NHTSA Complaint #10610622 — 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTC

WHEEL BEARING LOCKED UP ON REAR WHEEL. GILLETTE WY HARLEY DAVIDSON SERVICE FOREMAN TOLD ME THAT THE WHEEL BEARINGS USED WERE KNOWN TO FAIL AS EARLY AS 5000 MILES, AND COULD LAST UP TO 50,000 MILES. IN MY OPINION, THESE UN SAFE BEARINGS SHOULD NOT BE USED. BEARING WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME TYPE THAT FAILED. H.D. PART NO.IS 9276A, BALL BEARING 25MM, DEEP GR. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY BEARING AVAILABLE.. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THESE BEARINGS WERE NOT CONSIDERED SEALED OR SERVICEABLE BEARINGS. SERVICE MANAGER EASILY REMOVED SIDE COVER OF BEARING AND I COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS NOT MUCH GREASE INSIDE. HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN THESE BEARINGS FULL OF RUST, INDICATING TO ME THAT THESE BEARINGS ARE NOT WATER PROOF. THESE BEARINGS ARE NOT ON A SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PROGRAM BY H.D. NEITHER IS THERE A RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE. AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THESE BEARINGS WITH THOSE THAT ARE MORE RELIABLE FROM A REPUTABLE MANUFACTURER? WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF ANY? I DO NOT FEEL SAFE RIDING ON THESE BEARINGS. *TR