NHTSA Complaint #10037278 — 2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE

I RIDE A 2003 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCUI (ULTRA CLASSIC) MOTORCYCLE. AT 2,500 RPM, 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYLCE EXPERIENCED FULL ELECTRICAL FAILURE - NO LIGHTS, NO SIGNALS, NO HORN, NO RADIO, NO FUEL INJECTION, NO ENGINE - ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LOOSE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. THE SECOND DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A LOOSE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE AND INSTALLED A STAR WASHER TO KEEP THE CONNECTION TIGHT. COMING HOME FROM WISCONSIN, THE MOTORCYCLE SHUTDOWN AGAIN. I CHECKED THE BATTERY CABLE AND IT WAS STILL TIGHT. EACH TIME, I WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 55 MPG AND 60 MPH, WHICH IS BETWEEN 2300 RPM AND 2500 RPM. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF THE IGNITION, WAIT A MOMENT, AND TURN ON THE IGNITION AGAIN. THE SYSTEM RESET ITSELF AND I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE RIDING. A TOTAL ELECTRICAL SHUTDOWN IS DANGEROUS. THUS FAR, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; IF IN AN INTERSECTION, I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION.*AK