2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The ABS module has failed on my HD FLHTK causing the rear brake to stop working with no warning. The dealer has my bike but said the module is out of stock and is back ordered until April of 2024. Doing an internet search reveals this is a known problem, sometimes causing both front and rear brakes to fail without warning. They said the brake fluid should have been replaced every two years to avoid this problem. I did not know this. The risk is obvious. The diagnosis was done by Henderson Harley-Davidson, in Henderson, Nevada. My bike remains there. There was no warning before the failure.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA (FLHTK). WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE SADDLE BAG FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE SADDLE BAG AND DROVE HOME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

THE 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SERVICE MANUAL TOURING MODELS (99483-14) CONTAINS A PROCEDURE FOR BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER UNLESS AIR IS INTRODUCED INTO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. SUBSEQUENT TO THE PUBLICATION OF THIS MANUAL, SOME 2008-2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE MODELS WERE INVOLVED IN AN NHTSA RECALL FOR ABS BRAKE ISSUES. AFTER THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, HARLEY-DAVIDSON NOW REQUIRES THAT ALL YEAR MODEL MOTORCYCLES WITH ABS HAVE THE BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT PERFORMED USING THE DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (HD-48650), WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE TO OWNERS. THE DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II ACTIVATES THE ABS MODULE DURING A BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT TO ENSURE ALL CONTIMANATED BRAKE FLUID IS FLUSHED FROM THE ABS MODULE AND BRAKE LINES. AS I STATED, THE 2014 SERVICE MANUAL DOES NOT REQUIRE THIS STEP. HARLEY-DAVIDSON ALLOWS OWNERS TO PURCHASE SERVICE MANUALS IN ORDER FOR OWNERS TO PERFORM THEIR OWN SERVICE AND REPAIRS TO THEIR HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLES TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND REPAIRS. THEREFORE, OWNERS WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT A CRITICAL BRAKE SERVICE PROCEDURE HAS BEEN CHANGED WHICH, IF DONE AS OUTLINED IN THE OLDER SERVICE MANUAL, COULD END UP CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE THE RIDER AND/OR PASSENGER. I FEEL IT IS NEGLIGENT OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE THIS PROCEDURE WITHOUT NOTIFYING OWNERS.

FAULTY ABS SYSTEM. MYSELF AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABS SYSTEMS ON OUR HARLEYS. THE RECALL COVERS FROM 2008-2011. WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE OF WHY YOU WOULD LET HARLEY CONTINUE TO MANUFACTURE MOTORCYCLES WITH A FAULTY SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW BRAKES TO LOCK UP INSTEAD OF THE SYSTEM MOST EVERYONE ELSE USES WHERE THE ABS IS JUST DISABLED BUT STILL HAVE NORMAL BRAKE FUNCTIONS EXCEPT FOR THE ABS. I WAS A MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS AND WAS AROUND WHEN THE FIRST ABS SYSTEMS CAME ABOUT. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE HURT.

TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OVERHEAT LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. AFTER CONSULTING WITH LOCAL HD DEALER BY PHONE WAS ADVISED TO HAVE THE BIKE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR (PER HD MEMO). PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAULTY WATER PUMP WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER STATED, AND CONFIRMED AT OTHER HD DEALERS, THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO KEEP THESE WATER PUMPS IN STOCK DUE TO THE HIGH FAILURE RATE. NECESSITY TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSED AN UNSAFE CONDITION DUE TO REMAINING ALONGSIDE THE HIGHWAY UNTIL A TOW VEHICLE COULD MOVE BIKE. THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE ON 2014 HD MOTORCYCLES WITH "TWIN COOLING" ACCORDING TO SEVERAL DEALERS. ONCE REPLACED, THE NEW PUMP MOTORS FUNCTION PROPERLY.