The defect
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, AS A RESULT OF A GREATER BODY THICKNESS THAN USED IN PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS, THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR MAY CONTACT THE FRONT FENDER UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. IN SOME CASES THIS CONTACT MAY ALLOW THE FRONT FENDER TO CATCH ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE REGULATOR BODY WHICH COULD IMPEDE THE OPERATOR'S ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE.
The risk
THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.
The remedy
ON MOTORCYCLES WHICH DO NOT HAVE ACCESSORY ENGINE GUARDS, DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN INTERMEDIATE MOUNTING BRACKET THAT WILL RELOCATE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR TO A POSITION WHICH PROVIDES MORE CLEARANCE FROM THE FRONT FENDER. ON VEHICLES WITH AN ACCESSORY ENGINE GUARDS, DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE THINNNER DIMENSION VOLTAGE REGULATOR TO AVOIDE THE FRONT FENDER CLEARANCE PROBLEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 22, 2007. A SECOND CUSTOMER LETTER REFLECTING THE ABOVE REMEDY WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS ON MARCH 16, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Harley-Davidson XL1200C | 2007 |
| Harley-Davidson XL1200L | 2007 |
| Harley-Davidson XL1200R | 2007 |
| Harley-Davidson XL50 | 2007 |
| Harley-Davidson XL883 | 2007 |
| Harley-Davidson XL883C | 2007 |
| Harley-Davidson XL883L | 2007 |
| Harley-Davidson XL883R | 2007 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harley-Davidson XL1200C | 2007 | 4 | 1 |
| Harley-Davidson XL1200L | 2007 | 5 | 3 |
| Harley-Davidson XL1200R | 2007 | 1 | 3 |
| Harley-Davidson XL50 | 2007 | 0 | 3 |
| Harley-Davidson XL883 | 2007 | 2 | 3 |
| Harley-Davidson XL883C | 2007 | 0 | 1 |
| Harley-Davidson XL883L | 2007 | 1 | 3 |
| Harley-Davidson XL883R | 2007 | 1 | 3 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2006
47 of the 490 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2006 concerned the electrical system; HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY filed 53 campaigns in all.
| 06V481000 19 Dec 2006 | MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC |
| 06V484000 15 Dec 2006 | GENIE INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 06V459000 30 Nov 2006 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 06V444000 20 Nov 2006 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 06V439000 15 Nov 2006 | NEWMAR CORPORATION |
| 06V421000 2 Nov 2006 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 06V410000 26 Oct 2006 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 06V403000 23 Oct 2006 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2006