Harley-Davidson Issues Recall for Faulty ABS Brakes
Harley suggests that 2008-2011 Touring, CVO Touring, and VRSC owners replace their brake fluid to prevent caliper failure.
Anti-lock brakes are a pretty awesome piece of technology. They improve control under braking by preventing the wheels from locking up, avoiding uncontrolled skidding, and allowing the tires to maintain contact with the road surface. Unfortunately, problems with ABS technology have plagued Harley-Davidson motorcycles in recent years. The brand issued a recall in January to ensure 2008-2011 Touring models received a critical brake fluid replacement. And now, they’re urging owners to bring their motorcycles in for service and repairs.
The recall affects 175,000 motorcycles in the U.S. and 250,000 worldwide to fix a problem that could lead to sudden brake failure. In the recall, Harley-Davidson states that a faulty ABS module and/or neglected maintenance can lead to caliper failure. “This condition is associated with delayed or neglected brake fluid maintenance as specified in the owner’s manual,” said Carolyn Duranowski, director of marketing at Oakland Harley-Davidson. “Harley-Davidson is offering the remedy fluid flush free of charge to all motorcycles within the recall population, regardless of their maintenance history.”
Motorcycles included in the recall are 2008-2011 Touring, CVO Touring, and VRSC models. Which, of course, are equipped with anti-lock braking systems. Owners of affected models are asked to bring their bikes to any Harley-Davidson dealership immediately, where repairs and/or maintenance can be completed to prevent this failure. Harley estimates that this recall will cost them around $29.4 million.
Harley is obviously giving owners a pass on lax maintenance this time. But they’ll also be reminding owners to pay close attention to recommended service intervals moving forward. Which we’d say is some good advice. So if you own one of the affected models, be sure and get it serviced right away. And then mark it on your calendar for next time. Because a few bucks and a little time beats failing brakes any day!
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