NHTSA Complaint #10547418 — 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK

OCTOBER 6, 2013, AFTER RIDING 98 MILES (ODOMETER) ON A NEWLY PURCHASED MOTORCYCLE, MOTORCYCLE COOLANT WAS NOTICED ON THE GARAGE FLOORS SHORTLY AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE MOTORCYCLE (30 MIN). RIGHT LOWER FARING COVER WAS REMOVED TO INSPECT COOLANT RESERVOIR WITH NO APPARENT SIGNS OF COOLANT LEAKAGE. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR OVERFLOW TUBE APPEARED TO BE DRY, HOWEVER, THE RESERVOIR COOLANT WAS BELOW THE COLD FLUID LEVEL LINE.WATER PUMP COVER WAS REMOVED AND SHOWED ACCUMULATION OF COOLANT, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHERE LEAKAGE WAS COMING FROM. AREA WAS WIPED CLEAN TO DETERMINE IF COOLANT WAS LEFTOVER FROM FACTORY. MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON OCTOBER 9, 2013. UPON, PARKING THE MOTORCYCLE, MORE COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE WATER PUMP COVER AREA. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED ME THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS LEAKING AND PARTS TO REPAIR THE MOTORCYCLE WERE NOT IN STOCK AT THE DEALERSHIP AND MUST BE ORDERED. WAITING FOR PARTS AND REPAIR COULD BE A WEEK OR MORE AS HARLEY DAVIDSON PARTS WAREHOUSE DOES NOT HAVE THIS PART IN STOCK EITHER. APPARENTLY THEY SEEM TO BE ON BACKORDER. COOLANT LEAKAGE FORM THE WATER PUMP/THERMOSTAT AREA WILL DUMP ANTIFREEZE IN DIRECT LINE OF THE REAR TIRE AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND UNKNOWN TO THE OPERATOR. THIS IS A SAFETY/HEALTH ISSUE AND POTENTIAL DESIGN FLAW THAT MAY RESULT IS ACCIDENTS, INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR