2008 Harley-Davidson Vrscdxa

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation in July 2016 based on forty-three (43) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ).During the course of this investigation ODI received a total of 145 VOQs related to the alleged defect on the subject motorcycles.Owners allege they experience a sudden and complete loss of brakes on one or both wheels.To better understand the cause of the braking issue on the subject motorcycles, ODI requested NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) conduct inspections and testing of affected vehicle braking systems.Through its work, VRTC determined that deposits were forming on the valves in the Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) of the Antilock Braking System (ABS). These deposits could prevent the proper function of the HCU and render the brakes ineffective.To understand why deposits were forming in the HCU, Harley Davidson completed an analysis of the Dow 460 brake fluid used as original equipment on the subject motorcycles and determined that it had stability issues if left in the brake system for an extended period of time.Harley Davidson found that if a brake fluid flush was not conducted as outlined in the owner?s manual for the motorcycles, and was left in the system for a period of time beyond their recommendation; deposits could form in the HCU.Through further testing, Harley Davidson identified an alternate, commercially available, brake fluid that did not have the same stability issues as the original fluid and could stop the proliferation of any current brake system deposits.ODI sent Information Request (IR) letters to Harley Davidson and Dow Chemical (the supplier of the brake fluid on the subject motorcycles) to collect information about the subject bikes and the alleged defect.Harley Davidson responded in full on Sept 30, 2016 and Dow responded with a confidential submission on October 25, 2017.ODI analyzed the information contained in both IR responses and concluded that motorcycles manufactured during Model Years (MY) 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 were failing at a rate greater than their peers.Based on this analysis and the brake fluid study conducted by Harley Davidson, a group of motorcycles was identified that were potentially affected by the instability of the original brake fluid.2008 marked the introduction of ABS on Harley Davidson motorcycles and a change in the Dow 460 brake fluid used in the 2012 MY vehicles provided the bases for the scope of the affected population.With recall action 18V-076 taken by Harley Davidson this investigation is closed as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/ using the complaint identification numbers attached to this resume.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON VRSCDXA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO A MELTED BRAKE LINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ID

11203146

Incident

Apr 2, 2019

Mileage

3,000 mi

HARLEY DAVIDSON RECALL 0171 NHTSA RECALL 18V-076 RECALL STATES THAT THERE IS A CHANCE IN REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT I COMPLETELY LOST THE FRONT BRAKES WHICH IS 75% OF THE BRAKING ABILITY ON A MOTORCYCLE. WHEN MY VRSCDXA WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FLUSH, THE TECHNICIANS DETERMINED THAT THEY COULD NOT FLUSH THE BRAKES DUE TO THE ABS MODULE NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY. THIS REQUIRES A REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS MODULE THAT IS NOW OBSOLETE FOR HD AND AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS DO NOT MAKE THIS PART. IT IS COMPLETE NONSENSE TO HAVE A SYSTEM THAT HAS THE CAPABILITY OF COMPLETELY FAILING, A RECALL THAT DOES NOT COVER THE PARTS OF FAILURE, MISLEADING STATEMENTS ON HOW IT AFFECTS THE BRAKING ABILITY, AS WELL AS NOT BEING ABLE TO SUPPLY THE PARTS THAT HAVE FAILED EVEN WITH THE CUSTOMER WILLING TO PAY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW OBSOLETE. AS FAR AS THE HISTORY GOES ON MY BIKE, I HAD CLEAN BRAKE FLUID IN MY BIKE. I MAY HAVE NOT HAVE FOLLOWED THE EXACT 2 YEAR INTERVAL RECOMMENDED, BUT MY LINES HAVE BEEN FLUSHED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS. HAS NHSTA REALLY INVESTIGATED THE REASON FOR THE RECALL AND EVALUATED HD'S ACTIONS AS REASONABLE FOR THIS SITUATION? SHOULD THERE BE FURTHER ACTIONS IF THE PARTS ARE NOW OBSOLETE? SHOULD THERE BE MORE OF A CONCERN ON THE SAFETY FOR THOSE AFFECTED? WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THOSE THAT CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM? MY SOLUTION WAS TO REMOVE THE ABS COMPONENTS. THAT LOWERS THE VALUE OF MY BIKE AND REMOVES A SAFETY FEATURE THE BIKE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED WITH.

NHTSA ID

11076911

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

25,000 mi

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.8.8): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version 24.8.8. Release Date: Week of August 5, 2024. New Features for Harley-Davidson vehicles: Advanced Module Replace for 2021 and later Revolution Max; 2023 and later CVO Touring; and 2024 Street Glide (FLHX), Road Glide (FLTRX). New Features for LiveWire vehicles: Updated calibrations for 2024 S2DM EV1/ EV6; 2024 S2MH EV1; and 2024 S2DM, S2MH. Changes: Added Hand Control Module (HCM) (Part No. 71500522A and 71500536A) for reflash support.

SERVICE BULLETIN M1490 (V 24.6.4): DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II - UPDATES AND RELEASE NOTES. PURPOSE: Revision. This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has made a software update to Digital Technician II (DT II). DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (PART NUMBER: HD-48650). Version 24.6.4. Release Date: Week of May 1, 2024. New Features for LiveWire S2DM and S2MH, 2024 Revolution® Max, and 2024 Touring.