NHTSA Complaint #10136280 — 2005 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTPI

DT: HARLEY DAVIDSON 2005 FLSTSCI - SPRINGER CLASSIC. THERE IS A LOT OF WHEEL WOBBLE DUE TO A BENT FRONT RIM. CONSUMER UNKNOWINGLY BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE WITH A BENT FRONT RIM. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FROM EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN SAID HE COULD FIND NO ROAD HAZARD CONDITIONS THAT COULD CAUSE THIS WOBBLE. THIS WAS MORE LIKELY CAUSED WHEN THE RIM WAS MANUFACTURED. THIS HAPPENED WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH, AND THEN AGAIN AT 80 MPH. IT IS MORE PREVALENT AT 40 MPH, AND IN A CURVE OR TURN. THE HANDLE BARS WILL ACTUALLY WOBBLE. ALSO, ALMOST LIKE CONSUMER WILL LOOSE HIS GRIP ON THEM. CONSUMER TRIED ON THREE DIFFERENT ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AT LEAST FIVE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME, THE MANUFACTURER BLAMED ROAD HAZARD. THE SECOND TIME, THE MANUFACTURER ATTRIBUTED IT TO POOR MAINTENANCE. THIRD TIME, IT WAS BLAMED ON POOR DEALER PREPARATION. FOURTH AND FIFTH TIMES IT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO POOR MAINTENANCE. DUE TO SPOOK ADJUSTMENT, AND 7,000 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE THEY WERE NOT GOING TO WARRANTY IT. TOOK IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER, AS INDICATED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THEY TOOK THE TIRE OFF THE RIM AND FOUND THE BEND IN THE RIM. THEY CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AGAIN AND INDICATED THEY HAD FOUND THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER THEN WANTED A HISTORY OF MAINTENANCE RECORDS. THE CONSUMER DID HIS OWN MAINTENANCE, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE RIM BECAUSE OF THIS. THE COST OF REPAIR WILL BE AROUND $600. *AK