NHTSA Complaint #10593755 — 2003 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRI

THE ENGINE ON THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS A DEFECT IN THE CAM TENSIONER THAT CAN CAUSE THE MOTOR TO FAIL AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING DUE TO OIL PRESSURE BEING LOST. THE MOTORCYCLE CAN LOCK-UP, CAUSING THE RIDER TO FALL THE ENGINE CASE CAN BECOME CRACKED CAUSING OIL ON THE REAR TIRE CAUSING THE RIDER TO FALL. HARLEY DAVIDSON IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY OFFER A KIT TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM EXIST ON ANY MOTORCYCLE BUILT WITH THE TWIN CAM 88, 96, 103, 110 ENGINE DATING BACK TO 1999. MY QUESTION IS WHY HASN'T SOMEONE LOOKED INTO THIS? THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF MOTORCYCLES WITH THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY, AND NOTICED MY OIL PRESSURE DROPPED AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. HARLEY SAYS THIS IS A MAINTENANCE ITEM, YET IT IS NOT IN THE BOOK ANYWHERE. I ONLY FOUND AT ABOUT IT WHEN TALKING TO A HARLEY DEALER. THE INTERNET IS FILLED WITH MAGAZINE ARTICLES AND STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR