IllustrationREAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE (CRACK IN PLASTIC HOUSING) CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING. BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH BRAKE FLUID. FRONT FORK SEAL FAILURE AT 14K MILES CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING.
2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Vrscaw
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Vrscaw years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
6 reportsAFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE & DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I HAD COMPLETE FAILURE ON MY FRONT BRAKES, DUE TO THE FRONT BRAKE WAS IN HYDRAULIC LOCK, LUCKILY THE BACK BRAKES WERE STILL USABLE. THE FRONT WHEEL WAS FREE TO SPIN BUT NO BRAKES COULD BE APPLIED TO IT, IT DID WORK MOMENTS BEFORE WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE MOST O…
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AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE & DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I HAD COMPLETE FAILURE ON MY FRONT BRAKES, DUE TO THE FRONT BRAKE WAS IN HYDRAULIC LOCK, LUCKILY THE BACK BRAKES WERE STILL USABLE. THE FRONT WHEEL WAS FREE TO SPIN BUT NO BRAKES COULD BE APPLIED TO IT, IT DID WORK MOMENTS BEFORE WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE MOST OF YOUR STOPPING POWER IS AT THE FRONT BRAKE & IF ONE NEEDS IT AT THE WRONG MOMENT, THAT COULD BE FATAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR NOT EXPECTING IT. THIS BIKE HAS ABS BRAKES & IT'S THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT THAT WENT BAD. AFTER PUTTING IT IN THE SHOP, I WAS ALSO TOLD THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL THAT CONTROLS THE HCU NEEDED REPLACING AS WELL.IF THE VALVES STICK IN THE HCU, THIS IS THE CAUSE OF THE HYDRAULIC LOCK AT THE BRAKE LEVER OR PEDAL. HD CLAIMS THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU FAIL TO CHANGE YOUR BRAKE FLUID EVERY 2 YEARS BUT THE REPAIR SHOP MY BIKE WAS IN CLAIMED THEY HAVE GOTTEN POLICE CRUISERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD.THESE REPAIRS COST ME OVER 1100.00 & ALL I CAN DO NOW IS MAKE SURE I CHANGE SUCH FLUID AT AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP SO IF THIS HAPPENS TO HURT, MAIM, OR KILL ME THAT I WILL HAVE SOME RECOURSE. ONLY OPTION IS TO SELL BIKE OR STRIP ALL ABS EQUIPMENT & REPLACE WITH STANDARD BRAKE SYSTEM. INTERNET CLAIMS FROM OTHERS HAVE REPORTED COMPLETE FAILURE ON FRONT & REAR BRAKES AS WELL, BUT THIS IS USUALLY A RARE OCCURRENCE. IN CONCLUSION, I BELIEVE FAILURE OF THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM SHOULD NOT RESULT IN COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKES. I'M NOT SURE, BUT VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED THIS WAY, SO WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM FAILS, THE STANDARD BREAKING SYSTEM IS STILL USABLE.
THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE GAUGE WILL GO FROM 100% FULL, TO EMPTY, TO A 1/4 FILLED WITHIN MINUTES. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN SITTING OR MOVING. THE GAUGE IS UNPREDICTABLE AND UNRELIABLE. I JUST PURCHASED THE BIKE IN OCTOBER. *TR
THE FUEL GAUGE IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY. IT WILL SOMETIMES DISPLAY A 1/2 TANK AND THEN GO DOWN TO COMPLETE EMPTY AFTER TRAVELING 10-15 MILES FROM A COMPLETE FILL UP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCAW MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED AND WOULD NOT REGISTER IF THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL OR EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVIS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCAW MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED AND WOULD NOT REGISTER IF THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL OR EMPTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,800.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCAW MOTORCYCLE. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE FOOT PEG SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR ISSUES WITH THE FOOT PEG. HIS ATTORNEY ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUF…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON VRSCAW MOTORCYCLE. WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE FOOT PEG SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR ISSUES WITH THE FOOT PEG. HIS ATTORNEY ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,889 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,850.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE16009 · Sudden Brake Failure - Motorcycle
Opened Jul 6, 2016 · Closed Apr 23, 2018
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation in July 2016 based on forty-three (43) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ).During the course of this investigation ODI received a total of 145 VOQs related to the alleged defect on the subject motorcycles.Owners allege they experience a sudden and complete loss of brakes on one or both wheels.To better understand the cause of the braking issue on the subject motorcycles, ODI requested NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) conduct inspections and testing of affected vehicle braking systems.Through its work, VRTC determined that deposits were forming on the valves in the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) of the Antilock Braking System (ABS). These deposits could prevent the proper function of the HCU and render the brakes ineffective.To understand why deposits were forming in the HCU, Harley Davidson completed an analysis of the Dow 460 brake fluid used as original equipment on the subject motorcycles and determined that it had stability issues if left in the brake system for an extended period of time.Harley Davidson found that if a brake fluid flush was not conducted as outlined in the owner?s manual for the motorcycles, and was left in the system for a period of time beyond their recommendation; deposits could form in the HCU.Through further testing, Harley Davidson identified an alternate, commercially available, brake fluid that did not have the same stability issues as the original fluid and could stop the proliferation of any current brake system deposits.ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to Harley Davidson and Dow Chemical (the supplier of the brake fluid on the subject motorcycles) to collect information about the subject bikes and the alleged defect.Harley Davidson responded in full on Sept 30, 2016 and Dow responded with a confidential submission on October 25, 2017.ODI analyzed the information contained in both IR responses and concluded that motorcycles manufactured during Model Years (MY) 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 were failing at a rate greater than their peers.Based on this analysis and the brake fluid study conducted by Harley Davidson, a group of motorcycles was identified that were potentially affected by the instability of the original brake fluid.2008 marked the introduction of ABS on Harley Davidson motorcycles and a change in the Dow 460 brake fluid used in the 2012 MY vehicles provided the bases for the scope of the affected population.With recall action 18V-076 taken by Harley Davidson this investigation is closed as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/ using the complaint identification numbers attached to this resume.