Vance & Hines on FTC Action Against H-D
In what, ostensibly, sounds like a remarkable move by the United States Federal Trade Commission, a complaint has been issued against Harley (June 23, 2022), ordering the company to "fix warranties by removing illegal terms and recognizing the right to repair."
The complaint goes on to urge Harley to "come clean with customers and ensure that dealers compete fairly with independent third-parties."
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| Mike Kennedy, President & CEO of Vance & Hines "This action taken by the FTC is a huge win for motorcycle riders." |
A similar complaint was issued against Westinghouse, and it is assumed that the two companies have been selected for sample action as the FTC seeks to clamp down on warranty policies that illegally restrict customers' right of repair.
Kennedy, President & CEO of Vance & Hines and himself a former senior Harley executive issued the following statement: "This action taken by the FTC is a huge win for motorcycle riders.
"While we still need to see how this plays out, we anticipate that riders will have more choices in how they repair and update their motorcycles during the warranty period, which is clearly a big deal for companies in the motorcycle aftermarket, too.
"I hope that the 'it will void your warranty' threat for someone who just wants a better sounding or smoother running Harley is a thing of the past."