Hearth Record

Service brakes, hydraulic (Harley-Davidson)

Vehicle recall 81V-011. NHTSA received HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.’s report on Jan 26, 1981.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.’s report on Jan 26, 1981. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 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.

IF THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER SHOULD “OVER-TRAVEL” WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS OPERATED OVER ROUGH TERRAIN, THE CURRENT POSITION OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER COULD CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE LINE TO CONTACT THE RIGHT SADDLE BAG CARRIER.

THIS COULD CAUSE A DEFORMATION IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Service brakes, hydraulic.

What should you do?

ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND THE REAR BRAKE TORQUE ARM WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE OF A NEW DESIGN. THE RIGHT SADDLE BAG CARRIER WILL BE MODIFIED, IF NECESSARY.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH SADDLE BAGS.SYSTEM: SERVICE BRAKES; REAR BRAKE CALIPER.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: PARTIAL OR TOTAL LOSS OF THE REAR BRAKES AND ANACCIDENT COULD RESULT.NOTE: OWNERS ARE ADVISED NOT TO OPERATE MOTORCYCLE UNTIL DEALER HAS INSPECTEDVEHICLE.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 1,884 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Harley-Davidson 1340and 1981, 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 20, 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 20, 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.

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