DUCATI Complaints

NOTED FUEL LEAKING WHERE FUEL PUMP HOUSING ATTACHES TO COMPOSITE FUEL TANK. FUEL PUMP HOUSING, CONNECTIONS, AND FITTINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN REMOVED OR ALTERED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM BY THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE (OWNED 4/12/2007 TO PRESENT). ISSUE APPEARS BE RELATED TO COMPOSITE (NON-METALLIC) FUEL TANK DEFORMATION OVER TIME. LEAKING FUEL IS A SERIOUS SAFETY-ISSUE THAT MAY CAUSE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS INJURY, HARM, OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR, VEHICLE, AND OTHER PERSONS AND/OR PROPERTY. *TR

ON OCTOBER 28, 2011, WHILE OPERATING MY 2006 DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LOOSE TOWARDS THE FORWARD PART OF THE FUEL TANK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS NO LONGER SECURED BY EITHER THE LEFT-SIDE OR RIGHT-SIDE MOUNTING BRACKETS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FRAME. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK OVER TIME HAS WARPED OR CHANGED TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TO RENDER THE TWO FORWARD SECURING BRACKETS INEFFECTIVE IN THEIR PRESENT STATE. THIS RESULTS IN THE FUEL TANK DEPENDENT SOLELY ON A SINGLE REAR MOUNTING BOLT TO SECURE THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IT IS CLEAR THAT ANY OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE RISKS INJURY SHOULD THE FUEL TANK COME LOOSE OR BECOME UNSTABLE WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT HAS ALSO BEEN OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANK DIMENSIONS HAVE OVER TIME WARPED TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TO NOW IMPEDE THE FULL USE OF THE VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM. THIS ALSO RESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO ANY OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS CLEAR THAT AN EFFECTIVE, PERMANENT SOLUTION IS REQUIRED OF THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO THIS FUEL TANK AS ITS PRESENT DESIGN, MATERIALS, AND MANUFACTURE IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC TANK THAT EXPANDED AND CAUSED THE TANK TO SPILL AND IT DEFORMED TOO IMPEDING NORMAL STEERING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENS!!! THEY ARE REPLACING (NOW THEY ARE SAYING THAT MY AFTERMARKET EXHAUST COULD BE AN ISSUE BUT IT IS NOT. I HAVE NOT MODIFIED THE BIKE IN ANY WAY THAT WOULD AFFECT THE TANK AND THE FUEL PUMP OR THE FUEL FLANGE) THESE TANKS WITH THE SAME KIND!!! I AM WORRIED THIS BIKE IS NOT SAFE. *TR

FUEL TANK LEAKING. DRIPS DIRECTLY ONTO HOT EXHAUST PIPE WHILE RIDING AND PUDDLES ONTO THE GROUND WHEN PARKED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FIRE HAZARD BUT IT ALSO PRESENTS A HAZARD TO OTHERS AS THE GAS FUMES FILL THE GARAGE AND PERMEATE THE HOUSE. *TR

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH I BELIEVE HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND AND CORRODE INSIDE THE GAS CAP HOUSING. THIS EXPANSION IS CAUSING THE GAS CAP TO SHIFT, ALLOWING GASOLINE TO LEAK OUT BECAUSE THE CAP NO LONGER SEALS PROPERLY. *TR I HAVE NOT MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER WHO SOLD THIS BIKE TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS AND I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO ANOTHER DUCATI DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE EXPANSION AND CORROSION WAS NOT NORMAL AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE NHTSA. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW BECAUSE GASOLINE SPILLS WHEN I RIDE IT AND WATER FREQUENTLY GETS INTO THE GAS TANK CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MALFUNCTION, WHICH HAS LED TO UNSAFE RIDING AND HANDLING.

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND AND DISTORT. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME AND IT PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS NOW SERIOUSLY DISTORTED. PREVIOUSLY THE TANK WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW IT IS WEDGED TIGHTLY AGAINST THE IGNITION. THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER SIT ON THE FRAME PROPERLY SUCH THAT THE TANK IS NOT SUPPORTED ADEQUATELY AS IT WAS DESIGNED AND TESTED. I HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE EXCEPT FOR AN AFTERMARKET EXHAUST AND SOME COSMETIC CHANGES. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP AT ALL. I TOOK MY BIKE TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY) AND THEY REPLACED THE TANK. I WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON FOR THE TANK SWELLING. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW AS THE REPLACED TANK IS ENLARGED AND DISTORTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE PREVIOUS ONE AT ONLY 10050 MILES. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT MAY POSSIBLY SPLIT OPEN AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM RIDING OR WHEN PARKED INSIDE A BUILDING SPILLING GAS THAT COULD IGNITE OR THE TANK COULD SIMPLY FALL OFF THE BIKE. I HAVE TAKEN THE BIKE BACK TO THE DUCATI DEALER AND THEY HAVE SUBMITTED YET ANOTHER CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA TO REPLACE THE TANK WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED. HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE FUEL TANKS CAUSES DEATH OR INJURY? WE NEED A RECALL OF THESE TANKS AND SAFE NON SWELLING FUEL TANK REPLACEMENTS. DUCATI IS JUST RUNNING THE CLOCK OUT ON THEIR OBLIGATIONS. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD FUEL TANK ON THIS BIKE IN UNDER 11000 MILES OF USE. *TR

FUEL TANK IS SPREADING AND IS NOW LOOSE ON IT'S MOUNTS. POSSIBLE FOR IT TO LIFT AT THE FRONT OF THE TANK. THIS IS UNSAFE AS IT COULD COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING/RIDING AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR LOSS OF CONTROL. ALSO POSES A RISK OF HAVING FUEL LEAKING EITHER WHILE RIDING OR PARKED WHICH I COULD BE FINED FOR. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT IS JUST BEING PATCHED UP AND NOT RECTIFIED BY DUCATI. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM SOLVED BY MYSELF AND OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. LEAKING FUEL IS ALSO A SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AS WELL. *TR

FUEL TANK (PLASTIC) HAS SWOLLEN OND NO LONGER ATTACHES TO THE FRAME OF THE MOTORCYCLE ON THE SIDES. TANK MAY COME OFF IN AN ACCIDENT OR PERHAPS RIDING. THIS COULD BE VERY SERIOUS WITH FIRE, INJURY, LOSS OF CONTROL. *TT

ENGINE CUTS OUT ( STALLS ) ON HIGHWAY IN 6TH GEAR, WHEN CLUTCH IS PULLED IN AND THROTTLE IS CLOSED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS INTERMITTANTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. *TT PLEASE SEE THIS LINK, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. HTTP://WWW.DIAVEL-FORUM.COM/INDEX.PHP?/TOPIC/377-DIAVEL-STALLING/

THE TANK ON MY 2007 DUCATI SPORT 1000 BIPOSTO HAS SPREAD HALF AN INCH ON EACH SIDE OF THE TANK. THE RUBBER PART OF THE MOUNT HAS EXTENDED ALMOST PASSED THE METAL BRACKET, MAKING IT LOOSE AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE. *TT