Notice: HD Brake Line Recall
Harley-Davidson has issued a recall for all of its ABS-equipped 2014 Touring models. The recall affects 66,421 units. The recall is due to the placement of the bike’s front brake line, which may become pinched between the fuel tank and frame and potentially lock-up the front wheel.
H-D will notify owners and offer a fix at local dealers free of charge. Dealers will inspect the brake line for damage and replace or install additional cable straps to ensure the brake line will not become compromised in the future. Cable straps will be installed if a new brake line is installed as well.
Documentation published at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) details the recall as follows: “Some of these motorcycles may have been assembled with a front brake line in a position where it could become pinched between the fuel tank and the frame, either at original assembly or during subsequent service activity. If this condition remains undetected, it could cause front brake fluid pressure to increase while riding, possibly resulting in a front wheel lock-up.”
The document shows the chronology of events leading up to the recall. Harley began investigating on September 11, 2013 after it was “advised of a pinched brake line under the rear fuel tank mounting bracket of a police motorcycle being set up for service.”
On October 8, 2013, H-D determined that “six warranty claims/consumer contacts” were linked to the brake line issue possibly causing “one crash with no injuries.”
A week later corrective action was taken on the final assembly line at the York facility, and on October 14 a cable strap was added to retain the brake lines from being pinched. H-D reports it then closed its investigation on November 11 of that year.
The investigation was reopened on May 7, 2014 when the York Final Vehicle Audit “reported a Touring bike with a brake line pinched in a different location. This time it was between the fuel tank and the frame several inches forward of the rear fuel tank mounting bracket.”
Harley-Davidson added another cable strap to the production process to address this new issue. After reanalyzing its warranty data on May 12,there were a “a cumulative total of 39 warranty claims potentially related to this issue, four of which reported crashes (with one reported minor injury).” On May 20, HD determined another “customer complaint involving a reported crash with minor injuries” related to the front brake line issue.
This is not the first large recall for Harley-Davidson’s 2014 Touring lineup, in October 2013 The Motor Company recalled 29,000for issues related to its new hydraulic clutch. This previous recall included a Do Not Ride notice to consumers, as the defect could result “fiery death!” or the clutch not disengaging.
For this most recent brake line recall, H-D owners can contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. The affected recall units are manufactured from July 1, 2013 through May 7, 2014:
- 2014 FLHP Road King Police
- 2014 FLHR Road King
- 2014 FLHRC Road King Classic
- 2014 FLHRSE CVO Road King
- 2014 FLHTCU Electra Glide Ultra Classic
- 2014 FLHTCUTC (Uncertain on specific model, but potentially FLHTCUTG Tri Glide Ultra Trike)
- 2014 FLHTK Electra Glide Ultra Limited
- 2014 FLHTKSE CVO Limited
- 2014 FLHTKSHRINE Electra Glide Ultra Limited Shrine Edition
- 2014 FLHTP Electra Glide Police
- 2014 FLHX Street Glide
- 2014 FLHXS Street Glide Special
- 2014 FLHXSHRINE Street Glide Shrine Edition