NHTSA Complaint #10458315 — 2012 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC

THE SECOND TIME I RODE MY BRAND NEW 2012 HARLEY DAVIDSON HERITAGE SOFTAIL, THE KICKSTAND WAS LOWERED AND INEXPLICABLY BROKE OFF THE MOTORCYCLE CAUSING IT TO FALL OVER WHILE I WAS ASTRIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED OVER $3500 IN DAMAGES AND INJURY TO MY ELBOW. HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY HAS BEEN EXTREMELY UNRESPONSIVE REGARDING THIS INCIDENT AND IT HAS BEEN NECESSARY TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. THE HD COMPANY INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN A CLAIM INTO MY INSURANCE COMPANY WHICH I RELUCTANTLY DID AS I FELT HD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL REPAIRS. AFTER AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP HAD ORDERED PARTS (THAT CANNOT BE RETURNED), HD THEN STATED THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF ALL REPAIRS BUT ONLY IF THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT AN HD DEALER. THEY HAVE NOT SAID WHAT REPAIRS THEY WOULD PERFORM. IN THE MEANTIME, THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN SITTING IN A SHOP WAITING FOR HD TO INSPECT IT AND PRESENT THEIR FINDINGS FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS. WHEN ASKED TO SEND THE HD ENGINEER'S REPAIRS LIST AND THE ESTIMATE FROM THE LOCAL HD DEALER TO MY ATTORNEY, HD ORIGINALLY STATED THEY WOULD, THEN STATED THEY HAD ONLY THE ESTIMATE SENT BY THE INDEPENDENT SHOP. THE HD INSPECTOR FOUND ADDITIONAL DAMAGES (ALLUDED TO IN A COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE HD CONTACT PERSON AND MY ATTORNEY) BUT AS OF THIS MORNING, HD STATES THEY DO NOT HAVE A REPORT WRITTEN BY THEIR INSPECTOR-WHICH, FRANKLY, SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY AND COULD INCLUDE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE INVOLVING SAFETY ISSUES. *JS