NHTSA Complaint #10156098 — 2000 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTD

YESTERDAY AS I WAS CRUISING ALONG ON MY 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON SOFTAIL DEUCE, I HEARD A BAD SOUND. PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED 4 OF THE 5 CHROME BOLTS BROKE ON THE REAR SPROCKET THAT THE DRIVE BELT CONNECTS TO. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD! I WAS NOT ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THE BOLTS I HAVE WERE THE CHROME HARDWARE KIT FOR REAR BELT SPROCKET - HEX HEAD #94773-00A. I HAVE THE STOCK SPROCKET ON THE CHROMED DEUCE 17" WHEEL. I CALLED HD AND THEY HAVE CREATED AN INCIDENT AND ASKED FOR DETAIL FROM THE DEALER ON OTHER BIKES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL BIKES IN RECENTLY WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS TOLD BY HARLEY DAVIDSON TODAY THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I HAVE COME ACROSS ANOTHER OWNER OF AN 2004 HARLEY DAVIDSON FATBOY IN CALIFORNIA THAT THIS HAPPENED TO THIS LAST WEEK AS WELL. I CAN FORWARD YOU THIS INFORMATION. ALL 5 OF HIS BOLTS BROKE (NON-CHROMED) AND A BOLT HIT A BIKER IN THE LEG BEHIND HIM. I DO NOT FEEL THAT HARLEY IS TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY AS I AM FINDING MORE AND MORE INCIDENTS OF THIS HAPPENING. I AM NOW BEARING THE COST OF A NEW WHEEL AND LABOR TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *JB