROM THE MC. MC SUSTAINED ROLL OVER DAMAGE WHICH CONSISTED OF BROKEN FORKS, BROKEN FRONT FAIRING, BROKEN FRONT WINDSCREEN, SCRATCHES TO THE LEFT SIDE, BROKEN LEFT SADDLEBAG, AND DENTS TO THE CRASH BAR RIDER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BROKEN BONES AND LACERATIONS.

Crash 1 injured

AFTER APPROX 15 MIN OF RIDING, THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE REAR BRAKE WILL DEPRESS ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THERE WILL BE NO BRAKES. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SQUEEZE AND ONLY APPLIES MINIMAL STOPPING ABILITY. THIS HAS HAPPENED THE LAST 3 TIMES I HAVE RIDDEN AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO RUN A RED LIGHT THROUGH CROSS TRAFFIC. ONCE I GET THE BIKE HOME I CAN PUMP THE BRAKE AND IT WILL EVENTUALLY WORK PROPERLY AGAIN OR IF IT DOES NOT, IT WILL THE NEXT DAY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHX. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS HE TURNED LEFT, THE BRAKE FAILED, THE MOTORCYCLE FLIPPED OVER, AND THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED INTO THE DITCH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,135.

I WAS IN A ROUNDABOUT WHEN I TRIED TO INCREASE MY SPEED BUT NO RESPONSE. THE BIKE WOULD STILL RUN SO I LIMPED HOME. EVER SANCE IT HAS SET TWO CODES THAY ARE P1510 AND P2138 WENT TO LOCAL DELER HE TOLD ME I WOULD HALF TO INSTALL A RACE TUNER I DIDNOT INSTALL A RACE TUNER . THAY ALSO TOLD ME TO LIVE WITH IT

REAR BRAKE LINE FAILURE -- IMPROPER CLUTCH CABLE ROUTING RUBBED AGAINST THE BRAKE LINE RESULTING A RUPTURE.

I HAVE ACTUALLY 2 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE ENGINE I BOUGHT A 103 KIT IN MY HARLEY FROM THE FACTORY ... IN THE PAST YEAR I'VE NOTICED SOME ISSUES WITH STARTING ON TAKING IT INTO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD THE ISSUE WAS INHERENT WITH THE 103 ENGINE THAT WAS LATER ADDRESSED WHICH THEY ADDED COMPRESSION RELEASE TO THE HEADS ... I AM OUT OF WARRANTY SO I WENT AHEAD WITH THIS FROM MY MECHANIC ... HOWEVER IN DOING SO HE HAD IT APART AND TOOK A LOOK AT THE COMPENSATOR AND PRIMARY BEARING ... BOTH OF WHICH WERE BAD ... I LOOK ON THE FORUMS AND IT APPEARS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE ... WHY WAS THIS NOT ADDRESSED AND RECALLED? BOTH ISSUES ARE PREVALENT FOR MY YEAR / MODEL ... OR ANY MODEL FOR THAT YEAR AND THAT ENGINE ... *TR

THE COMPENSATOR IS AN ISSUE WITH HARLEY THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON 2007 AND 2008 TWIN CAM BIKES. *TR

WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED IS THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET HAS EITHER WORKED LOOSE OR IS CRACKED, THIS IS WITHIN THE SHAFT ASSEMBLY WHERE THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AND PRIMARY FINAL DRIVE IS LOCATED, HARLEY KNOWS THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS, AND IT COULD RESULT IN THE DRIVE TRAIN LOCKING UP IF THE ASSEMBLY LOCKS UP OR SOMETHING COMES LOOSE AND CAUSES SUCH AN EVENT IT COULD LOCK UP THE REAR WHEEL AND CAUSE A CRASH I KNOW OF A FEW PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE, AND ALSO JUST FROM RESEARCH ONLINE THERE ARE A LOT OF MOTORCYCLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGH WAY AND WAS IN THE FAST LANE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY THROTTLE STOPPED RESPONDING AND I LOST POWER TO THE BIKE I THEN PULLED THE CLUTCH IN SO I DIDN'T COME TO SUDDEN STOP AND GET REAR ENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME AND I EASED OVER THE MEDIAN AND NOTICED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON SO I TURNED THE BIKE OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE LIGHT RETURNED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT BACK TO THE HOUSE WITH LIMITED THROTTLE AND POWER AND CROSSING THE TWO LANES FOR TRAFFIC TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY WAS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE HAD TO DO ON A BIKE I WASN'T SURE WOULDN'T FAIL HALF WAY BETWEEN LANES SO IF THIS ISSUE COULD BE LOOKED INTO I THINK IT HAS POTENTIAL TO SAVE A LIFE AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE HAVING TO RIDE IN FEAR OF THIS TAKING PLACE AGAIN AND ITS BAD ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT TRAFFIC ITS SELF BUT TO ADD ANOTHER WORRY TO IT MAKES IT UNSAFE AND I FEEL THAT MORE LIVES ARE PUT AT RISK BECAUSE OF IT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY AT AROUND 60 MPH I WENT TO PASS A CAR AND WHILE IN THE OTHER LANE PASSING I LOST ALL THROTTLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR 40+ YEARS AND CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO AN INEXPERIENCED RIDER. I CAN NOT TO THIS DAY GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER FROM DEALER'S OR MECHANICS. I GUESS THIS IS ALL INCLUDED IN THE $22,000 I DISHED OUT.VERY VERY DANGEROUS. THERE ARE DEFINITE ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE (FLY BY WIRE). *TR

INSTALLED LED HEADLIGHT AND PASSING LIGHTS. HEADLIGHT FAILED IN HIGH AND LOW BEAM MODES AT NIGHT. RECHECKED INSTALLATION AND HAD FAILURES TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. UNIT COMPLETELY FAILED ON DECEMBER 2, 2012. MILEAGE ON UNIT WAS LESS THAN 1000 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY FLHX MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A LOUD NOSE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 2012, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

COMPLETE THROTTLE FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ERROR CODES COLLECTED INDICATE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE RESPONSE FAILURE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. POSTINGS ON HD FORUMS INDICATE THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD ON HD MOTORCYCLES FROM 2008 FORWARD WITH AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS HAZARD FOR WHICH HD HAS FAILED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY OR OFFER TO CORRECT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! *TR

THROTTLE CUTS OFF. HARLEY DAVIDSON SINCE 2008 USES A CABLE LESS THROTTLE. FROM READING THE FORUMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. THE THROTTLE WILL JUST STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF SENSOR FAILURE. THIS HAPPEN TO ME TODAY ON A SECONDARY ROAD. COULD NO EVEN IMAGINE THIS HAPPENING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. *TR

2008 HARLEY FLHX, WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEEDS THE VEHICLE LOSES THROTTLE CONTROL, THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING JUST NO THROTTLE RESPONSE 'FLY BY WIRE THROTTLE', THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ECM, THROTTLE BODY SENSOR AND CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR PINS WITH NO RESULTS. THIS SITUATION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I HAVE NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE LATEST EVENT HAPPENING NOV 4, 2010, THE ORIGINAL EVENT HAPPENED OVER A YEAR AND HALF AGO. THE DEALERSHIP HAS PUT AT APPRX 3000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE DURING THIS LONG PROCESS. *TR

FLY BY WIRE THROTTLE ON TOURING AND CRUISER HARLEY-DAVIDSONS BEGINS TO REV / RACE WITHOUT EVEN TURNING THE HANDLE. HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY ONCE IT BEGINS. PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS DURING TURNS AND STARTING OUT IN TRAFFIC. HAS OCCURRED ON MY MOTORCYCLE ABOUT 15 TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK. 3 TIMES IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH IN A TURN. CALLED LOCAL HD DEALER AND THEY CAME TO PICKUP MOTORCYCLE 5/25/10 TO SERVICE. SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS THROTTLE SYSTEM. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE IN AUGUST OF 2008. ALL WAS GREAT UNTIL JUNE 2009 A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE 5000 MILE SERVICE. I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE TO WORK AND IT SIMPLY SHUT OFF, AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES IT RESTARTED. I LET IT GO THINKING IT WAS JUST A FLUKE, BUT AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS IT HAPPEN AGAIN. THEN, AFTER SEVERAL MORE WEEKS, AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER 7/28/09 AND THEY KEPT IT A WEEK AND SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE BIKE HOME AND AGAIN, A FEW WEEKS LATER, IT SHUT OFF ON THE WAY TO WORK. IT HAPPENED EVERY FEW WEEKS. THE LAST TIME I HAD JUST PASSED A TRUCK ON A TWO LANE ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER. THE TRUCK CAME SO CLOSE IT ALMOST HIT ME. I TOOK THE HARLEY TO THE SAME SHOP, THEY SAID THEY HAD NOBODY TO WORK ON IT FOR A WEEK, SO I TOOK IT HOME AND PARKED IT FOR A WEEK. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHO HAD DONE THE 5000 MILE SERVICE. I TOOK IT 9/18/09 AND THEY KEPT IT FOR A WEEK. THEY SAY THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG AND CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM EITHER. I CONTACTED HARLEY FACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAY THEY CAN DO NOTHING FOR ME.I FEEL THE NEXT TIME THE BIKE DIES I MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *TR

2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET GLIDE FLHX NOTICED NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND AT LOWER SPEEDS AROUND TOWN HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT PRODUCES A HOWLING / WHINING NOISE. AND AT LOWER AROUND TOWN IT PRODUCES A CLICKING NOISE .TYPICAL NOISES THAT A FATIGUED WHEEL BEARING WOULD MAKE WHEN IT IS STARTING TO FAIL.TOOK MOTORCYCLE TO THE HARLEY DEALER TOLD THEM ABOUT THE NOISES, THEY STATED THAT THOSE NOISES WHERE NOT THERE AND ANY NOISE I WAS HEARING WAS NORMAL AND THAT THERE TIME FOR CHECKING OUT THE BIKE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY THAT CAME WITH THE BIKE BECAUSE THEY DID NOT FIND AND DEFECTED PARTS OR HEAR ANY STRANGE NOISES NOR DID THEY BOTHER TO TAKE OFF THE REAR WHEEL LIKE I REQUESTED NOT EVEN DID THEY TAKE THE TIME TO INSPECT THE REAR WHEEL. AND ON TOP OF IT ALL THEY WANT ME TO PAY $300.00 DOLLARS FOR 2 1/2 HOURS OF THERE TIME TO DO NOTHING TO THE MOTORCYCLE BUT TAKE IT FOR A TEST RIDE. *TR

THE SEAT ON MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX BROKE AT HE REAR BRACKET. THE BRACKET IS HELD ON TO THE SEAT BY PLASTIC TABS, WHICH BROKE. THE SEAT SLID REARWARD UNDER ACCELERATION, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THESE BRACKETS USED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE SEAT WITH TWO BOLTS, BUT I GUESS HARLEY SAVING MONEY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THEIR CUSTOMERS SAFETY. I CALLED H-D CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY SAID THEY WOLD ONLY REPLACE THE SEAT WITH ANOTHER ONE JUST LIKE IT. IS'NT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVFIDE A SAFE MOTORCYCLE, NOT ONE THAT THE SEAT FALLS OFF OF? *TR

WHILE RIDING MY 2008 STREET GLIDE I WOULD LOSE ALL RESPONSE ON THE THROTTLE, WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE THROTTLE RANDOMLY BEGAN TO RESPOND. WHILE ON THIS PARTICULAR TRIP THE BIKE REPEATED THIS AT LEAST 10-15 TIMES. THE BIKE IS BEING TRAILER TO THE DEALER FOR REVIEW. THIS IS DEFINATELY A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE RIDING BIKE ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V357000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP) IN JULY OF 2008. HE CALLED THE DEALER ON AUGUST 4,2008 TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL AND THEY WOULD CALL HIM WHEN THEY ARRIVED. THE TECHNICIAN NEVER CALLED BACK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER AND DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE PROPERLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,030.