2008 Harley-Davidson FXDF: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
250 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
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 100.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
2017: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. 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 11001462 · 2017-06-26 (June 26, 2017)
AFTER WARMING UP (E.G. 15-20 MILE RIDE), A SHRIEKING/HOWLING NOISE COMES FROM AREA OF RIGHT REAR. BRAKE ROTOR IS NOT OVERLY HOT, NOR IS THE HUB, WHICH WOULD POSS INDICATE HANGING CALIPER OR SEIZING BEARING. NOISE CONTINUES WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED AND ENGINE AT IDLE. IT CAN BE HEARD OVER EXHAUST WHILE ON THROTTLE. LESS THAN 3000 MILES, BOUGHT BRAND NEW, BUT AFRAID TO RIDE DUE TO NOISE. I HAVE OVER 45 YRS EXPERIENCE IN RIDING, RACING, ETC. BEEN TO DEALER TWICE FOR ISSUE, TOLD "NO PROBLEMS FOUND." DEALERSHIP HAS NOW CHANGED HANDS AND BIKE IS OBVIOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001462 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 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11051072 · 25,600 miTHE REAR BRAKE RESERVOIR HAS 2 WIRES COMING OUT OF IT TO THE BACK. THE LOWER OF THESE 2 WIRES MELTED AND LEAKED ALL MY BRAKE FLUID OUT. THIS CAUSED AND ACCIDENT WITH DAMAGE TO MY BIKE AND MYSELF WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC. | 2100.0%ODI 10870069 · 62,011 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDF. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE PIPE WAS ONLY MOUNTED TO THE HEADERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS DETACHED FROM THE PIPES NEAR THE MOUNTING BRACKET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE BOLTS NEAR THE MOUNTING BRACKET; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V794000 (SERVICE BR… | 150.0%ODI 10731549 · 4,800 miWHILE DRIVING MY MOTORCYCLE DURING A MULTI BIKE RIDE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ON MY MOTORCYCLE WAS STAYING BRIGHTLY LIT, AS THOUGH I WAS BRAKING, FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE LIGHT WAS STAYING LIT AFTER I HAD RELEASED PRESSURE ON THE MASTER CYLINDER LEVER, ON A SPORADIC BASIS. I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT, ON HARLEY DAVIDSON OWNER FORUMS, THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT CAN SOMETIMES BE FIXED ON A TEMPORARY BASIS BY SPRAYING LUBRICANT ON THE BRAKE PISTON THAT CONTACTS THE BRAKE LEVER. THE UNIT CAN … | 1100.0%ODI 11096474 · 3,301 miAT LOW SPEEDS APPLYING THE FRONT BRAKES WILL LOCK UP. | 1100.0%ODI 11072405 · 10 miTHE FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER STICK SO THAT IT DOES NOT PUSH THE BRAKE LEVER OUT FAR ENOUGH, THUS LEAVING THE BRAKE LIGHT ON ALL OF THE TIME IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE BEHIND TO HIT ME FROM THE REAR IF NOT REALIZING I AM SLOWING OR STOPPING. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW IS DUE BACK INTO THE DEALER TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS TIME NOT UNDER WARRANTY. EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER SERVICE REP. ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS LIKELY A DEFECT AND HAPPENS TO OTHER MOTORCYCLES MADE BY HARLEY THAT HAVE… |
| Exterior Lighting | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10379311 · 3,000 miWHEN RIDING IN THE RAIN ON MY 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FAT BOB, MY TAIL LIGHT HAS FILLED WITH WATER, AND THE BULB FAILED (STOP AND TAIL). WATER GETS INTO THIS AREA BETWEEN THE REAR FENDER AND THE LICENSE PLATE/TAIL LIGHT BRACKET FROM THE INSIDE. THERE IS QUITE A LARGE AREA HERE TO FILL WITH WATER, WHICH GOES UNNOTICED. THE DAMPNESS BEHIND THE TAIL LIGHT HAS CAUSED MAJOR CORROSION IN THE WIRING AND MAKES THE TURN SIGNALS COME ON BY THEMSELVES DUE TO SHORTING OUT A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD, INTO WHICH THE TAIL LIGHT AND OTHER COMPONENTS PLUG INTO. T… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10731549 · 4,800 miWHILE DRIVING MY MOTORCYCLE DURING A MULTI BIKE RIDE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ON MY MOTORCYCLE WAS STAYING BRIGHTLY LIT, AS THOUGH I WAS BRAKING, FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE LIGHT WAS STAYING LIT AFTER I HAD RELEASED PRESSURE ON THE MASTER CYLINDER LEVER, ON A SPORADIC BASIS. I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT, ON HARLEY DAVIDSON OWNER FORUMS, THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT CAN SOMETIMES BE FIXED ON A TEMPORARY BASIS BY SPRAYING LUBRICANT ON THE BRAKE PISTON THAT CONTACTS THE BRAKE LEVER. THE UNIT CAN … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11072405 · 10 miTHE FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER STICK SO THAT IT DOES NOT PUSH THE BRAKE LEVER OUT FAR ENOUGH, THUS LEAVING THE BRAKE LIGHT ON ALL OF THE TIME IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. THIS COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE BEHIND TO HIT ME FROM THE REAR IF NOT REALIZING I AM SLOWING OR STOPPING. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW IS DUE BACK INTO THE DEALER TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS TIME NOT UNDER WARRANTY. EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER SERVICE REP. ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS LIKELY A DEFECT AND HAPPENS TO OTHER MOTORCYCLES MADE BY HARLEY THAT HAVE… |
| Electrical System | 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 10870069 · 62,011 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDF. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE PIPE WAS ONLY MOUNTED TO THE HEADERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE BOLTS DETACHED FROM THE PIPES NEAR THE MOUNTING BRACKET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE BOLTS NEAR THE MOUNTING BRACKET; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V794000 (SERVICE BR… | 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. | 133.3%ODI 10447961 · 19,000 miCOMPENSATOR IS KNOWN TO BEGIN FAILING AND MAKING A HORRENDOUS GRINDING NOISE WHICH PREVENTS THE ENGINE FROM TURNING OVER. HARLEY IS FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND CHARGES FULL PRICE TO UPGRADE TO THE MORE SUITABLE SCREAMING EAGLE COMPENSATOR. THIS PIECE IS DESIGNED TO FAIL AND MAKE MONEY FOR THE COMPANY WITH NO REGARD FOR SAFETY IN THE ABILITY TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN NEEDED AND THE POSSIBILITY OF BECOMING STRANDED IN A DANGEROUS AREA. *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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Equipment | 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. | 150.0%ODI 10948211CPSC: HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE SADDLE BAGS, SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO MY MOTORCYCLE, AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS; I RODE OVER A POT HOLE ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE FIRST INCIDENT, AND AN EXPANSION JOINT ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE SECOND INCIDENT. THE SUSPENSION COMPRESSED, THE LEFT SADDLEBAG BRACKET CAUGHT BENEATH THE UPPER BELT GUARD AND BENT THE UPPER BELT GUARD INTO THE PRIMARY DRIVE BELT AND PULLEY. *BF | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10378323 · 2,500 miI HAVE OWNED A HARLEY DAVIDSON V-ROD SINCE 2009 AND EVER SINCE I RECEIVED THE MOTORCYCLE THE FUEL GAUGE CONSTANTLY OVER AND UNDER ESTIMATES THE FUEL IN THE TANK. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS EVER TRULY AN ISSUE WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND AFTER 50 MILES THE GAUGE SAID EMPTY. I HAD JUST FILLED UP AND TYPICALLY GET 210 MILES OUT OF A TANK OF GAS. SO I PUSHED AHEAD. AT ABOUT 150 MILES THE BIKE ACTUALLY RAN OUT OF GAS. I CHALKED THE LOWER GAS MILEAGE UP TO A BAD TANK OF GAS, BUT IF MY FUEL GAUGE HAD WORKED PROPERLY THERE WOULD HAVE B… | 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. |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10654651 · 13,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 (NA) HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDF MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND IT VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WOBBLED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE REAR WHEEL FAILED TO TURN AND SEIZED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILU… | 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 | 1100.0%ODI 11001462 · 250 miAFTER WARMING UP (E.G. 15-20 MILE RIDE), A SHRIEKING/HOWLING NOISE COMES FROM AREA OF RIGHT REAR. BRAKE ROTOR IS NOT OVERLY HOT, NOR IS THE HUB, WHICH WOULD POSS INDICATE HANGING CALIPER OR SEIZING BEARING. NOISE CONTINUES WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED AND ENGINE AT IDLE. IT CAN BE HEARD OVER EXHAUST WHILE ON THROTTLE. LESS THAN 3000 MILES, BOUGHT BRAND NEW, BUT AFRAID TO RIDE DUE TO NOISE. I HAVE OVER 45 YRS EXPERIENCE IN RIDING, RACING, ETC. BEEN TO DEALER TWICE FOR ISSUE, TOLD "NO PROBLEMS FOUND." DEALERSHIP HAS NOW CHANGED HANDS AND BIKE IS OBVIOU… | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | Too few reports for a range | 250 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11001462 · 250 miAFTER WARMING UP (E.G. 15-20 MILE RIDE), A SHRIEKING/HOWLING NOISE COMES FROM AREA OF RIGHT REAR. BRAKE ROTOR IS NOT OVERLY HOT, NOR IS THE HUB, WHICH WOULD POSS INDICATE HANGING CALIPER OR SEIZING BEARING. NOISE CONTINUES WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED AND ENGINE AT IDLE. IT CAN BE HEARD OVER EXHAUST WHILE ON THROTTLE. LESS THAN 3000 MILES, BOUGHT BRAND NEW, BUT AFRAID TO RIDE DUE TO NOISE. I HAVE OVER 45 YRS EXPERIENCE IN RIDING, RACING, ETC. BEEN TO DEALER TWICE FOR ISSUE, TOLD "NO PROBLEMS FOUND." DEALERSHIP HAS NOW CHANGED HANDS AND BIKE IS OBVIOU… |
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.
2014: 0 complaints · 2015: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 | 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 | Unknown Or Other |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | — |
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.