Harley-Davidson Flstsb
2008–2009
Check this VIN's history before you buy — accidents, title issues, odometer records.
Data Availability
Only 4 NHTSA complaints exist for the 2008–2009 Harley-Davidson FLSTSB in our database. This is too small a sample to draw reliability conclusions. Motorcycles generally receive fewer NHTSA reports than cars, and limited-production models like the FLSTSB often have minimal complaint records regardless of actual reliability.
What We Know From Recalls
No recalls on record for these model years—a positive signal, though absence of recalls doesn't guarantee problem-free ownership.
Technical Service Bulletins
Harley-Davidson issued 12 TSBs for the 2008–2009 FLSTSB. These cover known issues and maintenance updates that dealers can address. Reviewing these bulletins with a mechanic familiar with this platform can reveal common maintenance items or design quirks.
Owner Watch-Outs
The limited complaint data shows 3 reports of water leaks (body/interior) and 1 brake-system concern. We cannot establish patterns from such small numbers.
How to Research Further
For low-data vehicles, rely on pre-purchase inspection by a Harley specialist, consult model-specific forums (HD Forums, V-Twin Forum), and check maintenance records. VIN-specific history reports may reveal service patterns the owner population hasn't formally reported.
Not confident checking all of this yourself? A pre-purchase inspection from a mobile mechanic typically runs $100–200 and catches most of what's listed above.
Trends
Complaint trends by era
4 complaints
5-year windows, not manufacturer generations — this database doesn't have reliable platform/redesign data to draw real generation boundaries from. Recent model years show fewer complaints mainly because they have been on the road less time, not necessarily because they're more reliable — read this as complaint volume and mix by era, not a reliability trend.
What breaks, and when
Onset mileage not consistently reported.
Median onset: 19,679 miles.
From owner-filed complaints to NHTSA, not independently verified. Federal mileage reporting on recent complaints is sparse — see methodology.
Buying this vehicle? An extended warranty can cap your risk on the failures listed above.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — complaints, recalls, investigations, service bulletins. Methodology. This is not an inspection and not a recommendation to buy or avoid this vehicle.