NHTSA Complaint #10542296 — 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK

THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS STARTED MAKING METAL TO METAL NOISES OFF AND ON WHILE THE HANDLE BARS WOULD VIBRATE. IT IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON CHANGED TO A SMALLER WHEEL BEARING AND THEY COME FROM SOUTH KOREA AND DELHI, INDIA. THERE IS NO SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON THIS EVER AND THEY SHOULD NOT GO BAD AT 11,000 MILES. THE BEARINGS RUINED THE WHEEL AND WILL COST $550 TO REPLACE IT AND A TOTAL OF $909 TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE FRONT WHEEL COULD HAVE LOCKED UP AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES AND OR DEATH TO THE RIDER. IN THE PROCESS OF HARLEY DAVIDSON MAKING AN "OUT OF WARRANTY CONSIDERATION" ABOUT WHOSE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS. I'M EXPECTING THERE WILL BE A RECALL DOWN THE ROAD BEFORE IT BECOMES A CLASS ACTION SUIT AFTER SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR INJURED. IT APPEARS FROM THE INTERNET THAT THE REAL WHEEL BEARINGS ARE ALSO BECOMING A ISSUE. SINCE THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE ON WHEEL BEARINGS ONE WOULD EXPECT TO NOT HAVE TO HAVE THEM GO OUT EVERY 10K MILES AT A POSSIBLE COST OF UP TO $900 PER WHEEL.