Model year record

2008 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUSE3 recalls & problems

The 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUSE3 has 2 safety recalls and 11 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (3 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints11filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Service brakes, hydraulicJan 29, 2018

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Recall 18V076000174,636 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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 OwnerÂs 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.
Fix: 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.

Components: Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Service brakes, hydraulic › Fluid

Fuel system, gasolineJul 30, 2008

Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap

Recall 08V35700047,579 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Fix: 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 repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Typical mileage*
Power train	3	0	1	—
Service brakes	3	1	0	35,498 mi
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap	2	0	0	—
Engine	2	0	1	—
Tires	1	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system	1	0	0	—
Electrical system	1	0	0	—
Suspension	1	1	0	—
Wheels	1	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakesCrash
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.
May 5, 2017 · 37,000 miles
Service brakes
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
Apr 27, 2017 · 10,000 miles
Service brakes
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…
Sep 29, 2016 · 35,498 miles
Power train
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.
Jul 25, 2016
SuspensionCrash
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
Mar 28, 2014 · 12,034 miles
Power trainFire
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…
Mar 20, 2012 · 36,000 miles
Engine
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…
Mar 2, 2013 · 15,535 miles
Fuel system, gasoline
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
Oct 10, 2011 · 18,604 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Sudden Brake Failure - MotorcycleClosedLed to recall 18V076000
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 NHTSA'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…
PE16009 · opened Jul 6, 2016 · closed Apr 23, 2018