Motorcycle riders have a much higher probability of injury in a crash than other motorists do, product defects such as a faulty fuel system are extremely dangerous and should be identified and fixed as soon as possible.
In September 2008, Harley Davidson recalled more than 47,000 motorcycles due to a defective fuel filter shell. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), this defective fuel filter shell can crack and cause fuel pressure loss. The loss of fuel pressure could cause the engine to stall, possibly leading to an accident. In addition, in October 2008 Kawasaki recalled 600 motorcycles due to a fuel tank leak that can lead to fuel-fed fires after an accident.
These recalls are just one example of the problems a defective fuel system can cause to motorcycle riders. Since motorcycle riders have a much higher probability of injury in a crash than other motorists do, product defects such as a faulty fuel system are extremely dangerous and should be identified and fixed as soon as possible. Unfortunately, often times these defects are not identified until after they have caused injury or death in an accident.
Types of Fuel System Failure
Fuel system failure can play a role in a motorcycle accident in different ways. Some fuel system failures can cause the rider to lose control of the motorcycle and crash. Other fuel system failures may not cause the crash, but can lead to fuel-fed fires that can make the accident much worse and lead to more severe injuries or even death for the rider.
Loss of Fuel Pressure
In fuel system failures like the one in the Harley Davidson recall, malfunctioning parts do not allow the fuel to properly flow through the vehicle to the engine. The lack of fuel in turn causes the engine to stall.
In cars and other automobiles, a stalled engine is often not a major problem. The driver is usually able to safely guide the car out of the way of traffic and avoid an accident. However, a stalled engine on a motorcycle can cause the rider to lose balance and crash. In addition, given the fact that a motorcycle rider is not protected from the pavement or other vehicles, severe injuries or even death can often result from a stalled motorcycle engine.
Fuel-Fed Fires
The other way defective fuel systems can contribute to motorcycle accidents is to cause fuel-fed fires after an accident. The fear of fuel-fed fires is what led to the Kawasaki recall. Fuel-fed fires can be caused by several factors:
• Leaking fuel tanks (the cause of the Kawasaki recall)
• Defective shutoff valves
• Improperly placed fuel tanks
Any of these factors can cause fuel to leak out after an accident, igniting and feeding a fire that can cause severe burn injuries or death for the motorcycle rider.
