AI Damage2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 13
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 69% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 4 Equipment 8% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 9 complaints (69% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 13 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 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.
Front brakes failure by lock-up on a new hd xr1200 owned by hd and lent to me for a demo-ride (or test). The main witness has stated in writing that he has checked and double-checked that the front wheel was still blocked by the front brakes even after the crash.
2008 harley davidson night rod special rear brake light switch is located 1/2" from the exhaust pipe. This switch gets hot and melts the switch allowing all the brake fluid to leak out and create a complete failure of the rear brake. This is a very dangerous situation.
Fuel gauge does not work. It hasn't worked since the day I bought the bike. There are more broken gauges than working ones on this model of bike. Harley throws random parts and never fixes the real problem.
I received first degree burns to my thighs. This engine is known to be a problem with being hot as I found out after I purchased the motorcycle. I was stuck in traffic, due to an auto accident. While moving at a slow speed or stopped this engine gets hundreds hotter than normal operation.
Real bad mis-fire with spitting and sputtering. Took to shop and was told that it has a cracked fuel line fitting. I read a forum and learned that this is a serious problem and there is no safety recall. This could potentially cause a death.
Harley davidson has known about the catastrophic failure of the fuel pump pressure regulators on its 08 models for many months due to a defective part. This particular vehicle had been in possession of its dealer since oct.
I feel the helmet laws for motorcycle riders is an infringment of my rights under the constitution of the united states.
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 9,843 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Fxdwg has 3 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 13, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, service brakes, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 13. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (23%), brake failure (8%), won't start (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Harley-Davidson Fxdwg?
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 Fxdwg 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.