2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRU — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ON A SLIGHTLY INCLINE HILL, THE CONTACT WENT TO DEPRESS THE FRONT HAND BRAKES HOWEVER IT FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE FOOT BRAKE PEDAL AS THE MOTORCYCLE FELL OVER CAUSING DAMAGED FIBER GLASS ON THE REAR LEFT SIDE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS INSPECTED AT HARLEY-DAVIDSON 25545 INTERSTATE 45, SPRING, TX 77380 (281) 681-0099 PRIOR TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER INDICATED THAT NO CODE WERE FAULTY AT THAT TIME. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.

I HAD JUST LEFT MY HOUSE AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF RIDING, I CAME UP TO A STOP, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO SQUEEZE THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER, IT WAS FROZEN AND WOULD NOT BUDGE. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT GOING FAST AND OR NEEDED AN "EMERGENCY STOP," I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITH DOWNSHIFTING AND REAR BRAKE. I COASTED BACK HOME SLOWLY WITH NO ADDITIONAL ISSUES OTHER THAN NO FRONT BRAKES. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER FROZE AND I WAS UNABLE TO SQUEEZE THE LEVER, CAUSING ME TO BRAKE WITH THE REAR (FOOT) BRAKE TO STOP. I CONTACTED THE HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP, EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID MY ABS "ECU" WAS BAD AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED HOW COULD I LOSE MY FRONT BRAKE AND IF THERE IS ANY WARNING, AND HE SAY, IT COULD BE WORKING FINE AND JUST FREEZE "FROM ONE STOP LIGHT TO ANOTHER." I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE ABS SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD CAUSE THE BRAKE TO WORK AS "NORMAL" NON-ABS BRAKE. THE BIKE WAS TRANSPORTED BY THE H-D DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND REPAIR. AS INDICATED BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR OVER THE PHONE CALL, THE ABS "ECU" WAS BAD AND WAS REPLACED, ALONG WITH NEW BRAKE FLUID AND BLEEDING OF THE LINE. *TR

THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WAS FROZEN AND COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED. THE FRONT BRAKES DID NOT WORK. THIS HAPPENED WHEN IT WAS OPERATING OR STATIONARY. A LOSS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS SERIOUS AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED (12/5/18) AT THE SPACE COAST HARLEY DEALERSHIP, 1440 SPORTSMAN LANE , PALM BAY FL 32905. THE BRAKING ABS HCU FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATES PROPERLY NOW.

FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING.

FAULTY HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT FOR THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AS I HAVE DISCOVERED. IT CAN CAUSE THE LOSS OF EITHER FRONT, OR REAR BREAKS AT ANY TIME. I WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY AND COULDN'T APPLY MY FRONT BREAKS.