2008 Harley-Davidson FLSTF: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
17,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Wheels is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Wheels | 1 |
Wheels: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
2011: 1
Pattern summary
Wheels leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10434126 · 2011-11-03 (November 3, 2011)
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED WITHOUT AND INDICATION AT 17000 AND 25000 MILES. THIS COULD AND WILL CAUSE DEATH IF GONE UNDETECTED AT HIGH SPEED. DEALERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HARLEY FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY TO THE RIDERS BUT ALSO TO OTHER VEHICLES IF THE BEARING FAILS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE BEARINGS ARE A GROSS INFERIOR PRODUCT THAT HARLEY CONTINUES TO USE SINCE 2008 AND IS RISKING EVERY RIDERS LIFE AND THEY CONTINUE TO REPLACE THEM WITH THE SAME BEARINGS KNOWINGLY AGAIN PUTTING RIDERS…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10434126 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 2100.0%ODI 10031439 · 800 miPER CONSUMER "THERE IS A FAILURE IN THE WHEELS THAT DOES NOT ALLOW THEM TO HOLD AIR.*AK | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 327.3%ODI 10243057 · 800 miMY 2007 HARLEYDAVIDSON FLSTF (FAT BOY) WAS ENGINEERED WITH A DEFECT (FRONT WHEEL IS DESIGNED 3/4" OFF CENTER BETWEEN THE FORK TUBES) WHICH LEAVES THE MOTORCYCLE PRONE TO "HIGH SPEED WOBBLE" AND TO DRIFT OFF CENTER AT MODERATE SPEEDS. A HIGH SPEED WOBBLE CAN BE DEADLY ON A MOTORCYCLE. I ALMOST CRASHED. *TR | 1100.0%ODI 10434126 · 17,000 miFRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED WITHOUT AND INDICATION AT 17000 AND 25000 MILES. THIS COULD AND WILL CAUSE DEATH IF GONE UNDETECTED AT HIGH SPEED. DEALERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HARLEY FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY TO THE RIDERS BUT ALSO TO OTHER VEHICLES IF THE BEARING FAILS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE BEARINGS ARE A GROSS INFERIOR PRODUCT THAT HARLEY CONTINUES TO USE SINCE 2008 AND IS RISKING EVERY RIDERS LIFE AND THEY CONTINUE TO REPLACE THEM WITH THE SAME BEARINGS KNOWINGLY AGAIN PUTTING RIDERS… | 2100.0%ODI 10471825 · 22,000 miTHE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AND CAME APART. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE REAR TIRE BEGAN TO WOBBLE MAKING THE MOTORCYCLE HARD TO CONTROL. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension:Front | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 545.5%ODI 10208903 · 3 miVIBRATION IN THE FRONT BETWEEN 38 MPH AND 42 MPH WHILE HAVING A LOOSE GRIP ON THE HANDLE BARS. ALSO HAS A SLIGHT DRIFT TO THE LEFT WHICH I BELIEVE IS DUE TO THE OFFSET OF THE FRONT WHEEL. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 240.0%ODI 10042479 · 5,000 miVEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE 4 TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE STALLING. ALSO, AT 5,000 MILES VEHICLE HAD A GAS LEAK. THE SOURCE OR CAUSE OF THE LEAK WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK | 133.3%ODI 10324000 · 50,000 miHARLEY DAVIDSON TWIN CAM CRANKSHAFT DEFECT. I OWN A 2001 HARLEY DAVIDSON AND THE CRANKSHAFT HAS SHIFTED, THE FLYWHEELS HAVE SLIPPED ON THE CRANK PIN. I FIRST NOTICED THE VIBRATION LAST YEAR. AFTER INSPECTING THE CAM SIDE / OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY, IT WAS OBVIOUS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CRANKSHAFT WAS WAY OUT OF TOLERANCE. THE OIL PUMP WAS CHEWING THE FRONT HALF OF THE CAM PLATE. I REALIZE MY BIKE IS OLDER, BUT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH TWIN CAM MOTORS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000.00 REBUILDING MY MOTOR. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS REFUSED TO DO ANYTH… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 101699161.ENGINE MISSING FAILURE WAS ON DELIVERY OF NEW MOTORCYCLE. 2. MOTORCYCLE WOULD BACKFIRE AND STALL AT ALMOST EVERY START & STOP INCLUDING TRYING TO ENTER TRAFFIC. BACKFIRED, STALLED AND DIED IN COLDER WEATHER, STALLED AT EACH STOP. 3. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS AND HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SHOP SINCE 1 OR 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE UNTIL NOW,STILL NO REPAIR HAS BEEN COMPLETED,IT EVEN BACKFIRED WHEN I PICKED IT UP IN AUGUST 06. WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING WITH BARNETT HARLEY DAVIDSON OF EL PASO SINCE DAY AFTER PURCHAS. FIVE PAGES OF DEFECTS AND ONLY ONE HAS BEEN … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 762588MOMENTS AFTER DEPLOYING KICKSTAND AND DISMOUNTING MOTORCYCLE, IT FELL ONTO LEFT SIDE.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10166758 · 4,711 miWHILE ME AND MY WIFE WAS RIDING OUR FATBOYS (HER 2005 & MINE 2004) WE WERE ON OUR FIRST DAY OF A 8 DAY ROAD TRIP TRAVELING ON ROUTE 84 WEST NEAR CARMEL NY, SHE DEVELOPED A PROBLEM. ALL 5 OF HER CHROME PULLEY BOLTS SHEARED OFF HARLEY DAVIDSON P/N 94773-00A. GOT MY BOYS TO TRAILER HER HOME. NEXT DAY BOUGHT NEW HD WHEEL AND PARTS TO BUT THE BIKE ON THE ROAD. BEFORE BRING THE PARTS TO MY DEALER I WANTED TO SEE IF THE ORIGINAL FACTORY BOLTS FIT THE SAME AS THE CHROME (94773-00A) DID. I CLEAN THE YELLOW LOCKTIGHT OFF OF THE ORIGINAL BOLT AND WITHOUT … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 19.1%ODI 10381929 · 19,958 miWHEN LOOSING MY GRIP ON THE HANDLE BAR, AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT END WOBBLES. IF I TAKE ONE HAND OFF THE GRIP AT A STEADY SPEED THE FRONT END WOBBLES MORE. I ALSO NOTICE THE WOBBLE IS WORSE ON DECELERATION. I CAN FEEL THE FRONT END AT 30 - 55 MPH AND THE LONGER I LET LOOSE MY GRIP THE QUICKER AND MORE DRASTIC THE WOBBLE BECOMES. I HAVE CHECKED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE STEERING HEAD BEARINGS ARE TIGHT. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE FRONT TIRE WITH ANOTHER DUNLOP TIRE. THE WOBBLE ISN'T VERY NOTICEABLE WITH BOTH HANDS TIGHTLY ON THE H… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11097307INSTALLED NEW FRONT TIRE , METZELER PART NUMBER 2549900 MODEL ME 888 MARATHON ULTRA , WITHIN LESS THAN 200 MILES WE FOUND THE TIRE HAS CUPPING AND CRATERS , BELIEVE TO BE CAUSING UNSTABLE RIDING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WE ORDERED A NEW ONE , AFTER MOUNTING ON WHEEL WE CAN SEE AND FEEL CUPPING AND CRATERS , WE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WERE TOLD TO FILL OUT THEIR WARRANTY FORM WE EXPLAINED THAT THIS TIRE WAS NEVER INSTALLED ON THE MOTORCYCLE ONLY ON THE RIM BUT THEY/HE DIRE/DEE WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT HAVING THE TIRE IN HIS… |
| Power Train | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 101699161.ENGINE MISSING FAILURE WAS ON DELIVERY OF NEW MOTORCYCLE. 2. MOTORCYCLE WOULD BACKFIRE AND STALL AT ALMOST EVERY START & STOP INCLUDING TRYING TO ENTER TRAFFIC. BACKFIRED, STALLED AND DIED IN COLDER WEATHER, STALLED AT EACH STOP. 3. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS AND HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF SHOP SINCE 1 OR 2 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE UNTIL NOW,STILL NO REPAIR HAS BEEN COMPLETED,IT EVEN BACKFIRED WHEN I PICKED IT UP IN AUGUST 06. WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING WITH BARNETT HARLEY DAVIDSON OF EL PASO SINCE DAY AFTER PURCHAS. FIVE PAGES OF DEFECTS AND ONLY ONE HAS BEEN … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 266.7%ODI 10437679 · 2,200 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON FAT BOY MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING AND SHIFTING THE CLUTCH, THE CLUTCH FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE CLUTCH CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 2,200. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 327.3%ODI 10210741THE FRONT TIRE IS OFFSET FROM CENTER. THIS CAN CAUSE A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. THE TIRE BEING OFFSET DOES NOT EFFECT THE TRUE FORWARD DRIVING DIRECTION. IT DOES HOWEVER CAUSE TURNING OF THE VEHICLE TO BE DANGEROUS. WHEN TURNING ON A MOTORCYCLE YOU HAVE TO LEAN INTO THE TURN AND WHILE TURNING. BECAUSE THE TIRE IS NOT CENTERED IT CAUSING YOUR ANGLE OF TURN TO BE DIFFERENT FROM LEFT TURN TO RIGHT TURN AND MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF TRACTION RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. THE MANUFACTURER CORRECT THIS DEFECT IN THE 2008 MODELS. TH… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 120.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 19.1%ODI 10200083 · 100 miMY MOTORCYCLE RUNS SO HOT, IT PINGS, KNOCKS AND BURNS MY LEGS. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | Too few reports for a range | 17,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10434126 · 17,000 miFRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAVE FAILED WITHOUT AND INDICATION AT 17000 AND 25000 MILES. THIS COULD AND WILL CAUSE DEATH IF GONE UNDETECTED AT HIGH SPEED. DEALERS ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HARLEY FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD NOT ONLY TO THE RIDERS BUT ALSO TO OTHER VEHICLES IF THE BEARING FAILS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE BEARINGS ARE A GROSS INFERIOR PRODUCT THAT HARLEY CONTINUES TO USE SINCE 2008 AND IS RISKING EVERY RIDERS LIFE AND THEY CONTINUE TO REPLACE THEM WITH THE SAME BEARINGS KNOWINGLY AGAIN PUTTING RIDERS… |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2010: 2 complaints · 2011: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Wheels |
|---|---|
| Wheels | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.