NHTSA Investigates Harley-Davidson

WASHINGTON – Sudden brake failures involving Harley-Davidson motorcycles with ABS covering four model years are being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to published reports, including one story in the Journal Sentinel newspaper in the company’s headquarters of Milwaukee.

NHTSA said the probe involves 430,000 motorcycles covering the 2008 through 2011 model years. Riders have reported failures of both the front and rear brakes. There have been 43 complaints from riders, three reports of crashes and two reports of injuries. One rider reportedly crashed into a garage door.

The agency said some cases where the brakes did not work involved riders who did not change the brake fluid every two years as recommended by Harley-Davidson. NHTSA said old fluid may corrode the valves in the anti-lock braking system. The sudden brake failure “is a concern,” the agency said, even if riders did not change the fluid.

Harley-Davidson said Friday that it is aware of the investigation and is cooperating with NHTSA.

– By Bud Wilkinson