Bought My First Harley - and it fell appart!

Rusty Shackleford · 2023-02-20T04:42:18-0500

Hello! I found these forums while looking for info on what to do. I bought a new 2022 Pan America and rode it for two weeks and a day and then the engine went out completely. Worst purchase of my life. Worst customer service I have ever encountered. I thought I should share my experience to help save others from the nightmare of Harley ownership.

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Zedbra · 2023-02-20T13:19:52-0500

It happens. So, are you walking away from the bike?

Daniel92481 · 2023-02-20T14:06:37-0500

Are you making a PanAMWstrada? I’m going to trust that you have a plan haha. Wow.

Rusty Shackleford · 2023-02-20T15:17:26-0500

I am not doing any work on it myself. It is at a Harley dealer in Houston. They took it apart to try and figure out what is wrong with it. Right now it seems very likely that this will turn into a lawsuit.

Daniel92481 · 2023-02-20T15:25:51-0500

Rusty Shackleford said:
I am not doing any work on it myself. It is at a Harley dealer in Houston. They took it apart to try and figure out what is wrong with it. Right now it seems very likely that this will turn into a lawsuit.

Sorry to hear about your bike. Hopefully they take care of it for you. I’m also in the Houston area. Be safe out there.

Rocket · 2023-02-20T19:35:43-0500

The bike should be covered under factory warranty......

Rocket · 2023-02-20T19:37:21-0500

So, what happened to cause a full teardown?

wikey wikey · 2023-02-20T22:09:20-0500

im speechless

Matilda · 2023-02-21T01:31:36-0500

Sorry to hear about that.
A view points what i see:
It is a full mess how the bikeparts lay arround....
Nothing covered, the parts not sortete in boxes Things like that.
I would have no trust in that shop and mechanics also the skills seems to be offline.
i Wish you good luck.

goosegreen · 2023-02-21T03:01:13-0500

I agree with Matilda that must be the most unorganised work place i have seen good that you have photos maybe you can sort a deal for a new bike with the dealer before going the long haul to court.

Rusty Shackleford · 2023-02-21T12:51:30-0500

I called and got an update today. Republic HD in Stafford has had my bike for two weeks now (2/7-2/21). The service desk guy told me they are waiting on an inspector from HD to come look at the engine. Basically they have done nothing since 2/9 when they split the case and found that there was an issue with oil pressure not arriving at some parts of the top of the engine. I don't think its really the dealers fault though, HD corp will not talk to me and will only say that the issue has been "referred" and "escalated.". The warranty decision makers at HD are "not customer facing" and will not discuss issues with "end users."

HD is doing a really good job of convincing me to get a super tenere once(if?) this gets resolved.

JBD63 · 2023-02-22T00:38:49-0500

HD mothership/dealership should give you another Pan America.

Chris_Germany · 2023-02-22T06:07:07-0500

I am sure you will get a complete new Engine. I would wait until the HD Guy was there. And I guess your Dealer already knows that. That would be the explanation for the parts mess on the bike lift.

Sq51lacfd · 2023-02-22T12:39:33-0500

I totally get that this is a catastrophic failure. With that, I do know a couple people who work at the Motor Company in a division that deals with these types of situations. (I won't disclose exactly where they work for their sake) But, having had a few beer drinking discussions off the record, I can relay this.
They take these types of failures VERY seriously. They are interested in not just making things right, but also customer retention. The dealer network is large, very large. They are responsive to dealers on special cases such as this. Have there been failures on other motors from the factory? Absolutely. So do many other vehicle manufacturers.
There is a great deal of value to them in seeing and conducting a forensic evaluation of a failed motor. It helps prevent future failures.
Anyone who has had something like this happen is understandably upset, disappointed, inconvenienced, etc. I would feel the same way. I have faith they will make this right. I've seen it before.
Hang in there, I will hope for a positive outcome for you.

Rocket · 2023-02-22T19:35:16-0500

Sq51lacfd said:
I totally get that this is a catastrophic failure. With that, I do know a couple people who work at the Motor Company in a division that deals with these types of situations. (I won't disclose exactly where they work for their sake) But, having had a few beer drinking discussions off the record, I can relay this.
They take these types of failures VERY seriously. They are interested in not just making things right, but also customer retention. The dealer network is large, very large. They are responsive to dealers on special cases such as this. Have there been failures on other motors from the factory? Absolutely. So do many other vehicle manufacturers.
There is a great deal of value to them in seeing and conducting a forensic evaluation of a failed motor. It helps prevent future failures.
Anyone who has had something like this happen is understandably upset, disappointed, inconvenienced, etc. I would feel the same way. I have faith they will make this right. I've seen it before.
Hang in there, I will hope for a positive outcome for you.

I gata chime in on that....
I have had 4 catastrophic engine failures with HD. Not the Pan America, but my Road glide special, 14k miles sucked a valve so bad, it destroyed the cases. 42k Broke the cam, causing massive internal damage, 43k, spun the flywheel on the crank causing more damage, and the final straw for me was picking her up and riding 5 miles from the dealer, and the oil port plugged up, seizing the engine.
All cases were covered by warranty. It really sucks see your bike scattered and splattered. I diddnt have my RGS for a year and a half.
But they came through. When I was ready to sell they took my bike for over top blue book high value, with a blown motor, for trade in.
Just my $5 (inflation)

Zedbra · 2023-02-23T03:36:52-0500

Rocket said:
I gata chime in on that....
I have had 4 catastrophic engine failures with HD. Not the Pan America, but my Road glide special, 14k miles sucked a valve so bad, it destroyed the cases. 42k Broke the cam, causing massive internal damage, 43k, spun the flywheel on the crank causing more damage, and the final straw for me was picking her up and riding 5 miles from the dealer, and the oil port plugged up, seizing the engine.
All cases were covered by warranty. It really sucks see your bike scattered and splattered. I diddnt have my RGS for a year and a half.
But they came through. When I was ready to sell they took my bike for over top blue book high value, with a blown motor, for trade in.
Just my $5 (inflation)

I also have a 2008 Road Glide with 108,000 km on it and I travel wherever the road decides; never needed any emergency 'on the road' repairs. This is one of my 'forever' bikes, with lots of amazing aftermarket options to keep it going for decades to come. HD will make this motor the future, more is coming and that will benefit everyone

71Romeo · 2023-02-24T11:06:04-0500

What an ordeal for sure. But brother if you re-read the 13 entries above you will feel the love. Support. Passion. Persistence. I know hearing that BS when your new bike is stripped down and just waiting for a solution is practically impossible to hear. BUT (there is always a but) there is wisdom in the bits and pieces above. HD is a beast of a company with a legacy whose story is re-stated to serve the current board of advisors and stakeholders BUT that is not a bad thing. This engine is absolutely where it's all heading. Sucks that your Houston dealer isn't giving you a satisfied feeling but I'll bet dollars to donuts they are trying. Every employee at every dealership has their paycheck on the line when a shit show emerges and a customer is literally standing there waiting for service. Hang tight. The corp (and I hope the dealership) will do whatever they can to overdeliver as soon as they can. I'll tell you my little catastrophy story provided this is all confiedential..... I have a 2021 Road Glide I love to death. She is on her 4th clutch just after 4500 miles. Took us (me and the dealer and shop employees and everyone at the joint) till the 4th clutch to realize it was MY operator error that caused it all. By clutch 3 the HD HQ intervention specialist came out, lots of investigations (because they thought the dealer employee might not know what they're doing) BUT with a little patience (it fucking killed me...THE WAITING) but HD came through. All of it was paid. THEN as the 4th clutch is installed and everything sounds great and runs great a longer lifestyle conversation between me and my main service guy helped the facts emerge. I'm NOT a motor officer who can't wait to run another rodeo...but I thought I should be good enough to do so. Alas, it was many miles of my slow speed cone work and etc. that exposed my own friction zone loving keep it loaded accelerator that helped me realize I was riding Lana Turner hard and putting her up wet every night. So now, I stopped that shit...and the real solution emerged: THE REVOLUTION MAX ENGINE. I love the PAS like I can't even describe. SO please let me, as a complete stranger and who the hell knows what else ask you to give it time. They will deliver. YOUR NEW ENGINE will deliver. We'll be here reading, waiting, watching with you.

Katschberg · 2023-02-24T12:19:10-0500

Looks like the temporary license plate is from last year, Feb 2022, Denton County HD (Corinth?). Is this the bike in Houston - which would not be a new one but a year old.

Had the same experience, engine failed at 1000 miles. Catastrophic failure, broken parts in the overhead valve section. Engine replaced on full warranty (took a good while) and no further issue for the next 3000 miles (so far). Running great.

So, there is hope - but we know that there were issues. And interesting enough that it was right at the same time that I bought mine, also in Feb 2022.