NHTSA Complaint #10221197 — 2007 SUZUKI AN400K7

THIS IS RELATED TO THE 2007 SUZUKI BURGMAN 400 SCOOTER. SEVERAL TIMES MY SCOOTER HAS LOUDLY SQUEALED UPON START, AND OCCASIONALLY THE CLUTCH HAS 'GRABBED'. MANY USERS OF THIS MODEL ON WWW.BURGMANUSA.COM FORUMS REPORT THAT THE GRABBING BECOMES STRONGER AND IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS (COULD THROW THE RIDER FROM THE BIKE). THIS IS A 400CC SCOOTER CAPABLE OF HIGHWAY (70+MPH) SPEEDS, SO IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY SITUATION. MANY OWNERS REPORT CLUTCH FAILURE, BUT SUZUKI (CORPORATE) DENIES ANY PROBLEMS (ALTHOUGH THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE FORUMS). A FEW DEALERS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO ADMIT A PROBLEM AND OFFER REPLACEMENT PARTS. SUZUKI HAS REPLACED THE CLUTCH FOR THE 2008 MODEL, AND ALSO INTRODUCED DIFFERENT CLUTCH REPLACEMENT PART NUMBERS FOR THE 2007 MODEL, CLEARLY INDICATING A REDESIGN OF THE CLUTCH. SUZUKI IS CLEARLY AWARE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO ADMIT IT, OR TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR WHAT COULD BE A LIFE-THREATENING DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE NOT HAD A FIRE, DAMAGE, CRASH YET...BUT WORRY ABOUT IT EVERY TIME I RIDE. A RECALL IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY TO PREVENT RIDER INJURY OR DEATH. THIS FORM REQUIRES A DATE OF INCIDENT, BUT I HAVE NO SPECIFIC DATES, SO I AM ENTERING MARCH 1, 2008 IN ORDER TO PROCEED. I REITERATE THAT THE NOISE AND VIBRATION HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. IT IS NOT REPRODUCIBLE AND IS INTERMITTENT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. *TR