NHTSA Complaint #10167185 — 2004 KAWASAKI VN1500-E7L

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE HAD SEVERAL DEFECTS SINCE THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THE GEAR WOULD NOT BECOME ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE MOVED TO THE SHOULDER FROM THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPAIRED THE DEFECT AFTER 26 DAYS. THE SECOND MAJOR PROBLEM WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE OBSERVED IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THE NOISE BUT HAS NOT SUCCEEDED IN REPAIRING THE PROBLEM WITH FOUR ATTEMPTS. AN APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 6, 2006 FOR THE SAME DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO DECLARED THE REPAIRS WOULD CONTINUE AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BUT REFUSED REPLACE THE ENGINE OR THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE NOISE BECAUSE THE NOISE MEANT THE ENGINE COULD STOP RUNNING AND COULD RESULT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT.