RoadVitals

NHTSA safety recall

Recall 78V159000: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO. · Reported to NHTSA Jul 19, 1978

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
Units potentially affectedThe manufacturer's own estimate of how many vehicles or items of equipment may contain the defect. It is not a count of failures, and not every unit in the range is necessarily affected.
342
Model years coveredModel years in our database that NHTSA matched to this campaign. Whether an individual vehicle is covered still depends on its VIN.
7
Models covered
7
Grouped from the model years above
Reported to NHTSA
Jul 19, 1978
Production Jun 1, 1978 – Jun 1, 1978

What this recall covers

NHTSA's campaign record, quoted as published

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.

Notes

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: FLUID DEPLETION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKINGEFFECTIVENESS, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: INSUFFICIENT BRAKE FLUID IN THE SYSTEM MAY BE INDICATED BY FLUID LEAKAGEAROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER AND INCREASED FREE PLAY IN THE HAND LEVER.

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.

Campaign details

Identifiers and dates as filed with NHTSA

Manufacturer
HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.
Manufacturer's campaign number
Not recorded
NHTSA campaign number
78V159000
Units potentially affected
342
Report received
Jul 19, 1978
Production range
Jun 1, 1978 – Jun 1, 1978
Campaign type
Vehicle
Federal safety standard (FMVSS)
Not recorded

Vehicles covered

7 model years across 7 models

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.