AI Damage2008 Harley-Davidson Flhrc: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flhrc filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 12
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 17% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 17% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (17% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (17% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (17% of all).
- Steering: 2 complaints (17% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 12 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Rear brake switch wiring melted. Brake switch began leaking profusely. Dealer says brake fluid exchange recalled for year. The switch was not. However, forums say this is a common problem due to excessive exhaust header heat. The dealer told me the switch has been redesigned. I have one ordered.
The failure was not caused by a loss of brake fluid. I have not ridden the motorcycle since.
2008 harley-davidson roadking classic with 23,748 miles started having excessive vibration and the starter made a loud "bang" during hot starts...also noticed a loud clunk sound from the primary chain case when shutting the engine off.
The gear shift and heal-toe shift levers fell off the motorcycle while traveling on an interstate highway at a speed of about 75 mph, leaving no mechanism for changing gears.
While driving at a speed of 60 mph, I encountered a horse drawn carriage on the side of the road. I applied my foot operated rear brake first and found that the cruise control would not disengage. Only after I applied my front hand brake could I get the cruise control to disengage.
While traveling on the beltway at 60 miles an hour my motorcycle went into a limp mode. Speed dropped to 15 miles an hour quickly and would not go above 15 mph. This has happened to me several times. Recently took the bike to the dealer and they replaced a sensor in the handle bar.
2008 harley-davidson roadking taken to the shop for excessive vibration. At 10,000 miles, the compensator sprocket on this motorcycle disintegrated and replaced by the dealer under warranty.. This sprocket is connected to the main shaft this incident was diagnosed as a loose engine mount at first.
Our 2008 harley davidson road king classic with cruise control and abs pulls to the left if constant pressure is not applied to the handlebars. If you take your hands off the bars it will promptly cross the center line and would be heading into oncoming traffic. We made the dealer aware of this shortly after purchase.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 10,160 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 28% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Flhrc has 6 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 12, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flhrc?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, powertrain, service brakes. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: engine failure or replacement (17%), vibration (17%), brake failure (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Harley-Davidson Flhrc?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 Harley-Davidson Flhrc from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.