2009 DUCATI 1198 Complaints

AFTER PURCHASING A 2009 DUCATI 1198S ON 8/3/2018, I DISCOVERED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAD 2 OPEN SAFETY RECALLS. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO A DUCATI DEALER TO PERFORM THE RECALLS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT 1 OF THE RECALLS (NHTSA #09V-170; MANUFACTURER #RCL-09-003) IS NOT NEEDED AND THAT THE OTHER RECALL (NHTSA #09V-381; MANUFACTURER #RCL-09-005) CANNOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THE RECALL REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE GAS TANK AND THE GAS TANK CANNOT RELIABLY BE REMOVED AND REPLACED BECAUSE IT IS SWOLLEN (SEE ATTACHED REPAIR ORDER). THE GAS TANK IS SWOLLEN DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT THAT IS THE SUBJECT OF A CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT (SEE ATTACHED NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT). THE CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT PROVIDES FOR FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE GAS TANK WITHIN 6 YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE DATE (THAT WAS PROBABLY IN 2009 OR 2010), BUT THIS TIME PERIOD EXPIRED BEFORE I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DEALER INFORMED ME, AFTER INQUIRING WITH DUCATI ABOUT REPLACING MY GAS TANK FOR FREE, THAT THE 09V-381 SAFETY RECALL CANNOT BE PERFORMED UNLESS I PAY APPROXIMATELY $1300 FOR A NEW GAS TANK. I RESPONDED THAT I WAS NOT WILLING TO PAY $1300 FOR A FACTORY DEFECT (SEE ATTACHED EMAIL). AS A RESULT, THE DEALER DID NOT PERFORM THE 09V-381 SAFETY RECALL AND I PICKED UP THE MOTORCYCLE. I DO NOT THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $1300 TO GET A SAFETY RECALL PERFORMED. DUCATI SHOULD REPLACE MY GAS TANK, AND PERFORM THE 09V-381 SAFETY RECALL, FREE OF CHARGE.

THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WITH FAULTY RADIATORS ON THE EARLY 848/1098/1198 SERIES BIKES. THE RADIATOR FAILS IN THE TOP LEFT HAND CORNER BRACKET, CAUSING COOLANT TO COME OUT OF THE LEFT HAND SIDE FAIRING. EVERYONE'S SEEMS TO FAIL IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE. DUCATI CHANGED THE RADIATOR TO A NEW VERSION IN 2010 AND THAT HAS RESOLVED THE ISSUE. I WOULD BE HAPPY WITH A REPLACEMENT RADIATOR THAT DOES NOT HAVE THIS FLAW. IT IS NOT SAFE TO LOSE COOLANT AND COULD GET ON THE TIRES OR BRAKES AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THANK YOU *TR

THE DUCATI 1198 AND PREVIOUS MODELS WERE RECALLED DUE TO FAULTY MOUNTING OF VOLTAGE REGULATOR (IT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL HEAT SHIELDING). I NEVER RECEIVED RCL-08-005 (NHTSA NUMBER 08V-638). I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, AND ALL OTHER MARKER LIGHTS WENT OUT. I WAS STRUCK FROM SIDE BY A DRIVER WHO DID NOT SEE ME, BUT LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT IMMEDIATELY. I WAS UNABLE TO CATCH THE DRIVER AND MY LEG WAS CRUSHED BETWEEN THE CAR AND MY MOTORCYCLE. DUCATI IS UNWILLING TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS ON MY VEHICLE, THE DEALER IS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL AND DUCATI S.P.A. STATED CLEARLY THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. RCL-08-005 MAKES CLEAR THAT OWNERS ARE IN DANGER SHOULD THEY EXPERIENCE THIS FAILURE, EXACTLY THE FAILURE I EXPERIENCED. GIVEN THAT MY MODEL IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, I FULLY EXPECT DUCATI TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT THEIR COST AND PAY DAMAGES AND MEDICAL EXPENSES EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF THIS KNOWN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *TR

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2009 DUCATI 1198 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK THREE TIMES. THE FUEL TANK IS EXPANDING TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS BEGUN LEAKING ONTO THE MOTOR AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. ALSO THE HANDLE BARS ARE HITTING THE TANK CAUSING ISSUES WITH DRIVABILITY. *TR

BRAKES: REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN 2011, REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED ONCE AGAIN JAN 2011...REAR BRAKE LINES WERE BLED TO RULE OUT AIR TRAPPED IN THE BRAKE LINE, ONLY TO DISCOVER BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE RUBBER TUBE WHICH FEEDS INTO THE TOP OF THE BRAKE MASTER...IN ADDITION, THE RUBBER GROMMET THAT SEATS INTO THE REAR MASTER FREE-ROTATES IN PLACE. DUCATI DEALERSHIP WILL BE REPLACING THE REAR MASTER A SECOND TIME UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I FEAR THE CAUSE IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED! LIGHTING: FRONT HEADLIGHTS HAVE WATER CONDENSATION BUILT UP INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING LIMITED VISIBILITY DURING NIGHT TIME. DUCATIUSA DECLINED REPLACING IT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS GLAD TO OFFER TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS AT MSRP+LABOR COSTS. THE BIKE HAS OTHERWISE BEEN PLEASURE TO OWN AND RIDE. *TT

FUEL TANK EXPANSION WELL BEYOND SPEC TOLERANCE, IMPACTING STEERING DAMPENER MOUNT AND FURTHER PRESSING AGAINST THE FRONT SUSPENSION. BIKE WAS MAINTAINED BY ORIGINAL OWNER AND ALWAYS REFILLED FROM REPUTABLE GAS STATIONS AND ONLY USED 92 OR 93 OCTANE PREMIUM FUEL. *TR