Harley-Davidson urgently recalls 82,000 bikes over ‘life-threatening’ defect that increases crash risk – see full list

HARLEY-Davidson is yanking more than 82,000 bikes off the market over safety concerns, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The issue stems from the mounting tab on the rear shock pre-load adjuster on Softail models between 2018 to 2024, according to a recall notice on June 12.

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Harley-Davidson has announced a recall affecting more than 82,000 bikes[/caption]

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The recall stems from a safety issue that could result in a crash[/caption]

The tab can break, allowing the rear shock absorber adjuster to damage the rear tier and causing a loss of tire pressure.

This malfunction can lead to a possible crash, which could be fatal, said officials.

At the time of writing, Harley-Davidson hasn’t reported any deaths or injuries connected to the malfunction.

Here are some indicators that could warn owners that their reach shock adjuster is making contact with their tire:

• A noise from under the seat
• Can be seen if the seat is removed
• The operator is experiencing difficulty maneuvering the motorcycle
• Non-typical wear on the rear tire

Owners of the recalled bikes are urged to call Harley-Davidson at 1-800-258-2464.

After calling, give the operator the recall number 0188.

Owners can also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit www.nhtsa.gov.

To remedy the issue, dealers will install a new bracket at no cost to the owner.

“The remedy hardware in the recall kit includes a new bracket which limits the movement of the pre-load adjuster and also prevents the adjuster from making contact with the rear tire,” Harley-Davidson said in a statement.

“Beginning in model year 2025, the subject Softail motorcycles were assembled with new hardware, including a new bracket which limits the movement of the pre-load adjuster and also prevents the adjuster from making contact with the rear tire.”

The recall comes after the company confirmed in April that it was engaging in an ongoing “CEO search process, as part of the Board’s succession planning responsibilities.”

Current CEO Jochen Zeitz expressed an interest in retiring from the company in 2025 after a five-year tenure.

Zeitz, who has run the iconic firm since 2020, has been criticized in recent times for the company’s declining sales and falling stock price.

Harley troubles are well reported, with the company’s shares – valued at $3 billion -dropping by 31% over the past year.

Many believe the issue is related to their struggles to appeal to a new generation of bikers.

However, in a closely contested board decision, Zeitz has kept his position in what was described as a “razor-thin outcome” by Reuters.

The company announced an update on its executives, failing to find a suitable replacement.

“Additionally, the Harley-Davidson Board of Directors confirmed that the rigorous search process for Harley-Davidson’s next CEO continues at pace, led by the search committee,” the statement read.

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Harley-Davidson for comment.