Two class-action lawsuits have been filed against the company by owners who were told that their warranties would not be valid unless they used factory parts and dealer service only.
Motorcycle owners in California and Wisconsin are suing Harley-Davidson, claiming the company threatened to void their warranties unless they used factory parts at dealerships
According to Reuters, Harley-Davidson has been sued twice by motorcycle owners who are seeking damages for their injuries.
Harley-Davidson was ordered in June to stop telling owners that aftermarket parts void their warranties. Aftermarket parts are prohibited from voiding a vehicle warranty under the right to repair law.
Harley-Davidson was accused of breaking state anticompetitiveness laws in California and antitrust provisions in Wisconsin, but not right-to-repair laws.
Owners were kept locked into the company's ecosystem of parts, and their ability to have service done was limited, according to the lawsuits.
A Harley-Davidson dealership threatened to void warranties if owners did not use Harley-Davidson parts. Harley allegedly worded these threats in such a way as to circumvent the right-to-repair.
FTC took issue with Harley's terms of service, which state that "the use of parts and service procedures other than Harley-Davidson approved parts and service procedures may void the limited warranty.
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits making a vehicle's warranty coverage contingent on dealer service or factory-approved parts.
Furthermore, such actions violate antitrust laws since they limit competition. If the bike owners win their class-action lawsuits, Harley-Davidson will have to pay an unspecified amount in damages.