NHTSA Complaint #11182741 — 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLD

I OWN A 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD GLIDE ULTRA WITH ABS. IN 2018 I BEGAN EXPERIENCING A STIFF FRONT BRAKE WHILE RIDING. AFTER TAKING THE BIKE INTO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ITS REGULAR SERVICE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS UNABLE TO AFFORD THE REPAIR AT THE TIME. NOW, AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE ABS PUMP. MY FRONT BRAKE IS COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND CANNOT BE ACTIVATED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT RIDING WHEN THIS WAS FOUND. ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS BIKE WAS DONE BY THE DEALER INCLUDING THE BREAK SERVICES. HARLEY DOES APPEAR TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR BIKES WITH ABS FROM 2008-2011 BUT ONLY FOR A FLUID REPLACEMENT AND NOT FOR THE PUMP FAILURE. THERE ARE NO CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM BETWEEN 2011 AND 2012. THE REPORTED FIX IS REGULAR FLUID CHANGES. MY BIKE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE AT EVERY RECOMMENDED MILEAGE BECAUSE I HAVE A SERVICE CONTRACT WITH THE DEALER. ACCORDING TO HARLEY, IF I HAD REGULAR FLUID CHANGES I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE, BUT I STILL DO. IF THIS FAILURE HAD HAPPENED WHILE RIDING I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. UP TO THE POINT OF THE TOTAL LOCK UP I HAD EXPERIENCED A HARD BREAK THAT HAD TO BE FREED DURING RIDING.