NHTSA Complaint #10246013 — 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU

THIS VEHICLE IS A NEW HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2009 FLHTUCTG TRI-GLIDE TRIKE, THAT WENT IN FOR IT'S FIRST 500 (ACTUAL MILES 533) MILE SERVICE CHECK. AT DEPARTURE OF THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE SERVICE WAS COMPLIED WITH, AND WITHIN 1 MILE, I HEARD A NOISE FROM UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE TRIKE, AT WHICH I COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT THE SOUND WAS AT THE TIME. I BACKED UP AND LOOKED FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY HAVE FALLEN OFF OF THE TRIKE WITH NO AVAIL, AS IT WAS DARK AT THE TIME OF LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, AND CONTINUED HOME (ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY). THE NEXT DAY I RODE FOR ANOTHER 10-15 MILES, AND ON MY DASH CAME ON WARNING LIGHTS TO CHECK ENGINE, AND THE BATTERY LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. SO STRAIGHT HOME I GO. AFTER EXAMINING THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE TRIKE I NOTICED 1 FORWARD ENGINE MOUNT BOLT (APPROX 5 INCHES LONG) WAS MISSING, AND THE OTHER WAS BEING HELD IN PLACE BY THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR (V/R) WIRING. THIS IS WHAT CAUSED THE DASH LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE, AS THE V/R PLUG WAS PULLED OUT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES SPEAKING TO ERIC HUFF'S (GENERAL MANAGER) ANSWERING SERVICE MACHINE, JAMES ? (SERVICE MANAGER) ANSWERING SERVICE MACHINE, THEN TO EDDIE A SERVICE WRITER. JAMES RETURNED MY CALL, SENT OUT A TOW TRAILER, AND TOOK THE TRIKE IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN. VIA CORRESPONDENCE WITH EDDIE, THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO KEEP MY TRIKE FOR ANOTHER DAY TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURE TO VERIFY NO SAFETY ISSUE EXIST. I INFORMED HIM THAT THESE BOLTS WERE INSTALLED UPSIDEDOWN, AND NO LOCK NUT OR WASHER WAS BEING USED. ONLY A TORQUE. ON TUESDAY, I PICKED UP THE TRIKE AGAIN, AND AFTER LATER INSPECTING THE JOB PERFORMED, I FIND THE BOLTS INSTALLED UPSIDE-DOWN AGAIN, WITH NO LOCK NUT (SHOULD HAVE BE A CASTLE NUT W/ COTTER PIN, COMPRESSION LOCK NUT, OR A TEFLON LOCK NUT). ALSO NO LOC-TITE, OR LOCK WASHER WAS INSTALLED EITHER. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT IN THE WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHEN A FOLLOWING DRIVER CATCHES A 5 INCH BOLT IN THE WINDSHIELD, AND CAUSES A DEATH, THEN MAYBE HARLEY-DAVIDSON WILL TAKE INTEREST. *TR