2008 Harley-Davidson FXSTC: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
6,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data updated: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 6 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Braking behavior
3
50.0%
Steering behavior
2
33.3%
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.
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
4
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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
4
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: 4; 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 (4). 2 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.
2008
1
2011
2
2012
1
2021
2
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2008
1
2011
2
2012
1
2021
2
2008: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2021: 2
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXSTC MOTORCYCLE. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS SCRAPED WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE FAILURE OCCURS AT BOTH HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DURING CITY DRIVING, PARTICULARLY ON THE SIDE WHERE THE MUFFLER IS LOCATED. THE CONTACT HAS ALMOST BEEN CLIPPED OVER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND HAS HAD TO RIDE BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMITS. THE SUSPENSION HAS SETTLED AND THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LEAN TO NORMAL SPECIFICATIONS. THE CURRENT MILE…
DRIVE BELT BROKE WITH LESS THAN 10K MILES. BREAK WAS STRAIGHT ACROSS BELT IN LOWEST AREA. BREAK OCCURRED ON CLEAN ROADS (JUST AFTER A MAJOR RAIN STORM) JUST AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. BELT INDICATED SAME TYPE OF STRESS FRACTURE ABOUT A FOOT FROM THE INITIAL BREAK WHICH WOULD PRECLUDE DAMAGE FROM AN OBJECT OR OBSTACLE. *TR
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
THE FRONT SPOKES OF THIS BRAND NEW LOW-MILEAGE HARLEY HAVE RUSTED SO HEAVILY I FEAR THEY WILL BREAK AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE BIKE WAS ALWAYS GARAGED AND KEPT CLEAN. HARLEY BLEW IT OFF AND HAD NO INTEREST IN HELPING REPAIR THE SPOKES. THEY SAID I HAD TO DEAL WITH IT MYSELF. EVEN A TWENTY YEAR OLD PINTO WOULDN'T DO THIS! AT TWICE THE PRICE OF THE COMPETITION NO MORE HARLEYS FOR ME. THIS JUST ISN'T RIGHT AND HARLEY KNOWS IT BUT DOESN'T CARE. *TR
At about 3 PM on June 26, 2021 I was going south on Route 131 a mile past the junction with Route 73. There are four long sweeping turns after the junction. I’ve traveled that road on motorcycles hundreds of times. It was clear dry and sunny. The road repaved three months ago is very smooth. Luckily there was no close by following or approaching traffic. With the strong torque of the Softail Custom there is no need to adjust throttle at all in going through these wide turns. I was going slightly below the speed limit of 45 mph. Then when I was …
At about 3 PM on June 26, 2021 I was going south on Route 131 a mile past the junction with Route 73. There are four long sweeping turns after the junction. I’ve traveled that road on motorcycles hundreds of times. It was clear dry and sunny. The road repaved three months ago is very smooth. Luckily there was no close by following or approaching traffic. With the strong torque of the Softail Custom there is no need to adjust throttle at all in going through these wide turns. I was going slightly below the speed limit of 45 mph. Then when I was …
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.
Explore the data
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
6 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
66.7%Usable mileage4 / 6 records
100.0%Valid incident date6 / 6 records
100.0%Valid filing date6 / 6 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates6 / 6 records
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 complaint heatmap
Component
1999
2007
2008
Vehicle Speed Control
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
233.3%ODI 11426736
At about 3 PM on June 26, 2021 I was going south on Route 131 a mile past the junction with Route 73. There are four long sweeping turns after the junction. I’ve traveled that road on motorcycles hundreds of times. It was clear dry and sunny. The road repaved three months ago is very smooth. Luckily there was no close by following or approaching traffic. With the strong torque of the Softail Custom there is no need to adjust throttle at all in going through these wide turns. I was going slightly below the speed limit of 45 mph. Then when I was …
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Radiator Assembly
0Unavailable
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:Gasoline
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
116.7%ODI 10432676 · 21,000 mi
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXSTC. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT DOWNSHIFTED TO FIFTH GEAR AND THE THROTTLE REMAINED OPEN. THE DEALER STATED THAT A TAMPER-PROOF SCREW LOOSENED AND FELL OFF, WHICH CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO REMAIN OPEN. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,850.
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
0Unavailable
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 failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Electrical System
Too few reports for a range
21,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10432676 · 21,000 mi
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
DRIVE BELT BROKE WITH LESS THAN 10K MILES. BREAK WAS STRAIGHT ACROSS BELT IN LOWEST AREA. BREAK OCCURRED ON CLEAN ROADS (JUST AFTER A MAJOR RAIN STORM) JUST AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. BELT INDICATED SAME TYPE OF STRESS FRACTURE ABOUT A FOOT FROM THE INITIAL BREAK WHICH WOULD PRECLUDE DAMAGE FROM AN OBJECT OR OBSTACLE. *TR
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXSTC MOTORCYCLE. THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE IS SCRAPED WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE FAILURE OCCURS AT BOTH HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND DURING CITY DRIVING, PARTICULARLY ON THE SIDE WHERE THE MUFFLER IS LOCATED. THE CONTACT HAS ALMOST BEEN CLIPPED OVER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND HAS HAD TO RIDE BELOW THE POSTED SPEED LIMITS. THE SUSPENSION HAS SETTLED AND THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT LEAN TO NORMAL SPECIFICATIONS. THE CURRENT MILE…
THE FRONT SPOKES OF THIS BRAND NEW LOW-MILEAGE HARLEY HAVE RUSTED SO HEAVILY I FEAR THEY WILL BREAK AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE BIKE WAS ALWAYS GARAGED AND KEPT CLEAN. HARLEY BLEW IT OFF AND HAD NO INTEREST IN HELPING REPAIR THE SPOKES. THEY SAID I HAD TO DEAL WITH IT MYSELF. EVEN A TWENTY YEAR OLD PINTO WOULDN'T DO THIS! AT TWICE THE PRICE OF THE COMPETITION NO MORE HARLEYS FOR ME. THIS JUST ISN'T RIGHT AND HARLEY KNOWS IT BUT DOESN'T CARE. *TR
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
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
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.
2007: 1 complaints · 2008: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2007
1
1
1
2008
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2007
1
0
1
2008
5
0
1
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 co-occurrence matrix
Component
Vehicle Speed Control
Electrical System
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Power Train:Driveline
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Suspension:Rear
Wheels
Vehicle Speed Control
—
0
0
0
0
0
0
Electrical System
0
—
1ODI 10432676 · 21,000 mi
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR
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.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Brake response concerns
1 mentions · 16.7% of complaints
Median mileage: 21,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10432676 · 21,000 mi
THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THE REPORT 11V506000. BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THIS MALFUNCTION IS EERILY SIMILAR TO THE NAMED REPORT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER IT WAS INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SEEN REGULARLY. THE PROBLEM IS ALSO WIDELY REPORTED ON WEB HARLEY DAVIDSON FORUMS. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MANDATES EXPANDING THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR