NHTSA Complaint #10631411 — 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFT TAIL

WHILE GETTING OFF OF THE BIKE PASSENGER NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINE AT THE GAS TANK CONNECTION. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION FOUND THAT THE QUICK CONNECT FITTING AT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING.UPON CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE QUICK CONNECT IT APPEARS TO HAVE TWO INTERNAL "O" RINGS. PRIOR TO THIS ISSUE I HAVE NEVER DISCONNECTED THE FUEL LINE, BIKE HAS NEVER BEEN DROPPED AND THERE HAS BEEN NO OTHER ADVERSE EVENTS TO THIS AREA. WITH THE EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE (LESS THAN 3,000), METICULOUS CARE AND RUNNING THE FUEL TANK DRY BEFORE STORAGE THERE SHOULD NOT BE A FAILURE OF THIS NATURE. FUEL LEAKING FROM THIS FITTING DRIPS DIRECTLY ON THE ENGINE. ON-LINE RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE SOMEWHAT COMMON. YOU TUBE VIDEO AND SELF HELP MECHANICAL SITES HAVE MANY DISCUSSIONS ON THIS PROBLEM. IRONICALLY, WHEN I CONTACTED MY LOCAL H-D DEALER I WAS TOLD THE REPLACEMENT PART IS LISTED "DISCONTINUED" AS "OBSOLETE". REALLY, IT'S A 2009. FUEL LEAKING ON AN ENGINE DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE BY ENGINEERED DESIGN SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER WITHOUT ANY DEBATE. NOTE THAT THE FUEL CAP ALSO LEAKS BUT AT LEAST I CAN SEE THE FUEL RUNNING DOWN THE TANK BEFORE IT GETS TO THE ENGINE. *TR