2014 TAOTAO ATM50-A1 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THE 2014 TAOTAO ATM50-A1 ROUTES THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE INSIDE THE FRONT FENDER AS IT CONNECTS TO THE FRONT DISC BRAKE CALIPER. THE HOSE IS HELD AWAY FROM THE FRONT TIRE ONLY BY A SINGLE RETAINING WIRE WELDED TO THE FRONT FENDER'S LEFT SUPPORT ARM. ON MY UNIT, THE WIRE BROKE APART, ALLOWING THE BRAKE HOSE TO RUB AGAINST THE FRONT TIRE UNTIL THE BRAKE HOSE FAILED. THE RETAINING WIRE'S FAILURE WAS DUE TO FATIGUE, FROM TRYING TO HOLD THE BRAKE HOSE STATIONARY AS THE HOSE MOVED UP AND DOWN WITH THE FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE WIRE BROKE HALFWAY BETWEEN THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE HOSE AND THE POINT WHERE IT WAS WELDED TO THE FRONT FENDER'S LEFT SUPPORT ARM. I SUSPECT THAT ALL TAOTAO ATM50-A1 MOTOR DRIVEN CYCLES MAY SHARE THIS SAME DESIGN DEFECT, REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR, AND THAT THEY MAY ALSO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO SPEEDOMETER CABLE FAILURE SINCE THAT CABLE IS HELD AWAY FROM THE FRONT TIRE BY A RETAINING WIRE WELDED TO THE FRONT FENDER'S RIGHT SUPPORT ARM. I STRONGLY URGE ALL TAOTAO ATM50-A1 OWNERS WHO READ THIS COMPLAINT TO REMOVE THE FRONT FENDER AND EXAMINE THE CONDITION OF THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE AND RETAINING WIRE. IF THE HOSE APPEARS DAMAGED, I RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT BY A HIGH-QUALITY HOSE EQUIPPED WITH A PROTECTIVE METAL COIL. I ALSO RECOMMEND REROUTING THE BRAKE HOSE ALONG THE OUTSIDE OF THE FENDER TO MAXIMIZE ITS DISTANCE FROM THE FRONT TIRE, WHETHER THE HOSE IS REPLACED OR NOT.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING AROUND AN S CURVE AND SLOWED DOWN AND THE BRAKES SEIZED. AND THE BIKE FLIPPED WITH ME ON IT. HAD TO HAVE 9 STAPLES IN LEFT ARM. ALONG WITH VARIOUS CONTUSIONS AND BRUISES ON ARMS, LEGS AND ABDOMEN CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO CONTACT THE STORE WHERE PURCHASED. CONTACTED THEM THE DAY AFTER ACCIDENT AND THEY STATED TO BRING SCOOTER IN SO THEY CAN ACCESS AND THAT EXPLAINED WHY WHEN THEY ORDERED TWO MORE OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR, THEY CAME WITH DRUM BRAKES INSTEAD OF THE DISK BRAKES. BROUGHT BIKE IN AND THEY VERIFIED BRAKES LOCKED BUT ARE REFUSING TO REPLACE BIKE OR COMPENSATE FOR INJURIES . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A TAOTAO ATM50-A1 SCOOTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SEVERE SPORADIC OIL LEAK. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO LEAK BUT RATHER AN OVERFLOW AND THE SCOOTER WAS FINE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE BRAKE LINES AND CLUTCH ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A TAOTAO ATM50-A1 SCOOTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SEVERE SPORADIC OIL LEAK. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO LEAK BUT RATHER AN OVERFLOW AND THE SCOOTER WAS FINE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE BRAKE LINES AND CLUTCH ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.