after Harley Davidson performed the recall, the brakes are now lock up due to deposits in brake hydraulic control unit making the motorcycle unsafe to ride. they are stating this is not part of the recall, in the first paragraph of the recall it states that that is the problem that happens from the defective brake fluid. This is exactly why the recall is out there, they had me using defective brake fluid for 10 years before they release the new fluid in February of 2018. This a complete band aid fix from a manufacture if i have ever seen one.
The worst 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHX problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes9
- Electrical6
- Acceleration5
- Engine4
- Fuel system4
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes9
- Electrical6
- Acceleration5
- Engine4
- Fuel system4
- Transmission4
- Wheels2
- Body1
- Driver assistance1
- Lights1
- Seats1
- Steering1
- Suspension1
Recalls 2
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
- What is wrong
- Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling all 2008-2011 Touring, CVO Touring and VSRC motorcycles equipped with anti-lock brakes (ABS), including Road King (FLHR), Road King Police (EFI) (FLHP), Road King Police (EFI) (FLHPE), Electra Glide Standard Police (EFI) (FLHTP), Electra Glide Classic (EFI) (FLHTC), Electra Glide Ultra Classic (EFI) (FLHTCU) and Street Glide (EFI) (FLHX), 2008 VROD (VRSCAWA), CVO Road King 4 (FLHRSE4), Night Rod (VRSCDA), CVO Ultra Classic 3 (FLHTCUSE3), Night Rod Special (VRSCDXA), 2008-2010 Road King Classic (EFI) (FLHRC), 2008-2009 Road Glide (EFI) (FLTR) and Electra Glide Standard (EFI) (FLHT), 2009-2010 V-Rod (VRSCAW), 2009 CVO Ultra Classic (FLHTCUSE4) and CVO Road Glide 3 (FLTRSE3), 2009-2011 Night Rod Special (VRSCDX) and V-Rod Muscle (VRSCF), 2010 CVO Ultra Classic 5 (FLHTCUSE5) and CVO Street Glide (FLHXSE), 2010-2011 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (FLHTK) and Road Glide Custom (FLTRX), 2011 Road Glide Ultra 103 (FLTRU103), Street Glide 103 (FLHX103), Road King Classic 103 (FLHRC103), CVO Ultra Classic 6 (FLHTCUSE6), CVO Road Glide Ultra (FLTRUSE), Road Glide Custom 103 (FLTRX103), and CVO Street Glide 2 (FLHXSE2) motorcycles. Deposits may form on components within the brake system if the DOT 4 brake fluid is not replaced for a prolonged period of time beyond the 2-year maintenance schedule specified in the Owners Manual.
- Risk
- These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will flush the entire brake system with new Platinum Label DOT 4 brake fluid, free of charge. The recall began on February 14, 2018. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1‑800‑258‑2464. Harley-Davidson's number for this recall is 0171.
Recall number 18V076000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
- What is wrong
- Harley davidson is recalling 47,579 my 2008 flhp, flhpe, flhr, flhrc, flhrse4, flht, flhtc, flhtcu, flhtcuse3, flhtp, flhx, and fltr motorcycles. These motorcycles may experience a cracking of the fuel filter shell leading to loss of fuel pressure. This loss of fuel pressure can cause diminished performance and, in some cases, may cause an engine stall or a no-start condition.
- Risk
- This condition could lead to a crash which could cause injury or death to the rider.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fuel filter shell free of charge. The recall began on july 31, 2008. Owners may contact harley davidson at 1‑414‑343‑4056.
Recall number 08V357000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHX
Defect investigations
Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation in July 2016 based on forty-three (43) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ).During the course of this investigation ODI received a total of 145 VOQs related to the alleged defect on the subject motorcycles.Owners allege they experience a sudden and complete loss of brakes on one or both wheels.To better understand the cause of the braking issue on the subject motorcycles, ODI requested the federal safety agency's Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) conduct inspections and testing of affected vehicle braking systems.Through its work, VRTC determined that deposits were forming on the valves in the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) of the Antilock Braking System (ABS). These deposits could prevent the proper function of the HCU and render the brakes ineffective.To understand why deposits were forming in the HCU, Harley Davidson completed an analysis of the Dow 460 brake fluid used as original equipment on the subject motorcycles and determined that it had stability issues if left in the brake system for an extended period of time.Harley Davidson found that if a brake fluid flush was not conducted as outlined in the owner?s manual for the motorcycles, and was left in the system for a period of time beyond their recommendation; deposits could form in the HCU.Through further testing, Harley Davidson identified an alternate, commercially available, brake fluid that did not have the same stability issues as the original fluid and could stop the proliferation of any current brake system deposits.ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to Harley Davidson and Dow Chemical (the supplier of the brake fluid on the subject motorcycles) to collect information about the subject bikes and the alleged defect.Harley Davidson responded in full on Sept 30, 2016 and Dow responded with a confidential submission on October 25, 2017.ODI analyzed the information contained in both IR responses and concluded that motorcycles manufactured during Model Years (MY) 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 were failing at a rate greater than their peers.Based on this analysis and the brake fluid study conducted by Harley Davidson, a group of motorcycles was identified that were potentially affected by the instability of the original brake fluid.2008 marked the introduction of ABS on Harley Davidson motorcycles and a change in the Dow 460 brake fluid used in the 2012 MY vehicles provided the bases for the scope of the affected population.With recall action 18V‑076 taken by Harley Davidson this investigation is closed as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: using the complaint identification numbers attached to this resume.
PE16009
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.
PE08043
Technical service bulletins for the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHX 13
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Battery warranty guidelines
- Market specific battery introduction
- Milwaukee eight and twin cam camshaft drive gear retention kit changes
- Digital technician II - updates and release notes
- Genuine motor parts and motor accessories bulletin PAB1158: oil filter packaging and case quantity update
- Digital technician II - updates and release notes
- Milwaukee-eight and twin cam transmission gear packs.
- Genuine motor parts and motor accessories bulletin PAB1146: 68193-95 bulb wedge, fender tip lamp.
- Milwaukee-eight and twin cam transmission gear packs.
- Milwaukee-eight and twin cam transmission gear packs.
What 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHX owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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 the federal safety agency 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.
Compare the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHX
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Questions about the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHX
Is the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHX reliable?
Owners have filed 30 complaints about the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHX, 3.8 times a typical FLHX model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHX?
Brakes, with 9 complaints. Next is electrical (6).
How many recalls does the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHX have?
2 recalls, covering service brakes, hydraulic and fuel system, gasoline.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHX brakes?
Yes, 1 recall: 18V076000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
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