CVO Owner Sues Harley Over Chronic Coolant Leak

A Harley-Davidson owner in Illinois is suing the company in federal court over an alleged defect with the CVO Limited liquid cooling system.

A hearing is set for Oct. 14, 2014, during which a judge will decide whether or not to certify the case as a class action, which could extend to all owners of 2014 and later CVOs that have leaky coolant systems.

Robert Okon alleges in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois that Harley-Davidson failed to abide by its 24-month, unlimited-mileage warranty on his 2014 FLHTKSE Limited because it failed to repair the problem after numerous attempts.

The lawsuit states: “The CVO Limited has a design defect which causes the coolant to constantly leak. The CVO Limited’s engine and associated coolant systems are covered under H-D’s 24 month, unlimited mileage written warranty. H-D has not repaired this design defect. Because H-D has not discovered a way to repair the design defect as it is required to do under its 24 month, unlimited mileage written warranty, H-D has breached this warranty.”

(We’ve included a link to the lawsuit filing at the end of this article for anyone who wants to read the particulars.)

We did contact Harley-Davidson for comment but representatives there did not immediately respond.

Bloomingdale resident Okon states he paid $46,000 in September 2013 to buy a 2014 FLHTKSE CVO Limited from Conrad’s Harley-Davidson in Shorewood, IL. Before the month was out, Okon discovered coolant was leaking from the engine.

CVOs are cooled by both air and coolant, which is used cool head assemblies.

Okon said he contacted Conrad’s about the problem Sept. 30, 2013, and the dealer picked the bike up for repairs. The dealer tried to repair the bike, then returned it to Okon.

Okon then sought dealers farther afield to see if they could repair the problem, again with no success.

The dealerships are not named as defendants.

The lawsuit claims that Okon suffered damages in excess of $50,000 and that the class has suffered at least $5 million in damages as a result of the alleged defect.

Links:

Read the actual complaint.