NHTSA Complaint #10274616 — 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE SEAT GOT DETACHED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE SEAT IS ATTACHED AT TWO POINTS. THERE IS A TAB AT THE REAR OF THE SEAT WHICH ATTACHES TO THE FENDER. THE OTHER ATTACHMENT POINT IS UNDER THE SEAT, WHERE A FRAME MOUNTED TAB SLIDES INTO A HOLE IN THE SEAT. THE ATTACHMENT POINT UNDER THE SEAT IS WHERE THE SEAT DETACHED. THE SEAT PAN FOR THIS MODEL BIKE (FLTRSE3) IS QUITE FLEXIBLE. WHEN A RIDER SITS ON THE SEAT, IT ALLOWS THE SEAT TO FLEX. THE FLEXION OF THE SEAT CAUSES THE SEAT TO PULL AWAY FROM THE FRAME MOUNTED SEAT TANG. I HIT A SHARP BUMP AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND THE SEAT FLEXED ENOUGH TO ALLOW IT TO DETACH FROM THE UNDER SEAT MOUNT POINT. THIS FAILURE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE RIDING SEATED ON THE MOTORCYCLE. IT OCCURRED TWICE IN ONE DAY (PERHAPS TWO TO THREE HOURS RIDING). I AM ABLE TO REATTACH THE SEAT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE SEAT THE DAY THIS OCCURRED. THERE IS NO RESOLUTION AT THIS POINT. I AM FAIRLY CERTAIN HARLEY WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BUT I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON ALL FLTRSE3 MODELS AND THAT THE SEATS SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL IF THE MOTORCYCLE SEAT DETACHES WHILE RIDING. THIS DEFECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THE MOTORCYCLE IN QUESTION IS A 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRSE3. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT AVAILABLE TO SELECT IN THE COMPLAINT TYPE SECTION. *TR