NHTSA Complaint #10630593 — 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK

THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER HYDRAULIC PRESSURE SWITCH, WHICH ACTIVATES THE BRAKE LIGHT AND DISABLES THE CRUISE CONTROL, FAILS TO ACTIVATE BEFORE SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THE BRAKES BEGIN TO FUNCTION LONG BEFORE THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON OR THE CRUISE DISCONNECTS. THIS CAUSES A PROBLEM WHEN STOPPED, AS THE BRAKE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON WHEN USING THE FRONT BRAKE ALONE, UNLESS SERIOUS PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE LEVER, FAR MORE THAN NORMALLY REQUIRED TO HOLD THE BIKE STOPPED AGAINST A SLOPE. ALSO, CRUISE FAILS TO DISENGAGE IF ONLY THE FRONT LEVER IS GENTLY PULLED; THE BIKE BEGINS TO SLOW CONSIDERABLY BEFORE THE CRUISE DISENGAGES. BRAKE STOPPING ACTION IS NORMAL. REAR BRAKE FOOT PEDAL WORKS PROPERLY AND THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON NORMALLY, THAT IS WITH LIGHT PRESSURE, ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS BRAKING ACTION BEGINS. THE DEALER (SHOP MANAGER [XXX] , MARIETTA GA) COMPARED MY BRAKE ACTION TO SEVERAL OTHER 2014 BIKES AND HE SAID THEY ALL ARE LIKE THAT. BUT IT'S NOT NORMAL AND IT CAUSES ME DISTRESS THAT IT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. I WANT MY BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON WHEN I PULL THE LEVER. I WORRY THAT I'LL GET HIT BY A CAR WHICH DOESN'T THINK I'M STOPPED. I WANT MY CRUISE TO DISENGAGE WHEN I PULL THE LEVER. THIS SWITCH IS A COMMON PART WITH ALL 2014 TOURING MODEL H-D MOTORCYCLES, AND MAYBE EARLIER MODELS. *TR