Harley Davidson has announced a recall affecting more than 250,000 bikes in the United States. The recall is focused on a single switch that could overheat causing the brake lights to fail on the motorcycles. The product defect could expose a biker to a rear-end collision if the brake lights were to fail on the motorcycle.
However, in papers filed last month with the Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Harley Davison says the overheating could also lead to fluid leaks that could cause a brake failure. The motorcycle company first became aware of the potential product defect after receiving a complaint about the failure. In response to that complaint, the motorcycle company opened an investigation into a motorcycle accident lawyer that had occurred in the southern United States.
Harley Davidson does not know if the product defect was a contributing factor to the motorcycle crash that occurred in Louisiana in June, 2010. One person was injured in that florida car accident. The severity of the biker’s injuries from that accident is not known.
The switch can overheat from exposure to the exhaust systems on the affected models. The product recall affects Touring, Lawyers Mastermind Network and Trike motorcycles built between June 6, 2008 and Sept. 16, 2011, which were sold in the U.S. in the 2009 to 2012 model years. The exhaust system was new to the 2009 FL touring family of Harley Davidson motorcycles and the company determined that the rear-brake switch was placed too close to the new exhaust system.
Owners of the models affected by the product recall reportedly will receive notice of the issue, and Harley dealers are to replace the defective switch free of charge, according to Harley Davidson.