1978 Harley-Davidson FLH80 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1978 Harley-Davidson FLH80. Check your own VIN below.
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
3 safety recalls for the 1978 Harley-Davidson FLH80
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Body (structure)
The front fender bolts on the involved vehicles may loosen after extended vehicle use. If undetected, the loosening could result in either bolt loss or failure which could allow the fender to contact the tire.
Remedy: Dealer will install an improved front fender bracket system at no cost to owner.
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Caliper (service brakes)
The involved motorcycles were produced with an incorrect front brake caliper piston assembly which allows excessive caliper pad retraction from the front brake disc. Because of this, more than one application of the front handlever could be required to produce effective front braking of the motorcycle.
Remedy: The dealer will replace the front brake caliper at no cost to owner.
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Master cylinder (service brakes)
The involved motorcycles were manufactured with front brake master cylinders in which the plunger piston bore diameter was honed .015 inches over maximum specifications. This oversized bore results in a poor fit between the elastomeric piston cup and the cylinder bore, which allows fluid leakage from the hydraulic system.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the front brake master cylinder assembly at no cost to owner.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1978 Harley-Davidson FLH80. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.
Compare Harley-Davidson FLH80 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Harley-Davidson FLH80 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 Harley-Davidson FLH80 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH80 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 Harley-Davidson FLH80 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 Harley-Davidson FLH80 | 3 | 0 |
| 1979 Harley-Davidson FLH80 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 Harley-Davidson FLH80 | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1978 Harley-Davidson FLH80
How do I know if my 1978 Harley-Davidson FLH80 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1978 Harley-Davidson FLH80; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Harley-Davidson dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 78V159000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Harley-Davidson models
- Flhtcu276 complaints
- Flhx185 complaints
- Flhtk161 complaints
- Flhtc112 complaints
- Flhtcui108 complaints
- Harley Davidson105 complaints
- XG75088 complaints
- Flhr87 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.