DUCATI Complaints

AFTER A YEAR OF VARIOUS RECALLS, I HAD A MAJOR OIL LEAK FROM THE ENGINE AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AM STILL WAITING FOR A RESOLUTION. IT IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE TO DRIVE. *TR

I NOTICED THE GAS TANK WAS LOOSE WHILE SITTING ON MY MOTORCYCLE. THE PLASTIC TANK HAS EXPANDED PAST THE TANK MOUNTS AND CAN BE PICKED UP OFF OF THE FRAME. IT WAS REPLACED ONCE IN 2011 AFTER I WAS NOTIFIED OF A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT, THE CASE WAS NOT SETTLED. THE REPLACEMENT TANK FAILED LAST SUMMER IN THE SAME MANNER AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THAT DUCATI NO LONGER REPLACES THE TANK BUT THAT WAS 8 MONTHS AFTER THEY STOPPED. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM WAS ENDING AND GIVEN TIME TO REPLACE MY TANK AGAIN. *TR

AFTER APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES, THE REAR BRAKE ON THIS MOTORCYCLE CEASED TO FUNCTION. I DISCOVERED THIS AS I ATTEMPTED TO USE THE BRAKE TO HOLD THE BIKE IN A STABLE POSITION AT A STOPLIGHT, RESULTING IN SOME ROLLBACK AND A POTENTIAL LOW SPEED ACCIDENT. THE DEALER TECHNICAL REP INDICATED THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM INTRODUCES AIR INTO THE BRAKE SYSTEM AFTER THE ABS SYSTEM INTERVENES TO AVOID REAR-WHEEL LOCKUP. IF THIS IS THE CASE, THIS SYSTEM IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD TO RIDERS AND THOSE AROUND THEM. *TR

DUCATI 1199 PANIGALE CLUTCH ISSUE: CLUTCH SYSTEM (SLAVE, PUSHROD, DISK(S), ETC.) BEGAN BINDING AFTER DEPARTING 600 MILE (REQUIRED) SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE PROBLEM INITIALLY SURFACED AS INTERMITTENT ON WARM/HOT DAYS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS IN OPERATION AND WATER TEMPERATURE WAS ABOVE 170F. THE ISSUE BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED WITH USE, AND BY 800 MILES, WAS CONSTANT - EITHER COLD OR HOT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN 4 TIMES FOR SERVICE FOR SAME/RELATED ISSUE(S), AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO REPAIR. *TR

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM LOOSES COMPRESSION ALLOWING THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL TO BE INCREASED TO MORE THAN DOUBLE THE EXPECTED DISTANCE. REAR BRAKES WILL NOT WORK AS EXPECTED OVER 5MPH. SUSPECTED AIR IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM LINES. NO LOST OF FLUID IS SHOWN. *TR

THE GAS TANK HAS EXPANDED AND SPREAD WIDER THAN THE SUPPORTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE, CAUSING IT TO BE UNSUPPORTED AND UNSAFE. *TR

AFTER COMING HOME FROM A RIDE, I NOTICED THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING COOLANT FROM A PINSIZED HOLE. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR FINDINGS WITH THEIR RADIATORS. *TR

FUEL TANK EXPANSION/DEFORM ISSUE. HORN BUTTON IS TOUCHING WHEN LOCKING THE FRONT WHEEL(TURNED TO FULL LEFT). ALSO THE KEY GUARD IS BREAKING AND FUEL TANK SIDE TRIM PANELS ARE LOOSE FROM DEFORMED TANK. *TR

REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. NOTED TO BE INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE STOPPING POWER WITH REAR BRAKE. SPONGY FEELING IN PEDAL AND PEDAL MUST BE DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN WITH BOOT HEEL TO ENGAGE. REAR BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR NOTED TO BE DISCOLORED WITH A BLACK AND DIRTY APPEARANCE. NEW MOTORCYCLE WITH VERY FEW MILES, AND JUST RECEIVED INITIAL 600 MILE BREAK IN SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP. *LN

MY SON WAS KILLED IN A CRASH ON I-270 IN COLUMBUS OHIO AT THE SR 315 INTERCHANGE. ACCORDING TO AN EYEWITNESS HE HAD JUST PASSED HER ABOUT 70-75 MPH, IN THE THIRD LANE FROM THE BIRM OUT OF 5. BEGAN STRUGGLING WITH CONTROL, SHE SAID THE REAR OF THE BIKE WAS SHIMMYING. THE LOSS OF CONTROL GOT PROGESSIVELY WORSE, HE CROSSED THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL REAR END FIRST. HE WAS KILLED INSTANTLY. I HAVE SINCE SEEN MANY COMMENTS ABOUT DUCATI MONSTER, AND MOTOTARD 1100'S EXHIBITING WHAT IS CALLED "HIGH SPEED WOBBLE AT 75 TO 80 MPH. I AM CONCERNED THAT THEY AMY BE PLACING THEIR RIDERS AT GRAVE RISK. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS BEING INVESTIGATED, OR IF IT WARRANTS AND INVESTIGATION, TROOPER DIEHL OF THE OHP INFORMED ME THAT HIGH TOXICOLGY WAS NEGATIVE, AND THERE WAS APPARENTLY NO ROAD DEBRI THAT WOULD HAVE LED TO THE CRASH. HE SAID THAT IT IS CLASSIFIED AS AN UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF CONTROL. HE WAS WEARING A HELMET AND HE WAS AN EXPERIENCED RIDER. HE WAS 25 YEARS OLD AND A SGT IN THE MARINE CORP RES. WITH H&S COMPANY OUT OF BROOKPARK OHIO.