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

The rear brake light switch failed. Yes it is available for inspection - I’ll hold onto the part after repair. My safety was put at risk when the switch failed causing a leak in brake fluid and a loss of pressure in the pedal. Losing my rear break functionality entirely. Then the leaking brake fluid went into the electrical connections on the switch and caught on fire. Not confirmed by a dealer but has happened on other Harley models and been recalled before just not for this model of bike. Not inspected by any of the listed. No warning notifications I just hit the pedal one day and it went completely soft then burst into flames.

The rear brake light switch failed. Yes it is available for inspection - I’ll hold onto the part after repair. My safety was put at risk when the switch failed causing a leak in brake fluid and a loss of pressure in the pedal. Losing my rear break functionality entirely. Then the leaking brake fluid went into the electrical connections on the switch and caught on fire. Not confirmed by a dealer but has happened on other Harley models and been recalled before just not for this model of bike. Not inspected by any of the listed. No warning notifications I just hit the pedal one day and it went completely soft then burst into flames.

MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO EXHIBIT NOISE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND REAR WHEEL BEGAN LOSING TREAD AT ALARMING RATE. AFTER PROPPING THE MOTORCYCLE UP AND REMOVING THE REAR WHEEL TO REPLACE THE TIRE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARINGS HAD BEGUN TO DETERIORATE. LEFT SIDE BEARING WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY GONE AND THE RIGHT SIDE BEARING SHOWED SIGNS OF RUST AND DAMAGE. REPLACE BOTH BEARING WITH FACTORY NEW AND REPLACED TIRE. 8000 MILES LATER THE REAR TIRE AGAIN BEGAN TO LOOSE TREAD. REMOVED AND REPLACE TIRE A SECOND TIME AND REPLACED BACK ONTO MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT CHANGING BEARINGS. AT APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES THE MOTORCYCLE AGAIN BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE NOISE AND VIBRATION. AGAIN REMOVED TIRE AND INSPECTED WHEEL BEARINGS. FOR A SECOND TIME THE BEARINGS WERE BOTH DAMAGED AND THE RIGHT SIDE THIS TIME SHOWED EXTREME LOSS OF BEARING COMPONENTS. CHECKED REMAINDER OF ALL DRIVE COMPONENTS FROM THE FORK TO THE PRIMARY AND FOUND NO OTHER PROBLEMS. AGAIN PURCHASED NEW BEARINGS. AFTER EXTINCTIVE INTERNET SEARCH, MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF BEARING PROBLEMS FROM CHANGE BY MOCO FROM A TAPERED TYPE TO A SEALED BEARING ON ALL FOUR WHEELS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. *TR

THE GAS GAUGE FAILED THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS PART HAS FAILED ON MY MOTORCYCLE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS IN JULY 2009 WHICH THEY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE GAUGE GIVES FALSE READINGS, IT WILL SHOW FULL AND VARIOUS OTHER READINGS REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. FOR EXAMPLE I FILLED THE TANK AND IT READ FULL THEN 10 MILES LATER IT WENT TO EMPTY AND SHOWED REMAINING MILES TO EMPTY AS 25. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND HARLEY DAVIDSON STILL HASN'T COME UP WITH A FIX.

CRUISING AT 40 MPH AND APPLIED REAR AND FRONT BRAKES. THERE WAS NO TENSION WHEN APPLIED CONTINUED A QUARTER MILE AND TURNED ONTO STREET OF MY HOUSE APPLIED BRAKES AND THERE WAS NO REAR BRAKE RESPONSE. UPON STOPPING IN MY DRIVEWAY USING THE FRONT BRAKES, I GOT OFF THE BIKE AND THERE WAS A FIRE AT THE REAR BRAKE RELAY SWITCH AND BRAKE LINE. I HAD TO PUT OUT THIS FIRE AND BRAKE FLUID CONTINUED TO LEAK. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, THE RELAY SWITCH IS 1 INCH FROM THE EXHAUST AND BELIEVE THIS WAS PART OF THE FAILURE THE HEAT SOURCE BEING SO CLOSE. I ALSO NOTICED THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAD A SMALL LEAK AROUND THE SEAL. *TR