Harley-Davidson Recalls 250,000 Motorcycles for Rear Brake Light Switches

Harley-Davidson is issuing a recall for 250,757 units from its Touring, CVO Touring and Trike line from model years 2009 – 2012.

The rear brake light switch on the models in question may become degraded due to the heat from the exhaust systems. This may affect brake light function and may result in a brake fluid leak.

According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the problem was first identified in June 2010 after a Harley-Davidson Trike model lost rear brake function due to a fluid leak. A month later, Harley-Davidson received a report of an alledged crash with a similar problem.

Harley-Davidson isolated the problem tot he rear brake switch and began conducting extensive performance testing. Parts from the field reports were also shipped to the switch supplier in Italy. The investigation concluded the cause of the problem was a new configuration introduced in Harley-Davidson’s FL touring line in 2009.

Dealers will install a replacement brake light switch kit on the models included in the recall campaign.

Here’s a full list of the units and model years affected:

H-D / FLHP             2009-2012
H-D / FLHPE             2009-2011
H-D / FLHR             2009-2012
H-D / FLHRC             2009-2012
H-D / FLHT             2009-2010
H-D / FLHTC             2009-2012
H-D / FLHTCU             2009-2012
H-D / FLHTCUSE4             2009
H-D / FLHTCUSE5             2010
H-D / FLHTCUSE6             2011
H-D / FLHTCUSE7             2012
H-D / FLHTCUTG             2009-2012
H-D / FLHTK             2010-2012
H-D / FLHTP             2009-2012
H-D / FLHX             2009-2012
H-D / FLHXSE             2010
H-D / FLHXSE2             2011
H-D / FLHXSE3             2012
H-D / FLHXXX             2011
H-D / FLTR             2009
H-D / FLTRSE3             2009
H-D / FLTRU             2010-2012
H-D / FLTRUSE             2011
H-D / FLTRX             2010-2012
H-D / FLTRXSE             2012

[Source: NHTSA]