NHTSA complaint: 2006 HONDA VTX1800C — SUSPENSION:REAR
I PURCHASED A NEW HONDA MOTORCYCLE ON JULY 29TH 2006. THE DEALER IS MOUNTAIN ADVENTURES IN CONYERS, GEORGIA. IT WAS A 2006 HONDA VTX 1300C. FROM THE DEALERS LOCATION TO WHERE I AM KEEPING IT IS A 35 MILE RIDE. AT AROUND THE 30 MILE POINT, I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AFTER A STOP SIGN, AND DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED BUT I FELL WITH THE MOTORCYCLE ON MY LEFT SIDE. MY LEFT SHOULDER HIT THE PAVEMENT FIRST, FRACTURING MY COLLAR BONE AND ALSO BRUISING SOME RIBS, MUSCLES, AND LEFT ANKLE. I WAS ABLE TO RIDE THE BIKE TO MY STORAGE LOCATION WHERE I AM PARKING IT. THEN I DROVE MYSELF TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK A FRIEND OF MINE TO SEE THE MOTORCYCLE. IT HAD ONLY A FEW SCRATCHES ON IT, BUT MY FRIEND NOTICED THAT BOTH REAR STRUTS/SHOCKS WERE DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME AT THE TOP. FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE TOP AND BOTTOM MOUNTING CONNECTIONS SHOWED THAT THE RETAINING WASHERS THAT HOLD THE STRUTS/SHOCKS IN PLACE WERE NOT INSTALLED. WITHOUT THOSE THE STRUTS/SHOCKS SLIDE OVER THE BOLT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO SECURE THEM IN PLACE. THERE WAS OBVIOUS NEGLIGENCE IN THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS BY HONDA MOTORCYCLE DIVISION. I CALLED THE DEALER TO INFORM HIM OF WHAT HAPPENED. THE DEALER SAID THEY RECEIVE THE MOTORCYCLES IN CRATES AND THAT THE REAR END COMES ASSEMBLED FROM HONDA. THEY SAID IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT. THE DEALER CAME TO PICK UP THE MOTORCYCLE AND CALLED ME LATER TO SAY HONDA AUTHORIZED THE NECESSARY REPAIR WORK AND PARTS AT NO COST TO ME. THE MOTORCYCLE WA
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation