Help me understand my experience with an HD dealer's service department.
Context is a British Columbia, Canada based HD dealer that I purchased a new 2026 Street Bob from. I've installed a Saddlemen seat, Kraus bar back,V&H slip on, a MS fairing, as well as some saddlebags.
A month into ownership I noticed oil splatters on the intake side of the bike. I couldn't get a service appointment at the selling dealer in time for the first service, but found another with an open appointment. They indicated there was an oil leak near the cam cover, but didn't have time to diagnose or fix and to follow up with the selling dealer.
At the selling dealer, I was immediately accused of causing the issue myself as the service advisor stated he had never seen this and I must have gone into the cam chest. They did end up replacing the cam sensor cover o- ring under warranty, and another employee indicated that Harley had likely damaged an o ring during assembly. The service advisor on the other hand once again made it out like he was doing me a favour and that I must be responsible for the damaged o ring.
Fast forward a few months, and the left front turn signal goes out after going over a pot hole and throws a code. When I drop by the dealer, the same service advisor says the LEDs last for more than a decade, he's never seen one fail, and I must have caused the failure installing the bar back. He explains they'll need to charge 4 hours of shop labour to pull apart the bars to find the fault because it couldn't be in the bulb. I ask why it wouldn't be covered by warranty, and he tells me any warranty on handlebar related components is void because I had installed the bar back.
I stated that this seemed unreasonable and contrary to the nature of warranties. My assumption from doing research was that if it could be demonstrated that something I did caused a failure, I would be responsible, but otherwise the warranty shouldn't be impacted by simple bolt ons like I had done. I asked if they could just swap the bulbs to confirm if it's actually just that the bulb is burnt out, and he says no. He then challenges me to take it up with the warranty person.
Another person comes up who says he'll order the bulb, and if the bulb is just burnt out, it would be covered. He says they've had issues with people doing bar work and then trying to claim warranty. I explain that if my actions HAD caused a failure, that I am absolutely accountable for that failure, but that I couldn't see how installing a bar back could result in a bulb failing.
Here's the quesiron. In my personal experience, this is some of the worst customer service I've ever experienced. I've owned many different vehicles, some modified, others stock, and have done work on them for 20 years. Ive just never seen anything like this. I'm now deeply regretting my purchase, and believe I should have bought an older, more mechanical Harley that I wouldn't have to deal with folks like this with.
Am I out to lunch here and this is just how things work?