NHTSA Complaint #11218895 — 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDLS

HARLEY LATE-MODEL DYNA MOTORCYCLES FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER IS PRONE TO FAILURE. THE FAILURE MODE IS THAT THE PISTON IN THE MASTER CYLINDER DOES NOT RETURN TO THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION, CAUSING THE BRAKE LEVER TO CONTACT THE BRAKE SWITCH WHILE RIDING, MAKING THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAIN ILLUMINATED DURING RIDING WITHOUT THE BRAKE APPLIED. (THIS FAILURE WILL ALSO REGISTER A CODE IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE OF THE MOTORCYCLE; SAID CODE RELATING TO FRONT BRAKE SWITCH BEING STUCK ON.) I HAVE OWNED 3 LATE-MODEL DYNAS ('09 FXDB, '14 FXDF & '16 FXDLS) AND 2 OF THEM HAVE HAD SAID FAILURE. SAID FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN THE 2-YEAR BASIC WARRANTY PERIOD ON MY '14 FXDF, AND HAS OCCURRED NOW ON MY '16 FXDLS (14 MONTHS BEYOND THE BASIC 2-YR WARRANTY). THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED LAST YEAR ON MY STEP-FATHER'S '14 FXDC (SHORTLY BEYOND THE BASIC 2-YR WARRANTY). SOCIAL MEDIA INDICATES THAT THIS FAILURE IS COMMON ENOUGH TO WARRANT A RECALL. SAFETY CONCERN OF SAID FAILURE IS SUCH THAT IF THE BRAKE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY WHILE RIDING, DRIVERS BEHIND THE MOTORCYCLE RIDER DO NOT HAVE AN INDICATION WHEN THE RIDER HAS ACTUALLY BEGUN BRAKING.