2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTSE3

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SOFTAIL (NA). WHILE RIDING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SADDLEBAG SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V427000 (EQUIPMENT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,700.

HAD SADDLEBAGS INSTALLED AS PER HARLEY DAVIDSON OEM PARTS THAT CAME WITH BIKE. INDICATOR SHOWED THAT THEY WERE "LOCKED" IN PLACE. LEFT SIDE SADDLEBAG CAME OFF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-15, SALT LAKE CITY. FOUR LANES OF HIGH SPEED HEAVY TRAFFIC. BAGS HAVE STEEL BRACKETS, PLASTIC CASE, LEATHER LID. THEY ARE MADE TO BE "DETACHABLE", BY TURNING A LOCK BRACKET AND SLIDING OFF. I WAS NOT AWARE OF IT FALLING OFF. ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE ME AWARE I HAD A PROBLEM. DANGEROUS GETTING OUT OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO AN EXIT TO EVALUATE ISSUE. MADE CIRCLE BACK TO LOCATION. SADDLEBAG WAS ENTIRELY DESTROYED. I AM SURE THAT MANY VEHICLES HIT DEBRIS. SOME DEBRIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS TO TIRES. ALL GEAR IN BAG WAS SCATTERED AND DESTROYED. UNABLE TO RETRIEVE ANYTHING, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE ON LINE. HARLEY DAVIDSON ONLY MADE 800 OF THESE TYPE VEHICLES IN 2012. MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. HARLEY DAVIDSON HAS ACCEPTED NO LIABILITY REGARDING THIS ISSUE. WONDER ID SOMEONE HAS TO DIE FIRST. *TR