2008 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (29) · Power Train (7) · Fuel System, Gasoline (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Harley-Davidson Flhtcu model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
70 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 2018-01-29 · campaign 18V076000 · 174,636 vehicles
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 King 4 (FLHRSE4), Night Rod (VRSCDA), CVO Ultra Classic 3 (FLHTCUSE3
Risk: These deposits may cause a valve within the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit to stick, reducing braking ability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 for this recall is 0171.
Service bulletins (13)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-16 · M1684 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1684: market specific battery introduction. purpose: initial release. this bulletin informs dealers of the availability of new batteries for new original equipment (oe) vehicle production and in the parts and accessories (p&a) catalog. availability of the new absorbed glass mat (ag
Vehicle Speed Control 2025-01-24 · M1650 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1650: milwaukee eight and twin cam camshaft drive gear retention kit changes. purpose: this bulletin informs dealers that changes have been made to the camshaft drive gear retention kit and service proceduresfor the milwaukee-eight and twin cam applications. in an effort to increas
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · M1555 · Warranty Program/Extension
service bulletin m1555 (rev e): battery warranty guidelines. purpose: revision e. added: added procedures for the dca-8000 e battery tester.* updated: all sections. this bulletin informs the dealership network that harley-davidson has provided guidelines for battery warranty.
Unknown Or Other 2024-08-08 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 24.8.8): digital technician ii - updates and release notes. purpose: this bulletin informs dealers that harley-davidson has made a software update to digital technician ii (dt ii). digital technician ii (part number: hd-48650). version 24.8.8. release date: week of august 5
Unknown Or Other 2024-07-10 · PAB1158 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
genuine motor parts and motor accessories bulletin pab1158: oil filter packaging and case quantity update. purpose: to inform dealerships that harley-davidson has made updates to oil filters including new part numbers, packaging design, and bulk case quantity changes.
Unknown Or Other 2024-05-01 · M1490 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin m1490 (v 24.6.4): digital technician ii - updates and release notes. purpose: revision. this bulletin informs dealers that harley-davidson has made a software update to digital technician ii (dt ii). digital technician ii (part number: hd-48650). version 24.6.4. release date: week
Showing the 6 most recent of 13 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2022-03-30 · Unknown Or Other“abs system failure causing brakes to fail …”
2021-08-08 · Service Brakes · 💥 crash“i was riding my motorcycle with a group of bikes and had to make an emergency stop. when the brakes were applied, as directed in the owners manual, the abs failed and caused the rear tire to lock and skid. the resulting skid caused a loss of control of the motorcycle and ultimately laying the bike down on the asphalt highway. this resulted in the r…”
2020-04-25 · Service Brakes · 51,080 mi“i was traveling about 35mph and approaching an intersection near my home. i had to stop quickly as a car turned into my lane just a head of me. i applied the front and rear brakes of my motorcycle but the front brake lever did not move at all. it was as if it was frozen in place. i had no control of the front brakes. i was able to slow using th…”
2020-03-11 · Service Brakes · 60,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 harley davidson electra glide ultra flhtcui. the contact received notification of nhtsa recall number: 18v076000 (service brakes, hydraulic). the vehicle was taken to greeley harley-davidson and wild west motorsports, inc. located at (3010 29th st, greeley, co 80631 (970) 351-8150) to perform the recall repair. the brake…”
2019-09-17 · Service Brakes · 21,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 harley-davidson flhtcu. while riding and attempting to stop, the rear brakes malfunctioned and were inoperable. moments later, both the rear and front brakes malfunctioned and the motorcycle did not immediately stop, nearly causing a crash. the motorcycle was taken to centennial park harley-davidson (12477 e. broad st s…”
2019-03-14 · Service Brakes · 11,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 harley-davidson flhtcu. while driving 45 mph, the front brakes were applied, but failed to respond. there were no warning indicators illuminated. the vehicle was taken to hannum's harley-davidson (1011 w baltimore pike, media, pa 19063, (610) 566-5562) where it was diagnosed that the abs module needed to be replaced. the…”
2019-02-28 · Service Brakes · 30,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 harley-davidson flhtcu (ultra classic). when reversing the vehicle, the contact applied the brakes, but the vehicle did not stop. harley-davidson of greenville (30 chrome dr, greenville, sc 296615) diagnosed that the brakes needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. the vehicle was not repa…”
2018-08-30 · Service Brakes · 29,000 mi“i,m living in the netherlands. owner of a harley davidson. my steel rear brakeline was sanded through.( result no brake while riding) i went to my dealer in belgium, i reported by the aftersales manager mr. anderson harley davidson benelux. i asked them to take action. (safety research) i sent a e-mail to harley davidson company. ( milwaukee) no re…”
2018-08-16 · Service Brakes · 21,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 harley-davidson flhtcu. the contact received a recall notice for nhtsa campaign number: 18v076000 (service brakes, hydraulic). the motorcycle was taken to sandy's harley-davidson sport center (11940 n maple island rd, fremont, mi 49412, (231) 924-3020) for servicing. while the mechanic was bleeding the brake fluid per th…”
2018-07-26 · Vehicle Speed Control · 22,500 mi“known defect in throttle position sensor wiring is not being corrected by local dealers when problem vehicles are presented for service. i believe a recall is warranted to ensure corrective actions already identified by the manufacturer are implemented before more operators/riders are placed in danger. this defect can be extremely hazardous as …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.