DUCATI Complaints

2023 Ducati Desert X dies repeatedly and won't re-start. VIN [XXX] Dates: 30 July to 03 August 2023 Trip to Yosemite. Motorcycle left me stranded 3 Days in a Row. Entire display screen flashes RED Traction Control Error. Motorcycle dies if running. Motorcycle will not re-start. After about 20 seconds the flashing message changes to a RED, rectangular text box at bottom of display. Text reads Traction Control Error. Motorcycle also will not re-start after stopping and turning off the engine. The indicator that the bike is not going to re-start is that the Fan kicks on immediately at an extremely high speed after turning the key on. 1st Incident: Could have been Killed by oncoming traffic. After filling at gas station, making left turn onto Hwy 395 the motorcycle died in front of oncoming traffic. Oncoming cars were only able to avoid me because at that exact spot the highway went from 2 lanes to 4. Motorcycle would not re-start. Carson City, NV. Topography, Flat. Full Daylight. Late afternoon. Forced to stay in Hotel. 2nd Incident: Motorcycle wouldn't re-start after lunch stop. 3rd Incident: Forgot phone at restaurant. Bike would not re-start. 4th Incident: Could have Died due to exposure. Motorcycle died while riding and would not re-start. Riding uphill in the back-country on Hwy 120 at Night into Yosemite NP elevation 8,500 ft. Fortunately I had my camping gear. Forced to camp beside the road. 5th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Yosemite Valley. Cool, clear morning. 6th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Oakhurst, CA, cool evening. Forced to stay in Hotel. 7th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Restaurant beside Keawah River after long, slow alpine descent from Sequioa NP. Evening. Motorcycle temperature never dropped below 207 degrees despite long, slow descent in cool weather. 8th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Visalia CA. Night. Flat topography. Forced to stay in Hotel. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI

When applying the rear brake the pedal travels downwards with no resistance or braking action. The motorcycle is factory stock (has not been modified in any way).

There have been two instances within the last 3 months of my motorcycle needing a full rebuild in the rear wheel assembly. The first instance was due to rust, I live in Arizona and do not ride in the rain. The dealer said I should not have washed my bike with water. This put me in danger and there was play in the rear wheel shaft. I paid up front $3k dollars, on credit, to have the dealership fix the problem. 3 months later, I am now having this issue again, not due to rust, but due to components having a catastrophic failure, the dealer is not taking responsibility and warranty will not cover it. This failure put me in jeopardy due to affecting the wheel speed sensor, braking components, and wheel. I cannot afford to fix a vehicle at a rate of $1k per month and am concerned about other's safety as these motorcycles start to age. The bike is approximately 4 years old and the newly installed components were 3 months old. There was no warning except a noise when rolling the bike with the engine off. The motorcycle would make a noise of metal grinding on metal.

The contact owns a 2015 Ducati Scrambler. The contact stated while riding 30 MPH, the motorcycle lost motive power and stalled with the "Side Stand Error" message displayed. The contact was able to roll the motorcycle to the side of the roadway. The motorcycle was towed to the residence. The motorcycle was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted and stated that the motorcycle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V891000 (Structure) and provided no assistance. The motorcycle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 5,480.

Inconsistent braking, extended stopping distance and unexpected soft rear brake pedal when applying the brakes.

The contact owns a 2020 Ducati SuperSport Motorcycle. The contact stated that while operating the motorcycle, the rear wheel braking system malfunctioned and was inoperable causing the rider to fall over while attempting to stop. During the failure there was no injury sustained. The motorcycle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the rear brake line had melted, and the rear brake caliber had overheated. The brake lines, rear brake caliper and rear brake disc where replaced; however, approximately one year later the failure reoccurred. The motorcycle was taken back to the dealer who diagnosed that the rear brake caliper, rear brake disc, and rear brake lever needed to be replaced. The motorcycle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 629.

While driving down a dirt highway in rainy conditions the mud built up under the fender quickly and locked up the front wheel throwing me from the bike. In the attached photos you can see the pivot point at which the mud stressed the fender and caused it to break, in the video you can the point at which the wheel locks up. Upon inspection after that fall I noticed the tire would not move. https://youtube.com/shorts/tl6sy3F1cks?feature=share

1. Several issues regarding fuel sensor. No one is sure why light comes on, i have taken it for computer reading several times. 2. On a ride apx 30 minutes later, entire bike shut down to overheating, with fluids spilling out of bike for undetermined reasons

Rear brake pedal unexpectedly soft. Brakes bled in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and fluid use (DOT5.1). Brake regains firmness, but quickly looses effectiveness and becomes soft, limiting braking capability. Alternate bleeding method also attempted with similar results. Brake pedal will remain firm for some time, but then returns to soft feel, creating unexpected braking performance.

The rear brake on my Motorcycle failed before 500 miles. The dealer had to bleed extensively. It failed again a few months later. The second dealer bled it but refused to submit a warranty claim. It failed again and was bled on two occasions and warranty claims were submitted and it was rebled on both occasions with replacement of the master cylinder. The dealer kept the bike for several months checking the rear brake while in storage but not running, and the brake remained functional. When I picked the bike up and started riding it failed once again soon after I got it, demonstrating it to be heat related. It failed again and a fourth dealer bled it. I was informed that the bleeding procedure had been incorrect. Once again the brake failed within a few months. A fifth dealer bled the brakes when it was just out of warranty as a courtesy customer service. The problem recurred leaving me with a the same problem. I bled the brakes three times, each time restoring proper braking function. Each time it failed and each time the reservoir was full of dot 4 fluid, but the line was full of air. I bled the brake elevating the caliper upside down per manufacturer protocol. Approximately 18 months ago I rebled the brake using Castrol React SRF fluid with a dry boing point of 620 degrees. I also put heat shielding on the brake line where it was exposed to heat from the rear cylinder exhaust manifold. The brake has performed correctly since the modification. No warning lamp came on. The cause of the brake failure has been consistent on this model regardless of the brake line part number and is the result of inadequate shielding and the need for fluid with a higher boiling point. My bikes line will have to be replaced with the new part with a metal line around the exhaust and the heat shielding replaced due to heat stress. Loss of any braking function is a serious safety risk.