NHTSA Complaint #10254357 — 2006 HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C

HARLEY-DAVIDSON USES THE SAME PART ON MANY OF THEIR MOTORCYCLES WHICH HAS PROVEN TO BE DEFECTIVE. THIS PART IS THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO ACTIVATE THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT WHEN THE RIDER APPLIES PRESSURE TO THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL. THIS PART HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON HUNDREDS OF THEIR PRODUCTS (IN SOME CASES MORE THAN ONCE AS THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS ALSO FAILED) DATING BAKE SEVERAL YEARS YET THEY CONTINUE TO USE IT WITHOUT UPGRADING IT. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND WE, THE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE IT, WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION BY YOU AS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE WHICH WE CAN ONLY HOPE WILL LEAD TO A REDESIGN OF THIS PART SO AS TO ALLEVIATE ITS ONGOING FAILURE. I HAVE NO RECORD OF ACTUAL ACCIDENTS WHICH HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS PARTS FAILURE HOWEVER I DO KNOW THAT WE MOTORCYCLISTS FACE ENOUGH HAZARDS ON THE ROAD AND THE FAILURE OF OUR BRAKE LIGHT SHOULD NOT BE ONE OF THEM ESPECIALLY WHEN THE TRACK RECORD OF THE PART WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IS FAULTY. *TR