1999 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCUI — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA FLHTCUI. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND FLIPPED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS PLACED IN A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA DUE TO THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND LATER DEEMED DESTROYED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PRIOR TO THE FAILURE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE SPECIFICS OF THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V134000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS INCLUDED AND THE RECALL WAS INCOMPLETE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

I NOTICED A GASOLINE ODOR AND AFTER INVESTIGATING, DETERMINED THAT BOTH FUEL LINES WERE LEAKING GASOLINE AT THE TANK FITTINGS. PARTS THAT WERE DEFECTIVE ARE 61471-95 AND 61470-99. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IF GASOLINE WAS IGNITED BY A HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST PIPE. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT WAS RELATED TO A WARRANTY REPAIR ITEM ON A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART FROM HARLEY-DAVIDISON TWIN CAM MOTORS 1999 - 2000. REAR CAM BEARING FAILURE. IN 08/2006 I PURCHASED A 1999 FLHTCUI WITH 6000 MILES. HARLEY DID A WARRANTY REPAIR ON THESE MOTORCYCLES UP TO 50000 MILES OR 5 YEARS. THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR OF DEFECTIVE PART. THEREFORE, I CONTACTED HARLEY DAVIDSON TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE DEFECTIVE BEARING SINCE IT WAS AN ISSUE OF WHEN THIS PART WAS GOING TO FAIL, NOT IF THIS PART WAS GOING TO FAIL. THERE WAS NHTSA SAFETY RECALL# 99V003000 FOR A CAM BOLT FAILURE, RENDERING THE MOTORCYCLE INOPERABLE, WHY NOT FOR THE CAM BEARING DEFECTIVE WHICH COULD RENDER THE MOTORCYCLE INOPERABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ,AND ALSO CAUSE EXCESSIVE MOTORCYCLE DAMAGE. *AK

I HAVE A 1999 HARLEY MODEL #FLHTCU-I, VIN # [XXX].I RECEIVED A RECALL ON PART # 29987-99A A CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT COULD OPEN DUE TO REASONS OTHER THAN FOR WHICH IT WAS DESIGNED,CAUSING AN UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION OF ALL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE MOTORCYCLE. I WAS ON VACATION WHEN THIS UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION OCCURRED. I HAD MY BIKE TOWED TO KNOXVILLE, TN.,THE NEAREST H-D DEALER.THEY TOLD ME THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT THE HAVE SEEN ON SEVERAL OF THESE BIKES. WHEN I CALLED H-D COSTONER SERVICE THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE NOT RECALLING THE STATOR ASSY., #29987-99A WHICH WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL LETTER. I THINK THE STATOR SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL.THE H-D DEALERS THAT I HAVE TALK TO THINK THE SAME AS I DO. I HOPE YOU WOULD LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM, IT WILL SAVE LIVES. THANKS [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE CAM BEARING FAILED AND AFTER DELIVERY TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAM BOLTS HAD ALSO CAME LOOSE