NHTSA Complaint #10339028 — 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14

I NOTICED THAT THE ORIGINAL LUGGAGE RACK ON MY 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 HAD CRACKED AND THE TOP CASE WHICH ATTACHES TO IT WAS ABOUT TO BREAK LOOSE ON THE FREEWAY. THIS LUGGAGE RACK HAD BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED BY KAWASAKI BEFORE I TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE BIKE IN JUNE 2008. HOWEVER, THE NEW DESIGN, WHICH IS PART NUMBER 53029-0076, IS WHAT WAS ON MY BIKE, AND IT FAILED AFTER ONE AND A HALF YEAR OF USE. THE REAR CASE WHICH ATTACHES TO THIS RACK IS THE KAWASAKI OEM EQUIPMENT, AND IT'S LOAD HAS ALWAYS BEEN BETWEEN 5 AND 10 POUNDS, BELOW THE KAWASAKI MAXIMUM RATING OF 15 POUNDS. THE CONSEQUENCES HAD I NOT NOTICED IT WHILE I STOPPED TO GET COFFEE, COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. THE REAR CASE WOULD HAVE BROKE LOOSE WHILE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, POTENTIALLY HITTING ANY VEHICLE BEHIND ME, OR CAUSING SUCH VEHICLE TO CRASH WHILE TRYING TO AVOID IT. THE BROKEN PART IS CURRENTLY AT THE KAWASAKI DEALERSHIP FOR A WARRANTY CLAIM. HOWEVER, A REPLACEMENT IS NOT ENOUGH. THE CURRENT DESIGN IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE, AND A REINFORCED RACK SHOULD BE THE SOLUTION. *TR