NHTSA Complaint #10918036 — 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUSE3

DURING A PANIC STOP CAUSED BY AUTOMOBILE PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF ME MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO ITS DOWN STOP. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FRONT BRAKE REMAINING FUNCTIONAL. THERE WAS NO FLUID LOSS IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM LEADING TO THE EDUCATED (I'M AN ACTIVE FAA AIRFRAME AND POWERPLANT MECHANIC) CONCLUSION THAT A BYPASS CONDITION EXISTS IN THE ANTI-LOCK UNIT. A TRIP TO MY LOCAL HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP REVEALED THAT THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK MODULE ON MY MOTORCYCLE AS IT DEEMED OBSOLETE AND AN UPGRADED UNIT IS ALL THAT IS AVAILABLE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS NOT BEEN MOVED FROM MY GARAGE SINCE THE INCIDENT AND HAS NOT UNDERGONE ANY MECHANICAL WORK DUE TO THE ESTIMATED $1200.00 REPAIR REQUIRED. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A DOCUMENTED DEALER SERVICE HISTORY SO IF REQUIRED BRAKE FLUID CHANGES WERE NOT DONE THEN IT IS THE FAULT OF THE INVOLVED DEALERS. I HAVE JUST STARTED DEALING WITH THIS BRAKE FAILURE AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE MOTORCYCLE TO BE TAMPERED WITH UNTIL AN INVESTIGATION CAN BE DONE BY THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS YET TO BE DETERMINED.