Model year record
2008 Harley-Davidson Vrscaw recalls & problems
The 2008 Harley-Davidson Vrscaw has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 6 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is fuel/propulsion system (2 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2008 Harley-Davidson Vrscaw.
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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | — |
| Service brakes | 2 | — |
| StructureFrame and members | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicPedals and linkages | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 1 | — |
| Suspension | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Service brakes
REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE (CRACK IN PLASTIC HOUSING) CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING. BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH BRAKE FLUID. FRONT FORK SEAL FAILURE AT 14K MILES CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING.
- Service brakes
AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE & DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I HAD COMPLETE FAILURE ON MY FRONT BRAKES, DUE TO THE FRONT BRAKE WAS IN HYDRAULIC LOCK, LUCKILY THE BACK BRAKES WERE STILL USABLE. THE FRONT WHEEL WAS FREE TO SPIN BUT NO BRAKES COULD BE APPLIED TO IT, IT DID WORK MOMENTS BEFORE WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE MOST OF YOUR STOPPING POWER IS AT THE FRONT BRAKE & IF ONE NEEDS IT AT THE WRONG MOMENT, THAT COULD BE FATAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR NOT EXPECTING IT. THIS BIKE HAS ABS BRAKES & IT'S THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT THAT WENT BAD. AFTER PUTTING IT IN THE SHOP, I WAS ALSO TOLD THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL THAT CONTROLS THE HCU NEEDED REPLACING AS WELL.IF THE VALVES STICK IN THE HCU,…
- Fuel/propulsion system
THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE GAUGE WILL GO FROM 100% FULL, TO EMPTY, TO A 1/4 FILLED WITHIN MINUTES. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN SITTING OR MOVING. THE GAUGE IS UNPREDICTABLE AND UNRELIABLE. I JUST PURCHASED THE BIKE IN OCTOBER. *TR
- Fuel/propulsion system
THE FUEL GAUGE IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. IT WILL SOMETIMES DISPLAY A 1/2 TANK AND THEN GO DOWN TO COMPLETE EMPTY AFTER TRAVELING 10-15 MILES FROM A COMPLETE FILL UP. *TR
- Fuel system, gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCAW MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED AND WOULD NOT REGISTER IF THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL OR EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,800.
- Structure › Frame and membersCrash1 injury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCAW MOTORCYCLE. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE FOOT PEG SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR ISSUES WITH THE FOOT PEG. HIS ATTORNEY ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,889 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,850.
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…