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Harley Davidson Brake Light Switch Recall – Over 250 Thousand Touring CVO and Trikes Affected

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Harley Davidson Touring Bike, CVO and Trike brake light switch recall
Harley Davidson Touring Bike, CVO and Trike brake light switch recall

Harley Davidson has issued a recall for over 250,000 touring, CVO and trike models for a problem with the brake light switch being exposed to excessive heat from the exhaust and causing it to fail. Please read below for further details.

Manufacturer: Harley Davidson Motor Company
Models and model years affected:

H-D / FLHP 2009-2012
H-D / FLHPE 2009-2011
H-D / FLHR 2009-2012
H-D / FLHRC 2009-2012
H-D / FLHT 2009-2010
H-D / FLHTC 2009-2012
H-D / FLHTCU 2009-2012
H-D / FLHTCUSE4 2009
H-D / FLHTCUSE5 2010
H-D / FLHTCUSE6 2011
H-D / FLHTCUSE7 2012
H-D / FLHTCUTG 2009-2012
H-D / FLHTK 2010-2012
H-D / FLHTP 2009-2012
H-D / FLHX 2009-2012
H-D / FLHXSE 2010
H-D / FLHXSE2 2011
H-D / FLHXSE3 2012
H-D / FLHXXX 2011
H-D / FLTR 2009
H-D / FLTRSE3 2009
H-D / FLTRU 2010-2012
H-D / FLTRUSE 2011
H-D / FLTRX 2010-2012
H-D / FLTRXSE 2012

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V506000
Component: Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Potential Units Affected: 250,757
Problem: Harley-Davidson is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 touring, CVO touring and trike vehicles manufactured from June 6, 2008, through September 16, 2011. See the above list for the models included in the recall. The rear brake light switch may be exposed to excessive heat from the exhaust system. The excessive heat may cause the switch to not activate the brake lamp or activate the brake lamp when no brake is applied and/or cause a brake fluid leak at the brake light switch, affecting rear brake performance. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.

Corrective Action: Harley-Davidson will notify owners, and dealers will a install a rear brake light switch kit, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about October 31, 2011. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson at 1-414-343-4056.

Comments

  1. And how many recalls does that make for the Motor Company in the year 2011 ?

    Far too many if you ask me . We really need to get our manufacturing ‘Mojo’ back here in the USA as the decline in quality spreads thru out .

    • The part # 72023-51D which is the issue still works in all other bike besides the bikes in the recall, also it has Made in U.S.A. right on the package.

  2. If the problem is caused by heat from the exhaust system, is it affected by replacement of the stock pipes? Seems like a good portion of the Harleys I see around don’t really have exhaust systems.

  3. Just cut up an old Bud can and wrap it around the switch. Problem solved a no cost, plus you get to drink the beer!

  4. A buddy who is a motor mechanics instrucor told me that he was at an industry function a couple of months back. There were more than a few automotive engineers present including a couple from Harley-Davidson.

    During a discussion, one of them said, “Oh no, we don’t ‘engineer’ anything at Harley-Davidson … We build jewellery for men.”

  5. Hawk’s comment explains a lot — and it’s rather sad. I was wondering why H-D hires engineers. But I also wonder why the tobacco companies hire chemists.

  6. That’s funny… Jewelry for men, i guess its kinda true in a stretched out sorta way.

    You would thing a brand would engineer their product to be something special.. aim at perfection.

    • That is the Harley way, Slow improvment of the existing product. Many would say that Harleys are the Perfect Cruiser, Not a Sportbike, Not a Sporttour bike but a perfected CRUISER. The XR1200R is a pretty nice adult Sporty Bike, but not as good as a Electro Glide is as a Cruiser. When a brand trys to be all things to all people it tends to loose focus and looses its identity

  7. I seriously doubt if the problem is very serious …. so what if the brake light fails? See the problem and fix it.

    Every rider should as a matter of course check his lights and controls every time he or she rides. The object of the Harley recall is simply to avoid or dimish liability in the off chance that someone gets rear ended on a hog…. then turns around and blames Harley.

  8. Mine failed, Started leaking fluid. Was not aware of the problem until the switch caught on fire. It took the dealer about 3 weeks to repair it as the switch was on national back order. this was in oct 2010.

  9. Nationwide back-order? Sounds like the halcyon days of the Britbike industry. But, hey, it’s a brake-light switch, not some exotic engine part. Maybe a switch for some automotive application will work, at a quarter of the price. Pull the switch off, take it to a good parts store and see if the counter man can match it. Worth a try.

  10. One would think that the company that wrapped a hot oil tank – excuse me – oil bag – around the battery would have learned something about heat and sensitive parts. Nationwide back order? I can get parts from across the pond for my Velocette in a week or so, yet have been waiting over a month for parts for my 2011 Honda.

  11. This might be a trivial recall designed to get bikes into the shop for a “free” fix and get them to do expensive oil changes and bolt on other shiny expensive stuff. It is the time of the year for this, with winter approaching.

  14. Wow, you guy’s are incredibly funny…and this kind of stuff just NEVER gets old!!

    (and you complain that Harley never comes up with anything new!)

  15. Wow,a Harley with brakes and lights.Unbelievable! ha,ha. A brake light switch is no big deal on any brand. If I had a couple of dollars for all the one’s I replaced when I was wrenching,I could take a vacation. And that includes Japanese,European and British motorcycles.

  16. Ironically the bikes being recalled are Harley’s most expensive models, ranging from $30-$38,000. The mark up from a few of those 250,000+ CVO’s could have hired a competent engineer or enough to outsource it to Porsche. =)

  17. Excessive heat? Imagine that! Next we will be hearing there might be a vibration related recall.