Hearth Record

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder (Harley-Davidson)

Vehicle recall 78V-159. NHTSA received HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.’s report on Jul 19, 1978.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.

The short answer

NHTSA received HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.’s report on Jul 19, 1978. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 27, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.

THE INVOLVED MOTORCYCLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS IN WHICH THE PLUNGER PISTON BORE DIAMETER WAS HONED .015 INCHES OVER MAXIMUM SPECIFICATIONS.

THIS OVERSIZED BORE RESULTS IN A POOR FIT BETWEEN THE ELASTOMERIC PISTON CUP AND THE CYLINDER BORE, WHICH ALLOWS FLUID LEAKAGE FROM THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder.

What should you do?

DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY AT NO COST TO OWNER.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: FLUID DEPLETION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKINGEFFECTIVENESS, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: INSUFFICIENT BRAKE FLUID IN THE SYSTEM MAY BE INDICATED BY FLUID LEAKAGEAROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER AND INCREASED FREE PLAY IN THE HAND LEVER.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 342 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Harley-Davidson FXS1200and 1978, before the model years listed here
  • Harley-Davidson FLH80and 1978, before the model years listed here
  • Harley-Davidson FXE1200and 1978, before the model years listed here
  • Harley-Davidson FX1200and 1978, before the model years listed here
  • Harley-Davidson FLH1200and 1978, before the model years listed here
  • Harley-Davidson XLH1000and 1979, before the model years listed here
  • Harley-Davidson XLCH1000and 1979, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 27, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

Sign in

A free account keeps your watch list, shortlists, comparisons and saved searches on every device, and can email you when something you watch changes. Browsing never needs one.