NHTSA Complaint #10204381 — 2006 VICTORY VEGAS

I WAS HAVING A TIRE REPAIRED AT "RIDERSVILLE CYCLE" IN BERKLEY SPRINGS, WEST VIRGINIA ON SEPT. 28, 2007 WHEN THE TECHNICIAN SHOWED ME THE REAR AXLE OF MY 2006 VICTORY, VEGAS, MOTORCYCLE. THE AXLE HAD A LARGE PIECE MISSING AT THE VERY END OF THE AXLE, PHOTOS OF THE AXLE ARE AVAILABLE. THE TECH INFORMED ME A "RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED BY VICTORY" . I MENTIONED I HAD NOT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM VICTORY AS TO ANY RECALL, HE CONTINUED THE RECALL WAS ISSUED IN AUGUST 2007 FOR MY MODEL MOTORCYCLE. I THEN TOOK THE DEFECTIVE AXLE TO SHOW THE OWNER OF "RIDERSVILLE CYCLE", HAROLD MUNGER, TO COMPLIMENT THE TECHNICIAN FOR FINDING THE BROKEN AXLE AND TO INQUIRE AS TO WHY VICTORY HAD NEGLECTED TO NOTIFY ME OF THIS RECALL OF A VERY IMPORTANT PART? I WAS SURPRISED, TO SAY THE VERY LEAST, AT MR. UNGER'S RESPONSE. HE STATED ( I WILL PARAPHRASE HIS STATEMENTS) THE PART DIDN'T APPEAR DEFECTIVE TO HIM LOOKING AT IT LOGICALLY AND HE FELT IT WOULD NOT PRESENT ANY SAFETY CONCERN. HE CONTINUED "YOU COULD DRIVE THIS SIX MILLION MILES AN HOUR FOREVER WITH NO PROBLEM". HE THEN TOLD ME PERHAPS VICTORY HAD INDEED SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE. I SAID THEY HAD NOT DONE SO. HE THEN ADDED IT COULD BE IN TODAY'S MAIL. MRS. UNGER SEARCHED FOR THE VICTORY RECALL ON THE BUSINESS' COMPUTER AND PROVIDED THE NOTICE. I WAS TOLD A SUMMARY; IT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE SHOULD BE NOT RIDDEN, IT SHOULD BE INSPECTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BY A VICTORY TECHNICIAN BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE REAR AXLES. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF PARTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE. ONE OF MY SADDLEBAGS FELL OFF THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE UNDERWAY. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED THE BRACKETS WERE DEFECTIVE. I AM FILING THIS BECAUSE I FEEL VICTORY MOTORCYCLE COMPANY FAILS TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS OF DEFECTS TO SAVE HAVING TO REPLACE PARTS UNTIL SOMEONE HAS A PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE COMPANY ENCOURAGES THEIR DEALERS TO DISCOURAGE HAVING THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACED. *JB