Recall 15V427 covers 185,272 2014-2015 Harley-Davidson motorcycles with saddlebag mounting receptacles that do not adequately secure saddlebags. Repair is free at any franchised Harley-Davidson dealer.
Harley-Davidson is recalling 185,272 2014-2015 motorcycles, including Flhr and Flhx models, under recall 15V427 because the saddlebag mounting receptacles can fail to hold the saddlebags securely. A loose saddlebag can separate while riding, create a road hazard, and increase crash risk; Harley-Davidson dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The saddlebag mounting receptacle on the 2014-2015 Harley-Davidson Touring motorcycles is the latch point that holds the hard saddlebag to the bike. A mounting stud fits into the receptacle, and a small spring wire keeps tension on that connection so the bag stays locked in place while the motorcycle moves and vibrates.
On affected motorcycles, the spring wire in the receptacle does not keep enough tension under certain load conditions. Harley-Davidson traced the problem to the retention system, including support rail alignment, stacked-up part differences, and a spring wire that can yield when loads rise. When that happens, the mounting stud disengages from the receptacle and the saddlebag separates from the motorcycle.
The warning sign is a loose saddlebag found during inspection. If a bag feels loose, shifts on its mounts, or does not lock firmly, that is the sign to treat the mounting hardware as suspect.
Who's affected?
The scope spans both 2014 and 2015 model years across multiple Harley-Davidson model names under the same equipment component.
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhxse | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhp | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhr | Equipment |
| 2014 Harley-Davidson Flhr | Equipment |
| 2014 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtk | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtkl | Equipment |
| 2014 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhx | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Fltrx | Equipment |
| 2014 Harley-Davidson Flhxs | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhxs | Equipment |
| 2014 Harley-Davidson Flhtk | Equipment |
| 2014 Harley-Davidson Flhx | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtkse | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Fltruse | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtcul | Equipment |
| 2014 Harley-Davidson Flhp | Equipment |
| 2014 Harley-Davidson Flhrse | Equipment |
| 2014 Harley-Davidson Flhtp | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtp | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Flhtcu | Equipment |
| 2015 Harley-Davidson Fltrxs | Equipment |
| Units affected | 185,272 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorcycle is included.
What's the safety risk?
An inadequately secured saddlebag can separate from the motorcycle while riding. That creates a road hazard for other traffic and increases the risk of a crash. Before riding, check whether either saddlebag feels loose, and schedule the recall repair if your VIN is included. Repair is free at any franchised Harley-Davidson dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2015 Harley-Davidson Flhxse, Flhp, Flhr, Flhtcu, Flhtk, Flhtkl, Flhtkse, Flhx, Fltrx, Flhxs, Fltruse, Flhtcul, Flhrse, Flhtp, or Fltrxs motorcycle is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Harley-Davidson dealer to schedule the free saddlebag mounting receptacle replacement that secures the saddlebags to the motorcycle.
- Bring the recall notice if Harley-Davidson mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V427 and Harley-Davidson recall 0166 when you call.
- Check each saddlebag before riding and stop riding if a saddlebag feels loose until the dealer completes the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Harley-Davidson technician replaces the saddlebag mounting receptacles with updated receptacles that secure the saddlebags to the motorcycle. The recall repair is available now, and parts and labor are free. If you've already paid out of pocket for a related saddlebag receptacle repair before the recall work, Harley-Davidson's reimbursement plan covers eligible documented expenses. Ask Harley-Davidson customer service or the dealer service desk how to submit prior repair paperwork under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 6, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 13, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
| July 14, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 27, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| July 30, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V427?
Recall 15V427 covers 185,272 2014-2015 Harley-Davidson motorcycles with saddlebag mounting receptacles that do not secure the saddlebags properly. A saddlebag can separate while riding, create a road hazard, and increase crash risk. Harley-Davidson dealers replace the affected receptacles for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2015 Harley-Davidson motorcycle is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorcycle is included in recall 15V427. If it is, contact a franchised Harley-Davidson dealer to schedule replacement of the saddlebag mounting receptacles. Reference recall number 15V427 or Harley-Davidson recall number 0166 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Harley-Davidson dealers replace the affected saddlebag mounting receptacles free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at any franchised Harley-Davidson dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that a saddlebag can separate from the motorcycle while riding. If that happens, the detached saddlebag creates a road hazard and increases the risk of a crash for the rider and others on the road.
When did Harley-Davidson notify owners about recall 15V427?
Harley-Davidson began the recall on July 30, 2015. If you bought the motorcycle used or never received a letter, check your VIN and call a franchised Harley-Davidson dealer with recall number 15V427 or Harley-Davidson recall number 0166.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V427000 |
|---|---|
| Harley-Davidson customer service | 1-800-258-2464 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V427 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V427000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →