NHTSA Complaint #10984361 — 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCAW

AFTER LEAVING MY HOUSE & DRIVING DOWN THE STREET I HAD COMPLETE FAILURE ON MY FRONT BRAKES, DUE TO THE FRONT BRAKE WAS IN HYDRAULIC LOCK, LUCKILY THE BACK BRAKES WERE STILL USABLE. THE FRONT WHEEL WAS FREE TO SPIN BUT NO BRAKES COULD BE APPLIED TO IT, IT DID WORK MOMENTS BEFORE WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE MOST OF YOUR STOPPING POWER IS AT THE FRONT BRAKE & IF ONE NEEDS IT AT THE WRONG MOMENT, THAT COULD BE FATAL, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR NOT EXPECTING IT. THIS BIKE HAS ABS BRAKES & IT'S THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT THAT WENT BAD. AFTER PUTTING IT IN THE SHOP, I WAS ALSO TOLD THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL THAT CONTROLS THE HCU NEEDED REPLACING AS WELL.IF THE VALVES STICK IN THE HCU, THIS IS THE CAUSE OF THE HYDRAULIC LOCK AT THE BRAKE LEVER OR PEDAL. HD CLAIMS THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU FAIL TO CHANGE YOUR BRAKE FLUID EVERY 2 YEARS BUT THE REPAIR SHOP MY BIKE WAS IN CLAIMED THEY HAVE GOTTEN POLICE CRUISERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD.THESE REPAIRS COST ME OVER 1100.00 & ALL I CAN DO NOW IS MAKE SURE I CHANGE SUCH FLUID AT AN AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP SO IF THIS HAPPENS TO HURT, MAIM, OR KILL ME THAT I WILL HAVE SOME RECOURSE. ONLY OPTION IS TO SELL BIKE OR STRIP ALL ABS EQUIPMENT & REPLACE WITH STANDARD BRAKE SYSTEM. INTERNET CLAIMS FROM OTHERS HAVE REPORTED COMPLETE FAILURE ON FRONT & REAR BRAKES AS WELL, BUT THIS IS USUALLY A RARE OCCURRENCE. IN CONCLUSION, I BELIEVE FAILURE OF THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM SHOULD NOT RESULT IN COMPLETE FAILURE OF BRAKES. I'M NOT SURE, BUT VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED THIS WAY, SO WHEN THE ABS SYSTEM FAILS, THE STANDARD BREAKING SYSTEM IS STILL USABLE.