What breaks most · 1995 to 2018 model years
Harley-Davidson FLHR problems by year
Owners have filed 73 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Harley-Davidson FLHR across model years 1995 to 2018. Three years stand out: 2008 for speed control and throttle complaints, 2009 for engine complaints and 1999 for suspension complaints. The quietest years are 1997, 2004 and 2013.
- Years to check closely: 2008, 2009, 1999
- Fewest complaints: 1997, 2004, 2013
- Complaints on file
- 731995 to 2018, all trims
- Worst year
- 200814 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 91 fires · 10 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 19kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 20Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 2 | 0 | Tires (3) | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Wheels (1) | |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | Suspension (3) | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | Engine and cooling (2) | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | Suspension (1) | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | Suspension (1) | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Tires (1) | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | Tires (1) | |
| 4 | 0 | 0 | Wheels (1) | |
| 14 | 2 | 2 | Speed control and throttle (4) | |
| 10 | 1 | 3 | Engine (5) | |
| 3 | 1 | 3 | Fuel system (1) | |
| 7 | 1 | 2 | Brakes (3) | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | Unknown or other (1) | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | Speed control and throttle (1) | |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | Body and structure (1) | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | Electrical system (1) | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | Engine (1) |
What fails on the 2008 Harley-Davidson FLHR
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 29% |
4 | 1 | Shop all speed control and throttle parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 21% |
3 | 1 | Shop all electrical system parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 14% |
2 | 0 | Shop all suspension parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 14% |
2 | 0 | Shop all brakes parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 14% |
2 | 1 | Shop all fuel system parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Engine and coolingRadiators, thermostats and cooling | 14% |
2 | 0 | Shop all engine and cooling parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 7% |
1 | 0 | Shop all engine parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Wheels | 7% |
1 | 1 | — |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
When traveling between 50- 70 mph on a long sweeping turn, the rear end will begin to oscillate. Causing a lack or loss of control.
-
Ecm plug caused bike to buck and run erratically. Brought back to dealer numerous times until they changed the plug. They blamed on the aftermarket seat made by mustang seat for the bike but it happened with the stock seat as well. It seems others are saying the same happened to them with stock seats.
-
Front tire (dunlop elite) is unstable; causing front tire to wooble while driving at highway speed of 70-75 mph. Dealer notified and replace tires. Making a report to NHTSA on this matter. *ak
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Harley-Davidson FLHR years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2008, 2009, 1999 carry the most filings on the Harley-Davidson FLHR. The 2008 alone has 14 complaints, led by speed control and throttle.
What is the most common Harley-Davidson FLHR problem?
On the 2008 model year, the most-reported component is speed control and throttle with 4 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Harley-Davidson FLHR problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Harley-Davidson FLHR complaints that include mileage is about 19,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.