NHTSA Complaint #10247157 — 2003 SUZUKI VL800

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI VL800. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE. HE NOTICED THE SPOKES IN THE REAR WHEELS WERE BROKEN. DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SPOKES WERE BROKEN DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT WAS DRIVEN OCCASIONALLY THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS, ONLY ADDING 1,859 MILES. IN OCTOBER OF 2008, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OF THE REAR WHEEL SPOKES WERE BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TRANSPORTED BY A U-HAUL TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD NO RECORD OF HIS MOTORCYCLE BEING REPAIRED IN 2005 AND WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,304 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,445. UPDATED 11/17/08 *CN A SPOKE WAS MISSING IN THE REAR WHEEL. UPDATED 11/24/08. *JB