NHTSA Complaint #10621117 — 1999 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHR

I TOOK MY BIKE HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING IN TO THE SHOP FOR A FLAT TIRE. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME MY SWING HAD ARM BROKEN LITERALLY INTO TWO PIECES. HE INFORMED THAT HARLEY QUIT MAKING THIS PARTICULAR SWING DUE THE HIGH RATE OF FAILURE! THIS IS HIGHLY CONCERNING, AS THIS IS THE PIECE THAT HOLDS THE REAR WHEEL TO THE MOTORCYCLE STRAIGHT WHEN THE TORQUE OF THE MOTOR IS TRANSFERRED TO THE REAR WHEEL. I COULD ISSUE A LOT OF HIGH TECH PHYSICS HERE, BUT SIMPLY PUT IF THE REAR WHEEL OF MOTORCYCLE IS ALLOWED TO TURN, OR WORSE TWIST, THIS WOULD BE A LIFE THREATENING ISSUE, OR AT VERY LEAST SEVERE INJURY ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN SOME COMPLAINTS TO THIS VERY AGENCY RANGING BACK TO 1999, THIS IS NOW 2014, AND THE ISSUE IS WIDELY KNOW BY MOST OF THE HARLEY DAVIDSON TOURING WORLD. THE MANUFACTURER IS STILL SIMPLY OFFERING THAT THE SWING ARM HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED, AND THERE AS AN AFTERMARKET FIX TO UPGRADE THE SWING ARM TO THE ONE THEY CURRENTLY USE. SO EVEN WITHOUT CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, ONCE THE PROBLEM IS FOUND THERE QUITE A FINANCIAL INVESTMENT TO FIX A KNOWN FAULTY DRIVE TRAIN ISSUE! THIS WHAT I THOUGHT THIS AGENCY WAS HERE TO HELP PREVENT FORM MANUFACTURERS, ACCIDENTS, AND WILLFUL NEGLIGENCE OF SERIOUS ISSUES. *TR