2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

5

Owner Complaints

2

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

1

Service Bulletin

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4

The 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4 has received a total of 5 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by Harley-Davidson Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Vehicle Speed Control (2 complaints), Electrical System (1 complaint), and Equipment (1 complaint).

Recalls for the 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4

NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4, potentially affecting up to 396,851 vehicles.

Recall 18V076000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

| 174,636 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: 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...

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Recall 18V076000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID

| 174,636 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: 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...

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Recall 08V357000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

| 47,579 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: 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.

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Owner Complaints for the 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4

5 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#10789686 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | | 11,650 miles
RIDING VEHICLE WHEN SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE THROTTLE CONTROL ACTUATOR. HD HAS REVISED THIS ASSEMBLY, BUT IT IS STILL PROBLEMATIC. SEARCH RESULTS ARE LOADED WITH OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. HD KNOWS ABOUT IT AND HAS ISSUED A TSB ON IT, BUT HAS DONE NOTHING IN THE ORDER OF A RECALL FOR THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION.
#10654814 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK | | 13,000 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 H-D FLHRSE4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THAT THE FUEL TANK O-RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
#10294244 | EQUIPMENT | | 8,500 miles
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE SADDLE BAG FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE RETAINING PINS WERE LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SERVICED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,500.
#10282699 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | 434 miles
I WAS OPERATING MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHRSE4 ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THE THROTTLE BY WIRE CUT OUT IN TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND EACH TIME, THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED FOR REPAIR. EACH TIME, THE SERVICE DEPT. STATED THE ISSUE WAS FIXED, ONLY TO OCCUR AGAIN DURING A FUTURE RIDE. APPARENTLY, THE THROTTLE BY WIRE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE EVER SINCE HARLEY DAVIDSON STARTED USING IT IN THEIR MOTORCYCLES. MY 3RD AND LAST INCIDENT I HAD, I WAS TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC, AND MY THROTTLE CUT OUT TO IDLE, AND THEN CAME ON FULL THROTTLE WHILE I WAS MOVING WITH TRAFFIC, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH THE REAREND OF A PICKUP TRUCK, AND CRASH MY MOTORCYCLE. I PULLED OVER AFTER AVOIDING THE COLLISION, AND SHUT THE MOTORCYCLE DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON STARTING IT BACK UP, THE MOTORCYCLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE, AND SINCE I WAS CLOSE TO THE HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP, I RODE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SLOWLY ON BACK STREETS. UPON REACHING THE DEALERSHIP, THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT WAS ON, AND MY BUTTERFLY VALVE ON THE BIKE WAS FLUTTERING VIOLENTLY DUE TO SOME SORT OF SHORT IN THE THROTTLE SYSTEM. MY BIKE IS CURRENTLY AT THE SERVICE DEPT. AWAITING A LOOK BY AN "EXPERT" FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I HAVE OWNED THIS MOTORCYCLE A TOTAL OF 13 MONTHS NOW, AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM, FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS TOTAL. ACCORDING THE DEALERSHIP, A DIFFERENT PART HAS FAILED THIS TIME, BUT I KNOW THAT THE THROTTLE BY WIRE IS THE CULPRIT DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND REPEAT FUNCTION ISSUES. THIS ISSUE HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE SUDDEN DROP IN ACCELERATION, AND CUTTING OUT. WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPT. IF I WAS THE FIRST WITH THIS PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME OF AT LEAST 20 OTHER 2008 OR NEWER H-D MOTORCYCLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE THROTTLE BY WIRE/ FLY BY WIRE ISSUE? *TR
#10282699 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | | 434 miles
I WAS OPERATING MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHRSE4 ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN THE THROTTLE BY WIRE CUT OUT IN TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND EACH TIME, THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED FOR REPAIR. EACH TIME, THE SERVICE DEPT. STATED THE ISSUE WAS FIXED, ONLY TO OCCUR AGAIN DURING A FUTURE RIDE. APPARENTLY, THE THROTTLE BY WIRE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE EVER SINCE HARLEY DAVIDSON STARTED USING IT IN THEIR MOTORCYCLES. MY 3RD AND LAST INCIDENT I HAD, I WAS TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC, AND MY THROTTLE CUT OUT TO IDLE, AND THEN CAME ON FULL THROTTLE WHILE I WAS MOVING WITH TRAFFIC, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH THE REAREND OF A PICKUP TRUCK, AND CRASH MY MOTORCYCLE. I PULLED OVER AFTER AVOIDING THE COLLISION, AND SHUT THE MOTORCYCLE DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES. UPON STARTING IT BACK UP, THE MOTORCYCLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE, AND SINCE I WAS CLOSE TO THE HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP, I RODE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SLOWLY ON BACK STREETS. UPON REACHING THE DEALERSHIP, THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT WAS ON, AND MY BUTTERFLY VALVE ON THE BIKE WAS FLUTTERING VIOLENTLY DUE TO SOME SORT OF SHORT IN THE THROTTLE SYSTEM. MY BIKE IS CURRENTLY AT THE SERVICE DEPT. AWAITING A LOOK BY AN "EXPERT" FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. I HAVE OWNED THIS MOTORCYCLE A TOTAL OF 13 MONTHS NOW, AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM, FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS TOTAL. ACCORDING THE DEALERSHIP, A DIFFERENT PART HAS FAILED THIS TIME, BUT I KNOW THAT THE THROTTLE BY WIRE IS THE CULPRIT DUE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND REPEAT FUNCTION ISSUES. THIS ISSUE HAS NEARLY CAUSED ME SEVERAL ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE SUDDEN DROP IN ACCELERATION, AND CUTTING OUT. WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPT. IF I WAS THE FIRST WITH THIS PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME OF AT LEAST 20 OTHER 2008 OR NEWER H-D MOTORCYCLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE THROTTLE BY WIRE/ FLY BY WIRE ISSUE? *TR

Safety Rating for the 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4 in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4

Harley-Davidson Motor Company has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

PAB1100 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

GENUINE MOTOR PARTS AND MOTOR ACCESSORIES BULLETIN PAB1100: TWIN CAM LONGBLOCK & WARRANTY ENGINE - PROGRAM UPDATES. PURPOSE: To inform dealers of certain twin cam longblock and twin cam warranty engines are no longer supported. Instead, shortblocks should be ordered where applicable.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4

  • 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRSE4 (current)

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Other HARLEY-DAVIDSON Models

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Check any vehicle history by VIN - Free vehicle history report