Harley Davidson
Reviews and Complaints

It's a shame a person buys a new bike 06-01-2007 and he has problems with a oil leak since he bought it, has been in the shop 3 times and still has the same problem. Maybe you should have better mechanic's my son bought this bike cuz his father screwed him out of his bike since they have the same name and he took the bike away from him. So he decided to buy a new one but why buy a new one if you have to keep taking the dam thing in, he just went to pick up the bike yesterday in my truck and it leaked in my truck so I guess you know he was a little upset.

I have a 2006 XL1200L with 13, 500 miles. All services were done at the Harley dealer. Since the 1st service I had reported a little smoke on decel on long rides, nothing bad. After the extended warranty ran out it became worse. I took it in and the real cylinder was torn down. They found that the factory had not installed one oil ring scrapper. I am now waiting for Harley to do something.

I got a few calls a few months ago from Harley Davidson financial. Calling for someone with the same name as mine. I asked them nicely to take me off their list, as I've never owned a Harley, nor do I have intention to. They seemingly stopped a few months ago (can't remember how long ago).

Yesterday, I got a call from someone representing Harley Davidson (at least they used their name) and asking when I was going to "give the bike up." I told them that I told HD to take me off their list and he insisted that I was the right person. I have a common name, so it's not so easy to get rid of these guys. I told him the same thing I told Harley Davidson. The other odd thing was that the number was local. I thought that was odd, but hung up thinking he got the message.

Well, today, a guy in a jumpsuit showed up at my front door saying he was here for the Harley (repo man). I told him that he was at the wrong house and not to come again. Only thing I feel sorry about is that I didn't get his information. Darn.

I called the number that called called me yesterday and it has a fake "number disconnected" message on their answering machine. CHEESY. Of course, the local number is unlisted.

How do I file a complain against Harley Davidson and the local number that called me yesterday?

New River Harley Davidson Service Issues

Tuesday, October 19, 2010Dangerous Sprocket issue on Harley Davidson Motorcycles!
Just over a year & a half ago I purchased a sportster from New River Harley Davidson. It had approx. 880 mi on it. It had a mechanical issue of just arbitrarily shutting off while riding. Well, I took the bike into New River Harley Davidson 6 times and each time I got it back the same issue was still present. One of their service techs actually told me that the bike was "good enough" . Well the last straw with this bike was that my husband and I were out riding our motorcycle and went to make a turn off of Onslow pines road onto highway 53 when the sportster shut off and I nearly got hit by oncoming traffic, this was the first time NRHD Service Dept. endangered my life. I took the bike back to New River Harley Davidson and told the salesman that I wanted to trade it in but that I wanted it not to be sold under the lemon law. He agreed, but later told me that it fell 2 services short of the lemon law and the later sold the bike to a young marine. I purchased/traded in the sportster on a 2006 dyna low-rider at New River Harley Davidson. I took the dyna into the service department at New River Harley Davidson for the 10, 000 mile service. For the next approximate 2 months my dyna felt as if it had NO front brakes, but since it had just had the 10, 000 mile service I didn't think anything could be wrong. But it kept seeming as though I had no front brakes, so I took it to combat cycle and they told me it had no Brake Fluid and no brake fluid leak, which means New River Harley Davidson Service Department did not put any in it. Since Combat Cycle serviced the brakes ie:fluid there have been no further issues with brake fluid or braking power. But for 2 months I rode around on my Dyna with no front brakes and was falsely reassured because I had taken it to the dealer to be serviced that It must be ok. I am not mechanically inclined which is the main reason I take my motorcycles to the dealership so that it is done right and my bike is safe...or so I thought. This is the Second time NRHD Service Dept. endangered my life. The third time New River Harley Davidson endangered my life, happed just a week ago, again with my same 2006 Dyna low-rider. I was out riding with my husband and my friend and we had just come over the high rise bridge from Beaufort to Morehead City and was sitting at a traffic light. When the light turned green and I went to go, the rear tire would not move and a very odd/loud noise came from the rear of the bike to which my husband said to me to shut the bike off. My bike had sheered all five of the bolts off that hold the rear sprocket onto the back tire and they locked the tire in a fixed position. I hate to think what would have happened if it had done this on the bridge or the day prior when we were traveling to Raleigh on a 70 mph road. Well my husband contacted the Harley Davidson Warranty company who stated that the rear sprocket and anything it had damaged was specifically not covered and that if we wanted to know why we would have to contact Harley Davidson, also they stated that those five bolts should have been retorqued as part of the 10000 mi service as they are considered critical fasteners. Well my husband contacted New River Harley Davidson who stated that they could not tell him whether or not those bolts had been checked at all because they were not listed as critical fasteners in the Harley Davidson service manual i.e.: Harley bible to quote a NRHD employee
My husband was then told to contact Harley Davidson Customer Care that told him that those bolts should have been checked as part of the 10000 mi service and re-torque. And for him to take the bike to NRHD for an evaluation inspection. He did this and within the day, the service manager at NRHD called and told us none of it was going to be covered, but couldn't tell us why. We again called Harley Davidson Customer Care stated again that yes those bolts were supposed to be checked at the 10000 mi service and no they weren't helping us at all because the warranty company specifically excludes those bolts and sprocket. And that if the NRHD service dept. had not checked those "critical fasteners" i.e.: bolts at the service, then the dealership was responsible and to get up with them. Well, my husband did and was told that "no they are not specifically listed to be checked and so its not there problem and they aren't doing anything to help us." Here in lies my dilemma...one, they have really personally angered me as I think anyone would be when someone endangers their life not once but three times by their incompetency. But, two the bigger issue is that WHY is this sprocket and bolts specifically not covered? And who put that exclusion into the warranty? (the warranty company says Harley did, Harley says the warranty company is full of poo.) And during this time my husband and I have learned that at least 3 other people serviced at NRHD have had these bolts sheer and 2 at Combat Cycles and one in upper Michigan. Seems like more than a fluke thing, but Harley Davidson Customer care says there is no service bulletin on this issue and that it can't be an issue because if it were an issue they wouldn't be assembling the 2011 bikes in the exact same fashion. Is this really the case? Is it a service error?(but there is one in Michigan) Is it a manufacturing defect that has yet to be caught? And how many lives exactly are we going to lose while the statistics come in enough to throw up a flag? Because if my bike had been moving at 70 mph when the back tire locked up...I don't think I would be here right now to type this or anything else for that matter.
Thank you for your time and hopefully you can help me get this knowledge out to the community, before people start getting injured or worse and at the very least incuring expensive repairs. I am going to have the bike repaired and pay the cost myself (thankful that I am still alive to do so) But I really want to put the alert out there for all those riders out there especially new/inexperienced riders. Because I don't believe that the motorcycle course my husband and I took at Coastal Carolina Comm. College told us to check those bolts. Even so, not everyone takes that course and people need to know to watch for this.

Tell everyone you know...this needs to be known!

update 10/18/2010 HDCC says will help.
update 10/19/2010 HDCC says can't help because would have to choose between dealer and us.
update: email I received from NRHD :Sent from [protected]@nrh-d.com, 5 hours ago
Re: New River Harley Davidson Service Costing Lives

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Patricia,
Let me start by saying that i am sympathetic with your situation and thankful no one was injured or a life was lost, as falsely stated in your online rant posted 10/18/2010 on Lejeune Yard Sales. I did notice that at no time was it mentioned that your rear tire had been removed by another motorcycle service department since it was last in our service department, seemingly only choosing to include what you want the public to know. Your title of New River Harley Davidson Service Costing Lives is a false statement with only what if scenarios. Also you have miss quoted me saying Harley Bible, as i have never used those words. Most likely you miss quoted due to you not in any way having communicated with me on this matter. I am asking you kindly to stop slandering me or i will have to take personal legal action. Your dispute is with Harley Davidson Extended Warranty not covering your sprocket, as it clearly states in their handout that the, final drive chain or belt and rear sprocket are listed as non covered parts. To mention my name with false accusations is clearly slander, and again i kindly ask you to cease or action will be taken by my lawyer. Thank you.
my reply:
Well I hope that is better. Did not realize that trying to get the information out there to the other riders was an issue. Sorry if I miss quoted anyone...took the names out and even though my husband and I are a "we" I changed it to him. Hope this addressed your issues. Also added in the part about the back tire via your email...however MY HUSBAND was told at NRHD that the sprocket and bolts are not required for changing a tire and combat said they do not remove it/them either. Anyway, even changed the title to service issues. I or my husband will be forwarding your emailed concerns to HD Customer Care via our Case number so that you are aware.

Have a Nice Day.

OM MONDAY SEPT 20 AT 15:00 HRS I WAS ON MY WAY HOME TO WEST NIPISSING ONTARIO CANADA FROM WINNIPEG MANITOBA

I DECIDED TO STOP AND TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SHOP ON THE WAY HOME.

I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF MY STOP TO GET A REAR TIRE INSTALLED OM MY BIKE

WHILE I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE MAN AT YOUR PARTS COUNTER MY WIFE WAS BUSY LOOKING OVER THE HARLEY CLOTHES

YOUR PARTS MAN DIRECTED ME TO YOUR SERVICE AREA.AS SOON AS MY BACK WAS TURNED HE WAS OBSERVED BY MY WIFE WHO HAPPENED TO BE LOOKING IN THIS DIRECTION .HE WAS SHOWING HIS FIST IN THE AIR AND MAKING FACIAL EXPRESSION AS IF MOKING ME?.

NEEDLESS TO SAY MY WIFE WHEN SHE OBSERVED THIS UNPROFFESIONAL GESTURE SHE WAS PRETTY UPSET.I MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE SERVICE AREA TO HAVE A TIRE INSTALLED BEFORE MY WIFE TOLD ME ABOUT WHAT SHE HAD WITNESSED. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN I WOULD HAVE WAITED TILL I GOT TO MERKETTE MICHIGAN AND GIVE THEM THE BUSINESS INSTEAD. SINCE MY BIKE WAS ALREADY IN THE SHOP I DECIDED TO LET THEM INSTALL THE TIRE ANYWAY.I WAS THE TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT MY REAR BRAKES WERE WORN DOWN. SO I TOLD THEM TO CHANGE THEM SINCE THE REAR WHEEL WAS OFF THE BIKE.WHEN HE WAS GETTING MI INVOICE READY HE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A 20 DOLLAR CHARGE TO INSTALL THE REAR PADS..I ADVISED HIM THAT I WAS A CARREER FIREFIGHTER AND ASKED IF WE WERE INTITLED TO A DISCOUNT AS WE GET THE AT A LOT OF HARLEY DEALERSHIPS THROUGH OUT THE USA..HE ADVISED ME THAT FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD PAY MORE.I ALSO PURCHASED A FIREFIGHTER LONG SLEEVE SHIRT WHILE AT YOUR ESTABLISMENT.IN THE PAST YEARS I HAVE DONE A LOT OF TRAVELING IN THE US AND CANADA AND MAKE IT A POINT TO VISIT ALL THE HARLEY DEALERS AND PURCHASE A COLLECTIVE PIECE.I WAS IN MILLWALKEE FOR THE 105 AND WE WERE TREATED LIKE ROYALTY AT EVERY DEALER WE ATTENDED BOTH IN CANADA AND US.I WILL BE SURE TO ADVISE ALL HARLEY RIDERS I MEET ABOUT THE MANNER IN WITCH WE WERE SERVED AT THIE ESTABLISMENT. PROUD OWNER OF A 2008 ULTRA CLASSIC FIREFIGHTER SPECIAL EDITION

SIGNED

MIKE DIONNE

26 WILLIAM STREET

STURGEON FALLS ONTARIO CANADA

P2B-2A3

EMAIL

[protected]@wnfs.

OM MONDAY SEPT 20 AT 15:00 HRS I WAS ON MY WAY HOME TO WEST NIPISSING ONTARIO CANADA FROM WINNIPEG MANITOBA

I DECIDED TO STOP AND TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SHOP ON THE WAY HOME.

I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF MY STOP TO GET A REAR TIRE INSTALLED OM MY BIKE

WHILE I WAS SPEAKING WITH THE MAN AT YOUR PARTS COUNTER MY WIFE WAS BUSY LOOKING OVER THE HARLEY CLOTHES

YOUR PARTS MAN DIRECTED ME TO YOUR SERVICE AREA.AS SOON AS MY BACK WAS TURNED HE WAS OBSERVED BY MY WIFE WHO HAPPENED TO BE LOOKING IN THIS DIRECTION .HE WAS SHOWING HIS FIST IN THE AIR AND MAKING FACIAL EXPRESSION AS IF MOKING ME?.

NEEDLESS TO SAY MY WIFE WHEN SHE OBSERVED THIS UNPROFFESIONAL GESTURE SHE WAS PRETTY UPSET.I MADE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE SERVICE AREA TO HAVE A TIRE INSTALLED BEFORE MY WIFE TOLD ME ABOUT WHAT SHE HAD WITNESSED. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN I WOULD HAVE WAITED TILL I GOT TO MERKETTE MICHIGAN AND GIVE THEM THE BUSINESS INSTEAD. SINCE MY BIKE WAS ALREADY IN THE SHOP I DECIDED TO LET THEM INSTALL THE TIRE ANYWAY.I WAS THE TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT MY REAR BRAKES WERE WORN DOWN. SO I TOLD THEM TO CHANGE THEM SINCE THE REAR WHEEL WAS OFF THE BIKE.WHEN HE WAS GETTING MI INVOICE READY HE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A 20 DOLLAR CHARGE TO INSTALL THE REAR PADS..I ADVISED HIM THAT I WAS A CARREER FIREFIGHTER AND ASKED IF WE WERE INTITLED TO A DISCOUNT AS WE GET THE AT A LOT OF HARLEY DEALERSHIPS THROUGH OUT THE USA..HE ADVISED ME THAT FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD PAY MORE.I ALSO PURCHASED A FIREFIGHTER LONG SLEEVE SHIRT WHILE AT YOUR ESTABLISMENT.IN THE PAST YEARS I HAVE DONE A LOT OF TRAVELING IN THE US AND CANADA AND MAKE IT A POINT TO VISIT ALL THE HARLEY DEALERS AND PURCHASE A COLLECTIVE PIECE.I WAS IN MILLWALKEE FOR THE 105 AND WE WERE TREATED LIKE ROYALTY AT EVERY DEALER WE ATTENDED BOTH IN CANADA AND US.I WILL BE SURE TO ADVISE ALL HARLEY RIDERS I MEET ABOUT THE MANNER IN WITCH WE WERE SERVED AT THIE ESTABLISMENT. PROUD OWNER OF A 2008 ULTRA CLASSIC FIREFIGHTER SPECIAL EDITION

SIGNED

mike dionne

The motor company will not accept responsibility for transmission bearing damage due to chrome flaking off the transmission dipstick. They said that would not cause bearing damage. They also asked if any chrome was found on the drain plug magnet. Chrome is non- magnetic. In other words they blew me off. They would not let me speak with a tech, just said the motor company is not responible, and were not aware of any chrome flaking or peeling problems. Only cost me $850.00. Between the $1000.00 plus for SYN3 oil, and filters over 3 1/2 seasons of riding it was a bargain! My 21st and last H-D!

Purchased 2008 harley davidson softail rocker new from harley heaven melbourne store and had the bike serviced at dandenong harley heaven 4 times the bike failed to start 4 times a loose the bike for 2-3 days while the serviced manager informed me the battery needed recharging and they had fixed the problem via changing starter motor before finally deciding to change the battery on the bike on the 4th time the bike was returned to the dealer. I tried to complain at the quality of the service I was receiving at the dandenong harley heaven location to be told that I did not purchase the bike at this location and I could only complain at the melbourne harley heaven franchise! I used to believe in the harley davidson brand was an investment in metal only to be told my 2008 has devalued by more than 35% in less than 2 years never before have I experience a harley davidson motor cycle depreciating at this rate

Purchased a brand new 2010 street guilde in July of 2010, within 30 days of ownership the following things happened to me.
First at less than 300 miles the [censored]er assmy. came off bike while I was on highway. I had to reach down and grab rod and jockey shift bike to a safe location. The screw was never put in rear assmy. of shifter that attaches shaft to foot shifter on outside of case. I took this to the dealer and they fixed it. Never the less this should have never happened to a new bike and could have been worst with an unexperianced rider at a high speed.
Second thing at a little over 500 miles the started engaged very hard on start up. The dealer took care of this.
Thirdly at 1000k, was on a bike trip and all of a sudden the rear tire went flat at a high speed. Come to find out the bike had a defective valve stem that caused the tire to go flat. Bike had to be towed and HOG denied paying for tow. Harley denied paying for tow. saying tow is not covered under warranty even though the issue was a warranty issue and covered.
I think this is aweful, I buy a 24000.00 bike, the 4 harley I have had and they pull this.
Harley needs to cover tows under warranty.

Well the 05' Softail Saga is OVER!
I had finally had enough after my bike was in the shop 9 times...they NEVER fixed the issue that it was having.
Screwed up the paint on my tank and NEVER fixed it like they said they would.
My pipes turned blue from them trying to just adjust the carb. instead of fix the issue.
Was treated LIKE ###! They acted like i should just shut up about the issue and not get it fixed.
Tried to trade out and was offered a bike that was 6 years older and one that was 8 years older with
20, 000 or more miles than mine had on it.
FINALLY sold the bike back to them for $3500 less than what I paid for it 5 months earlier.

DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH BLACK DIAMOND HARLEY DAVIDSON!

I purchased a icm modguel from longhorn harely and it did not fix my problem with the bike I tried to take the product back and they would not refund me the money the part was never even used I do not think that it is right not to give me my money back so I will be able to purchase the part I need when I figure out what the problem is. I did try to return it on the same day only 2hrs later the cost of the part was 125.00 dollars.

i bought a 2010 heritage softail and it was making a noise at the rear tire area and when i took it in for service i asked them to check it out and when i picked it up it still made the noise so i went back they checked the belt and told me that they couldn't find anything wrong . they ask me what i wanted them to do i said fix it, if i bought a new car and it made a noise i would take it back, Harley is suposed to be the top motor cycle that everyone wants and now I think i should have went with a yamaha. i would just like to have my bike fixed.

paid $268.00 foor 10, 000 mile service they changed oil i think +said they would wash bike they washed top half+front wheel, wiped mufflers where they stuck out past saddlebags will never deal with again

I have a 1991 Fatboy and it developed a intermittent electrical short. It was like you flipped the kill switch real quickly. I took it to Alef's in Wichita Kansas. I'm from out of town so I though maybe I could wait. While waiting a complete stranger wished me luck and told me I was dealing with idiots. Come to find out he was right. Nine days of complete hell dealing with these guys and with $450.00 worth of labor expense They say it's done. When I ask what the problem was they admit that it was nothing but a loose battery cable. Not at the battery but at the frame. What are you suppost to do. You don't get the bike without paying the bill. They're never see me in the business again. These places have you over a barrel.

I've been dealing with the shop where I bought my fxst 07 for months complaining about the pealing paint on my oil tank. They had powder coated over a chome tank that had no profile on it for the paint to stick to. I went to both the company it self and the dealer I bought it from. The dealer finally called me back and told me my extended warranty had expired on april 29 and they couldn't help me. So they just told me anything for months never let me know my warranty was going to expire and then when it did they just told me they couldn't help me. What a company i'll never deal with them again and anything I can get for that bike I will make sure I buy an after market part. Talk about buyers remorse. Everyone I talk to tells me the same thing that harley davidson could care less after they sell you a bike.

I a pplied for loan to purchase '04 night train and was denied. I have NO debts at all, I owe nothing to nobody, I offered 2, 000$ down even but still denied, I believe I was turned down because of my age (61). I make about 38 to 40K a year. Is this a common practice?

Radio doesn't work half the time. Front of bike shakes when coming to a stop. Left handle grip fell off. Security not working properly. Wheels are pitted and junk. Rear tire is badly cupped. Rubber seal on windshield keeps falling off. Muffler is loose. Gas cap rusted and would not open. The heat from the engine causes burns if not carful. Remember this is a 2010 NEW motorcycle!

WELL, The 05' Softail SAGA continues...It has now been back to Black Diamond Service Dept. 9 times, this particular time they have had it almost 3 weeks during prime riding season. The custom paint on the tank has been wrinkled due to the console being re-installed incorrectly and not seated in the rubber properly. I dropped the bike off before going on vacation (which I was suppose to take the bike on) in order for them to have sufficient time to install an ignition module and have the paint on the tank fixed.

WELL GUESS WHAT!? I called on my way home to find out the status on my bike and they failed to send the tank to be fixed. I was told "the tech didn't get the message that the tank needed to be pulled."

This is completely unacceptable! Not to mention the fact that they act like they are PISSED OFF at me for having to make the bike run right after I purchase it from them. I get reminded of how much money they have lost on "the deal" because they are having to work on it to make it right every time I take it in.

When I purchased the bike from Black Diamond and they made the announcement over the intercom, they said "we would like to welcome the newest member to the Black Diamond family" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I asked them if they would just buy the bike back to make things right and was willing to take a little loss since I had put miles on it...they're offer was $3500 less than what I paid for it 4 months ago...

Ya know the old saying never sell anything or loan money to family? Here is a PRIME example!

I asked them if they would just buy the bike back to make things right and was willing to take a little loss since I had put miles on it...they're offer was $3500 less than what I paid for it 4 months ago...

Harley-Davidson is not living up to the contract purchased at the time of sale nor is it protecting me (the customer) from fraudulent statements (and lack of information) by its authorized dealers.

I purchased a 2003 Electra Glide Classic at Bryan’s HD of Philadelphia in March of 2004, because it had been a rental unit of Bryan’s and was not a used motorcycle I was able to purchase a new vehicle Extended Service Plan (ESP). At no time was I informed that any engine modifications would void the ESP I had just purchased, I had a big bore kit installed in the motorcycle before I took delivery in April.

I used the motorcycle for the 2004 riding season (I lived in Buffalo, NY at the time) and when I stored it for the winter, I questioned the service representative at Stan's HD in Batavia where it was stored that if I had a '103 kit' installed would it impact my warranty. I was told that as long as it was a 'street legal' kit it would not impact the warranty coverage.

Over the years of ownership I have had several repairs done to the motorcycle and they were normally covered by the ESP, the ones that weren't, were excluded by the contract, such as shock absorbers, a part that is normally not covered by any warranty unless it fails due to workmanship.

In "August of 2009, I took the motorcycle in to Henderson HD because of an unusual noise in the motor. It was diagnosed as a bad inner cam bearing; it was replaced under the ESP. When I got the motorcycle back, I spoke to the service representative and told her that it was running strangely, idling very rough and extremely hard to start. I was told to ride it a little as this could be due to the fact that it"was now running like it should"because of the engine modifications. The motorcycle was ridden very little after that, less than 3000 miles.in April of 2010, the motor stopped running. When it was taken back to Henderson HD, it was first diagnosed as a leaking gas line; this was replaced, again under the ESP. When it turned out that this was not the problem, the technician went into the motor and found out that the part that they had replaced less than 300 miles ago had come to pieces and destroyed the bottom end of the motor. And I was now informed that the ESP would not cover the repairs because of the engine modifications had not been done at the time of purchase and had not been registered on the"SWR". This was the first time I had been told this and I had never heard of the"SWR" during my entire ownership of the motorcycle. Sure enough, when ESP was notified, they sent out an adjusted and he immediately voided the warranty because of the reasons I just stated.

All work was done as prescribed in the 2004 Harley-Davidson catalog, under the watchful eye of an Authorized Harley-Davidson dealer as prescribed in the 2004 HD catalog and by the ESP contract Section 9, item 14.

I would expect the ESP to honor the contract I purchased from then in good faith and pay for the repairs to my motorcycle.