NHTSA Complaint #10473966 — 2010 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHP

BERKELEY POLICE DEPARTMENT PURCHASED SIX 2010 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KINGS. THREE OF THE SIX ROAD KINGS HAD THE CLUTCH CABLE BROKE WHILE BEING DRIVEN. IN ONE INSTANCE, AN OFFICER WAS AT A RED SIGNAL LIGHT. THE CLUTCH CABLE BROKE AND CAUSED HIM TO PROPEL FORWARD. HIS RIGHT HAND WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR AND WHEN HE WAS PROPELLED FORWARD, HE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR. THE MOTORCYCLE CHOKED OUT AND DIED. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF HIM. THE CLUTCH CABLE BROKE ON ANOTHER OFFICER AS HE WAS RIDING IT. NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE WAS ABLE TO STOP. ON 9/5/12, I WAS COMING TO A RED SIGNAL LIGHT. MY CLUTCH CABLE BROKE AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP. I HAD TO TURN AWAY FROM A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY, THE LEFT TURN POCKET WAS EMPTY AS THAT IS WHERE I TURNED. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND TURNED THE ENGINE SWITCH TO OFF. A FOURTH ROAD KING HAD POWER LOSS AND MAY BE CLUTCH RELATED. OVERALL, 3 OF 6 ROAD KINGS HAD THE CLUTCH CABLE SNAP THAT CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. I HAVE CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM, UNDER REFERENCE #[XXX]. THIS IS AN OFFICER SAFETY ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR