Harley-Davidson(Harley) is recalling a host of motorcycle models. Over 31,000 bikes may have an issue with faulty headlight bulbs that could fail without warning. Both the bike’s high and low beams may fail during operation.

The faulty bulbs may also be found in 796 headlight assemblies that may have been sold as replacement parts for 2005-2019 Sportster, 2005-2017 Softail, 2005-2017 Dyna, and 2005-2011 V-Rod motorcycles.

According to Harley, the interior shield in an unknown number of headlight assemblies may have a glossy chrome finish. If the bulb does have this finish, the resulting thermal conditions (heat) may cause a hole to develop in the tip of the dual filament bulb.

This, in turn, will allow the bulb’s internal gas to escape causing the filament to fail. Should the rider switch to a different beam (from high to low or low to high), the second filament will also fail. Obviously, the failure of the bulb during nighttime operation increases the risk of a crash.

The bulb in question may be a component of Harley’s Headlamp Assembly Part Number 68297-05A. The MoCo says these bulbs may be found in an unknown number of the following motorcycles:

MAKE	MODEL	MODEL YEAR(S)
HARLEY-DAVIDSON	XL1200C	2019
HARLEY-DAVIDSON	XL1200CX	2019 – 2020
HARLEY-DAVIDSON	XL1200NS	2019 – 2021
HARLEY-DAVIDSON	XL1200X	2019 – 2021
HARLEY-DAVIDSON	XL1200XS	2019
HARLEY-DAVIDSON	XL883L	2019
HARLEY-DAVIDSON	XL883N	2019 – 2021

Harley will notify owners and dealers will install a “headlamp bulb shield” free of charge. This recall starts April 12, 2021.

For additional information, owners may contact Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464 and should cite recall 0177. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), citing NHTSA Campaign Number 21V225000, or go towww.safercar.gov.

Photo credit:Harley-Davidson