Hearth Record

Power train: manual transmission (Harley-Davidson)

Vehicle recall 81V-144. NHTSA received HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.’s report on Dec 1, 1981.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO.’s report on Dec 1, 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.

TRANSMISSION MAY FAIL TO PERFORM PROPERLY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION.

THIS COULD LEAD TO TRANSMISSION LOCK-UP DURING OPERATION WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Source:

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

  • NHTSA’s part: Power train: manual transmission.

What should you do?

A NEW SPECIAL LUBRICANT WILL BE ADDED TO THE TRANSMISSION. ANY DAMAGED 4-SPEED TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Source:

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

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES.SYSTEM: POWER TRAIN; 4-SPEED TRANSMISSION.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: TRANSMISSION LOCK-UP MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND, POSSIBLY, AN ACCIDENT.NOTE: MANUFACTURER ADVICES THAT THE MOTORCYCLES SHOULD NOT BE OPERATED PRIOR TOCORRECTION OF THE DEFECT.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 3,585 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

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

  • Harley-Davidson FL Seriesand 1982, 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.

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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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