AI Damage2008 Harley-Davidson Vrscdx: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Harley-Davidson Vrscdx filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 44% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 33% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 22% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 22% of all complaints
- 5 Forward collision avoidance 11% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 4 complaints (44% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 3 complaints (33% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (22% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (22% of all).
- Forward collision avoidance: 1 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 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 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 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.
The abs hydraulic control unit has failed which is causing the abs feature to become unusable and brakes now degraded and faulty without paying for a new unit which harley has quoted $1400 to replace. Nhtsa campaign number: 18v076000 ## vin passed ## harley davidson 2008 ##
Fuel gauge never reads accurate. When bike is full the gauge will read full but when I turn bike off and restart it again the fuel gauge will read 1/4 full. Gauge is very independable. Resulting in the bike running out of gas because the improper reading from the fuel gauge.
Hundreds of people who own this bike are reporting that the fuel gauge is a problem that the company is unwilling to fix. See thread: http://www.1130cc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106786.
Fuel gauge reads erratically low from empty up to actual level. Possible fuel sensor failure. Uncommanded changes in power apparently related to this common problem make it a safety issue due to erratic speed/thrust behavior. It has occurred at high speeds in heavy traffic forcing me to pull over.
I own a 2008 vrscdx harley davidson - the rear brake failed as it is exposed to excessive heat, due to its proximity to the exhaust pipe. The failure is caused by the plastic portion of the switch melting allowing the brake fluid to leak out of the system.
2008 harley davidson vrscdx (night rod special) after purchasing my motorcycle, 5 months passed when the fuel gauge went out. I took it back to harley, as it was under warranty, they replaced some parts which fixed the issue.
Erratic fuel gauge. Often reads full when it's actually much lower. This is more critical on a motorcycle (and on manual transmission cars) as the driven wheel and tire are directly connected from the engine to the road.
Fuel gauge is always erratic in displaying the amount of remaining fuel (generally reports more than is remaining). This may cause the vehicle to run out of fuel, loss of power and stall. No correction currently available.
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 11,368 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Vrscdx has 5 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 9, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Harley-Davidson Vrscdx?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (78%), brake failure (11%), loss of power / limp mode (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Harley-Davidson Vrscdx?
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 Vrscdx 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 2026-11-06.