NHTSA Complaint #10749936 — 2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCI

MY 2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAD A FRAME FAILURE ON THE SWING ARM (REAR FORK) WHERE THE AXLE BOLT GOES THROUGH THE SWING ARM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE TOURING MODELS 1997-2001. HARLEY-DAVIDSON DID A RECALL IN 2000 FOR THE SWING ARM, THEY NEVER CHANGED THE DESIGN UNTIL 2002. HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS DISCONTINUED THE SWING ARM FOR THE 2001 TOURING BIKES. THE DEALERS I SPOKE TO HAVE TOLD ME THAT HARLEY-DAVIDSON WANTS YOU UPGRADE TO A 2002-2008 SWING ARM BECAUSE THE CHANGED THE DESIGN TO PREVENT THE SWING ARM FAILURE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, TO UPGRADE THE CONSUMER MUST UPGRADE TO A NEWER REAR WHEEL,BRAKE CALIPER,AXLE WHEEL BEARINGS , AND SPECIAL BUSHINGS TO ACCEPT THE LARGER PIVOT SHAFT. AT A COST OF APROX. $2900.00 JUST FOR THE PARTS.WHEN THE SWING ARM FAILS THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE REAR WHEEL ON THE BIKE IS THE DRIVE BELT AND SHOCK, IF YOU LOSE A REAR WHEEL ON A MOTORCYCLE IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH! I SPOKE WITH HARLEY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SEEM IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE FRAME FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES, WHEN I ASKED HOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO REPAIR MY BIKE WITH OUT THE PARTS I WAS TOLD TO JUST WELD IT BACK TOGETHER. HOWEVER IN MY RESEARCH I FOUND PEOPLE WITH FAILURES AT 30,000 MILES. THIS IS A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE ON 1997-2001 TOURING BIKES. .