Recall 0181 – Rear Shock Absorber Fastener May Break – 2018-2023 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

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August 22, 2023 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V591000

Rear Shock Absorber Fastener May Break

A loss of tire pressure can lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V591

Manufacturer Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Components SUSPENSION

Potential Number of Units Affected 65,310

 

Summary

Harley-Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) is recalling certain 2018-2019 FLDE, 2018-2021 FLHC, 2018-2023 FLHCS, 2018 and 2023 FLHCS ANV, 2020-2023 FXLRS, 2022-2023 FXLRST, and 2022 FXRST Softail motorcycles. A fastener securing the rear shock absorber may break and allow the rear shock absorber adjuster to damage the rear tire, causing a loss of tire pressure.

 

Remedy

Dealers will replace the shock absorber fastener, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Harley-Davidson’s number for this recall is 0181.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

 

Check for Harley-Davidson Recalls

 


IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

This notice applies to your vehicle, VIN #

September 8th, 2023
Harley-Davidson Recall No. 0181
NHTSA Recall No. 23V591

Dear Harley-Davidson® Motorcycle Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Inc. has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain model year 2018 – 2023 Softail motorcycles (see chart below). We are notifying you because our records indicate that you may own one of these motorcycles.

 

What is the Issue?

The fastener that retains the rear shock absorber adjuster on your motorcycle may fracture, allowing the rear shock absorber adjuster to damage the rear tire. A damaged rear tire can result in a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

What Should You Do?

Please contact your authorized Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealer and arrange an appointment to have your motorcycle’s shock absorber adjuster fastener replaced. Recall kits are expected to begin shipping to authorized Harley-Davidson dealers on or about September 1st. To schedule an appointment to have your motorcycle repaired, please contact your Harley-Davidson dealer. The repair will be performed at no cost to you and should take less than one hour. However, due to scheduling, the dealer may require your motorcycle for a longer period. Once the service has been completed, your dealer will ask you to sign a recall claim.

If you have sold your motorcycle and have an address for the current owner, it is important that you forward this notice to the new owner. Alternatively, you may contact us at the Harley-Davidson phone numbers listed below and provide us with the new contact information so that we may notify the new owner of this recall. Also, federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten (10) days.

 

What If You Have Additional Questions or Concerns?

If you previously paid to remedy the specific condition that is the subject of this recall, you may be eligible for reimbursement. For more information regarding eligibility, or if you take your motorcycle to your dealer on a mutually agreed upon date and they are unable to perform the required service to your satisfaction, please contact Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Inc. for immediate assistance at 1-800-258-2464 in the U.S. or 1-414-343-4056 world-wide.

If your dealer fails or is unable to remedy this defect in a reasonable time or without charge, you may write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590; or call the toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause you, but we are initiating this action in the interest of your personal safety and satisfaction with our products. Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Inc.
Recall 0181

 

Model Year List (production date range: 01/24/2017 to 08/07/2023)

Year Models
2018 FLDE, FLHC, FLHCS, FLHCS ANV
2019 FLDE, FLHC, FLHCS
2020 FLHC, FLHCS, FXLRS
2021 FLHC, FLHCS, FXLRS
2022 FLHCS, FXLRS, FXLRST, FXRST
2023 FLHCS, FLHCS ANV, FXLRS, FXLRST

 


M1603
2023-08-31

M1603: RECALL 0181 SOFTAIL SHOCK ADJUSTER

Purpose for Service Bulletin

This bulletin informs dealers that Harley-Davidson has learned that fasteners (Part No’s 942 and 10200673) on certain 2018–2023 Softail® motorcycles (refer to Vehicles Affected ) may fracture, potentially allowing the rear shock absorber adjuster to contact the rear tire. A risk of a crash exists if contact between the rear shock adjuster and tire remains undetected, resulting in a loss of pressure.

 

Vehicles Affected

Table 2. Vehicles Affected

Platform Year Model
Softail 2018 FLDE

FLHC

FLHCS

FLHCS ANV

2019 FLDE

FLHC

FLHCS

2020 FLHC

FLHCS

FXLRS

2021 FLHC

FLHCS

FXLRS

2022 FLHCS

FXLRS

FXLRST

FXRST

2023 FLHCS

FLHCS ANV

FXLRS

FXLRST

 

Markets Affected

All markets affected.

 

Recall Kit Ordering Information

Part No 91500114 (Recall Kit, 0181 and 0182) will not be available for dealer orders at launch. Kits will be distributed in automatic wave shipments beginning on or about September 1, 2023 and continue until further notice.

 

Part Numbers

Refer to Table 3.

Table 3. Affected Part Numbers

Part No. Item Description
942 Screw, ¼-20 x ¾, TORX button

head with lock patch (Grade 8)

10200673 Screw,¼-20 x 11/16, TORX SEMS,

button head, (Grade 8) (bright zinc)

 

Table 4. Recall Kit Number

Part No. Item Description
91500114 Recall Kit, 0181 and 0182

 

Tools Required:

 

1. Remove seat. See service manual.

2. See Figure 2. Install locking pliers (2) to Pre-Load Adjuster (PLA) (3) and crossmember bracket (4).

3. Remove Original Equipment (OE) ¼-20 inch screw.

NOTE
Use extreme caution to not damage the hydraulic hose connecting the PLA to the shock.

4. Using 11/32 inch drill bit (1), drill through crossmember bracket (4) and PLA (3).

a. Using the existing hole on crossmember bracket (4) as a guide.

5. Remove locking pliers (2) and separate the PLA (3) from crossmember bracket (4).

a. Remove any burrs from drilling the components.

b. Clean metal chips from under the seat area.

c. Using Frame Paint Touch-Up Pen (Part No. 93936)

or local approved equivalent for international dealers, touch up the brackets from drilling and to prevent any corrosion from forming.

d. Allow paint to dry.

6. See Figure 3. Install PLA (1) to crossmember (4).

7. Install 5/16-inch screw (3) and locknut (2). Tighten. Torque: 32.8–36.3 N·m (24–27 ft-lbs)

8. Install seat. See service manual.

a. After installing seat, pull upward on seat to be sure

it is locked in position.

9. Return vehicle to customer and file appropriate recall claim. Refer to Credit Procedure..

 


M1603: RECALL 0181 SOFTAIL SHOCK ADJUSTER

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Chronology :

06/01/23 – Harley-Davidson’s (H-D’s) Technical Subcommittee (TSC) was made aware of a Service Request (SR) alleging that a rear shock adjuster on a Softail motorcycle made contact with the rear tire and eventually resulted in a loss of air pressure in the tire.

06/02/23 through 7/24/23 – the TSC investigated this matter.

07/25/23 – The TSC escalated the matter to H-D’s Field Action Committee (FAC).

08/04/23 and 08/09/23 – The TSC was informed that additional test information was available and met with members from H-D Engineering. The TSC determined that the matter still merited escalation to the FAC.

08/11/23 – The FAC escalated to H-D’s Executive Decision Authority (EDA).

08/15/23 – Based upon the information developed during the investigation, the EDA authorized a voluntary recall to address this condition due to the risk of a crash if contact between the rear shock adjuster and tire remains undetected, resulting in a loss of pressure.

08/22/23 – H-D filed a Part 573 vehicle report that addressed the vehicle (original equipment) population potentially affected by this condition. (NHTSA Recall No. 23V591).

08/24/23 – H-D filed a separate equipment recall (H-D reference 0182) after determining that certain shock absorbers sold as H-D Parts & Accessories could potentially be installed on models not covered by Recall 23V591.

 


21 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE MODEL YEAR
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLDE 2018-2019
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHC 2018-2021
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHCS 2018-2023
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHCS ANV 2018, 2023
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXLRS 2020-2023
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXLRST 2022-2023
HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXRST 2022

 


7 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-23V591-1901.pdf 645.857KB

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-23V591-6615.PDF 214.624KB

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Recall 573 Report – August 25, 2023

RCLRPT-23V591-1527.PDF 214.477KB

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Recall 573 Report – August 29, 2023

RCLRPT-23V591-3911.PDF 214.699KB

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-23V591-1391.pdf 139.934KB

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-23V591-7955.pdf 1849.282KB

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-23V591-8096.pdf 191.573KB

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Latest Recalls Documents

For the Latest and Most Recent Recalls Information Visit the link below…

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=23V591&docType=RCL

 


 

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