RoadVitals

1978 Harley-Davidson FLH80 Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Recall campaignsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Newest Nov 6, 1979
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
0
Open investigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0

Recall campaigns

3 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

79V246000

STRUCTURE:BODY

Nov 6, 1979
57,694 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT FENDER BOLTS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY LOOSEN AFTER EXTENDED VEHICLE USE. IF UNDETECTED, THE LOOSENING COULD RESULT IN EITHER BOLT LOSS OR FAILURE WHICH COULD ALLOW THE FENDER TO CONTACT THE TIRE.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED FRONT FENDER BRACKET SYSTEM AT NO COST TO OWNER.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.View on NHTSA.gov
79V005000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

Jan 4, 1979
85 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INVOLVED MOTORCYCLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INCORRECT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER PISTON ASSEMBLY WHICH ALLOWS EXCESSIVE CALIPER PAD RETRACTION FROM THE FRONT BRAKE DISC. BECAUSE OF THIS, MORE THAN ONE APPLICATION OF THE FRONT HANDLEVER COULD BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE EFFECTIVE FRONT BRAKING OF THE MOTORCYCLE.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER AT NO COST TO OWNER.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.View on NHTSA.gov
78V159000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Jul 19, 1978
342 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INVOLVED MOTORCYCLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS IN WHICH THE PLUNGER PISTON BORE DIAMETER WAS HONED .015 INCHES OVER MAXIMUM SPECIFICATIONS. THIS OVERSIZED BORE RESULTS IN A POOR FIT BETWEEN THE ELASTOMERIC PISTON CUP AND THE CYLINDER BORE, WHICH ALLOWS FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY AT NO COST TO OWNER.
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.View on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
Safety investigation
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
Manufacturer communication
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources