NHTSA ID Number: 10284497
Incident Date: 2009-07-17
Manufacturer's Name: Indian
Motorcycle Company
Vehicle/Equipment Make: INDIAN![]()
Vehicle/Equipment Model: CHIEF ROADMASTER![]()
Model Year: 2009
9999 If Unknown Or N/A
Vehicle Identification Number: 5YACRA6D39K
Vehicle Mileage At Failure: 8700
Vehicle Speed: 5
Number Of Occurrences: 1
Was Vehicle Towed: No
Consumer Location: OLATHE, KS
Summary of Complaint
WELD FAILURE ON THE FORK STOPS ON A 2009 INDIAN
MOTORCYCLE. CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO LOSE CONTROL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND RESULTED IN A RIDER LOSING CONTROL AND CRASHING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE WELD ON THE FORK DOWN TUBE THAT PREVENTS THE HANDLE BARS FROM TURNING TOO FAR BROKE OFF AND CAUSED A RIDER TO CRASH. UPON INSPECTION OF THE WELD AFTER THE CRASH IT IS CLEARLY VISIBLE THAT THE WELD IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO HOLD THE FORK STOP IN PLACE. REVIEW OF THE CALL OUT SHEETS FOR THE ASSEMBLY OF THE BIKES CALLS FOR A 1/4 INCH WELD ALL THE WAY AROUND THE FORK STOP LUG. THIS LUG HAS A 1/16TH TACK WELD ON 3 SIDES. IT APPEARS TO BE A TACK WELD THAT WAS PUT ON TO HOLD THE LUG IN PLACE PRIOR TO FINAL WELD. THE PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED IS THAT WHEN THE WELD BREAKS IT ALLOWS THE BARS TO BE TURNED TOO FAR RESULTING IN AN ABILITY TO OVERSTEER THE MOTORCYCLE. I HAD THIS OVER STEER HAPPEN TO ME ON 3 OCCASIONS AND COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE OWNER OF THE BIKE WAS NOT SO LUCKY. IT CAUSED HIM TO CRASH IN A LOW SPEED TURN. I KNOW OF 1 OTHER INCIDENT WHERE A RIDER WENT DOWN IN A LOW SPEED TURN WHILE ON A DEMO RIDE IN THE NORTH EAST AREA OF THE UNITED STATES. I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE LUG AND WELDS AND I CAN PROVIDE CALL OUT SHEETS FOR THE WELD FROM AN EARLIER VERSION OF THE FRAME THAT WAS ASSEMBLED IN GILROY, CALIFORNIA. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS. THIS ISSUE REALLY CONCERNS ME AS THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHEN THE LUG MIGHT BREAK. IN THE WRONG CIRCUMSTANCES THE OVER STEER CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS POTENTIAL FOR BODILY INJURY. I HAVE CONTACTED MR. CHRIS BERNAUER THE GENERAL MANAGER OF INDIAN
MOTORCYCLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT AND HE REFUSES TO DISCUSS IT WITH ME. I CAN ALSO TELL YOU INDIAN
MOTORCYCLE COMPANY BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE BACK FROM THE OWNER MR. JOHN WHITE AND NOW HAS IT IN THEIR KINGS MOUNTAIN FACILITY. I SUSPECT PART OF THE BUY BACK AGREEMENT WAS AN NDA. I AM NOT BOUND BY ANY NDA AND RODE THE MACHINE 8700 MILE. *TR
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Complaint 10284497 Documents
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CRASH: Yes
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A CRASH
FIRE: No
WAS VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A FIRE
INJURIES: 1
NUMBER OF PERSONS INJURED
DEATHS: 0
NUMBER OF FATALITIES
Was Medical Attention Required: No
Was Incident Reported To Police: No
Date Of Incident: 2009-07-17
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Added To File: 2009-09-18
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Complaint Received By NHTSA: 2009-09-18
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Date Purchased:
(YYYY-MM-DD)
Was Original Owner: No
Product Type: Vehicle
V = Vehicle T = Tires E = Equipment C = Child Restraint
Specific Component's Description: STRUCTURE
Anti-Lock Brakes: No
Cruise Control: No
Number Of Cylinders:
Drive Train Type:
[AWD, 4WD, FWD, RWD]
Fuel System:
FI = Fuel Injection TB = Turbo
Fuel Type:
BF = BiFuel CN = CNG/LPG DS = Diesel GS = Gas HR = HybridElectric
Vehicle Transmission Type [Auto, Man]:
(DOT) Department Of Transportation Tire Identifier:
Tire Size:
Location Of Tire:
FSW = Driver Side Front DSR = Driver Side Rear FTR = Passenger Side Front PSR = Passenger Side Rear SPR = Spare
Type Of Tire Failure:
BST = Blister BLW = Blowout TTL = Crack OFR = Out Of Round TSW = Puncture TTR = Road Hazard TSP = Tread Separation
Was Defective Tire Repaired:
Was Part Original Equipment:
Date Of Manufacture:
(YYYYMMDD)
Type Of Child Seat
:
B = Booster C = Convertible I = Infant IN = Integrated TD = Toddler
Installation System:
A = Vehicle Safety Belt B = Latch System
Dealer's Name:
Dealer's Telephone Number:
Dealer's City:
Dealer's State:
Dealer's Zipcode:
SOURCE OF COMPLAINT CODE:
CAG = Consumer Action Group CON = Forwarded From A Congressional Office DP = Defect Petition,result Of A Defect Petition EVOQ = Hotline VOQ EWR = EARLY WARNING REPORTING INS = Insurance Company IVOQ = NHTSA Web Site LETR = Consumer Letter MAVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP MIVQ = NHTSA Mobile APP MVOQ = Optical Marked VOQ RC = Recall Complaint, Result Of A Recall Investigation RP = Recall Petition, Result Of A Recall Petition SVOQ = Portable Safety Complaint Form (PDF) VOQ = NHTSA Vehicle Owners Questionnaire
Incident State Code:
Vehicle Operator's Name:
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