Odometer issue
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
What exactly is your concern? Hopefully you plan on riding your bike. Unless the mileage is tied to some kind of warranty, then I wouldn't worry about it. Once you put 2,000 miles on it, no one will care.
Found out last week that my transmission fluid was 8oz low after 600 miles of riding. The thought is that it went into the primary. It's going into the shop at a dealer other then the one I purchased it from this coming Wednesday to start testing for for fluid transfer issues on TA0022. They could likely question the mileage discrepancy being that the mileage is lower then the last recorded transaction not only on the title but, on the service records, and the VIN verification. I guess I could tell them that I've been driving backwards for the last 1,800 but that might void the warranty.
I contacted the dealer about this issue and they are claiming they don't know what happened. The General Manager got real snotty with me stating that they have power or attorney to do whatever they see fit with mileage.
On another note, How could an odometer be rolled back? My odometer showed 1646 less miles on it then it had when I signed the papers back in January. All the paperwork says 6812. The service history says 6812. The purchase from the previous dealer says 6812. I remember pressing the tip meter and it said 6812.
The dealer had it for two months doing the recalls and adding some options put on the purchase. I took delivery on it around the beginning of April. It's the odometer and not the trip meter. The VIN matches the paper work. I tired to contact the previous owner but he died in May.
According to the local dealer where I'm from, the only way to permanently change mileage is to change the ECM. Why someone would want to roll back an odometer just 1600 or so miles is insane. There's another issue here that someone isn't telling me. If unauthorized changes were made to my bike after purchase it and is undocumented, that's an issue I could bring up with an outside agency for investigation if I feel that someone was trying to hide.
..and unrelated to my issue, the General Service Manager, The General Sales Manger, and the Parts Manager are no longer employed at the dealer where I purchased the bike.
On another note, How could an odometer be rolled back? My odometer showed 1646 less miles on it then it had when I signed the papers back in January. All the paperwork says 6812. The service history says 6812. The purchase from the previous dealer says 6812. I remember pressing the tip meter and it said 6812.
The dealer had it for two months doing the recalls and adding some options put on the purchase. I took delivery on it around the beginning of April. It's the odometer and not the trip meter. The VIN matches the paper work. I tired to contact the previous owner but he died in May.
According to the local dealer where I'm from, the only way to permanently change mileage is to change the ECM. Why someone would want to roll back an odometer just 1600 or so miles is insane. There's another issue here that someone isn't telling me. If unauthorized changes were made to my bike after purchase it and is undocumented, that's an issue I could bring up with an outside agency for investigation if I feel that someone was trying to hide.
..and unrelated to my issue, the General Service Manager, The General Sales Manger, and the Parts Manager are no longer employed at the dealer where I purchased the bike.
Oh so you're saying the tip had more miles than the odometer? Interesting.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,996
Likes: 417
From: Cranbourne, VIC Australia
The trip meter has a decimal place on it, that if you missed reading it you could inadvertently turn 681.2 into 6812. Mistakes can happen, it doesn't have to mean something ominous.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 956
Likes: 144
From: Old Bridge, NJ
Agreed. Id forget about this and start thinking about a possible transfer issue.
When I reviewed the bike on the day of purchase on 1/25, I pushed the button with the ignition off. That never shows the TRIP meter, it shows the ODOMETER only. It said 6812. Please let me know if you have any further suggestions.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Another thing, with this OD discrepancy, what if I now want to sell the bike.. Where does that leave me when the OD doesn't jive with the paperwork
Last edited by SluggoMagoo; Jun 6, 2019 at 10:22 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,996
Likes: 417
From: Cranbourne, VIC Australia
Harley warranties are unlimited mileage, and solely based on years. So there is no reason for someone to roll the mileage backwards for any reason by such a small amount. If you can't get the selling dealership to fix the paperwork, then simply go put some miles on the bike. get it to at least what the paperwork says, then your problem is solved, and you got to ride and smile the whole way.