DUCATI Complaints

MY MOTORCYCLE IS A 2006 DUCATI SPORT 1000 WHICH HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND AND DEFORM. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME. THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER SIT ON THE FRAME. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP. IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2008 I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY) AND THEY AUTHORIZED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TANK WITH A NEW ONE, WHICH WAS FITTED AT THAT TIME. I WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON. WITHIN ONE YEAR THE NEW TANK STARTED TO EXPAND AND DEFORM IN THE SAME WAY. SO I JUST RECENTLY TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DUCATI DEALER. THEY GOT ME ANOTHER REPLACEMENT TANK, WHICH WAS FITTED 2 WEEKS AGO. THEY TOLD ME THE TANKS HAVE NOT CHANGED AND DUCATI HAS NOT COME UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM (I.E. NEW TANK DESIGN, OR DIFFERENT MATERIALS USED IN ITS CONSTRUCTION) OTHER THAN REPEATEDLY REPLACING THE TANKS WITH THE SAME TYPE AS THEY EXPAND/DEFORM. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE. THE TANK'S SWELLING MAKES IT VERY LOOSE. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH I AM CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT SPLIT OPEN WHILE I AM RIDING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR LIFE ENDANGERING FIRE. *TR

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME, THE HANDLEBARS HIT IT ON TURNING, AND IT PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. PREVIOUSLY IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW I HAVE TO WEDGE IT AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CLOSE IT. THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER SIT ON THE FRAME. 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. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY). THEY OFFERED TO COVER PART OF THE COST OF A NEW TANK. THE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE THE EXACT SAME PRODUCT AS MY DEFECTIVE TANK. I EXPECT THE NEW TANK WOULD BEGIN TO DEFORM JUST LIKE THE ONE I HAVE. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW. THE TANK'S SWELLING HAS MADE IT SO THE HANDLEBARS DO NOT TURN CORRECTLY. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT WILL SPLIT OPEN AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM RIDING. PLEASE NOTE: MY VEHICLE MODEL IS NOT LISTED IN THE PULLDOWN MENU. IT IS A 2007 DUCATI MONSTER 695. I SELECTED A 2007 DUCATI MONSTER S2R, AS IT HAS A SIMILAR, IF NOT IDENTICAL, GAS TANK TO MINE. *TR

PLASTIC FUEL TANK IS EXPANDING, CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH FITMENT, FINISH, AND FUNCTION. IT HAS NOT BEEN CAUSED BY MISUSE OR USER ERROR. *TR

PLASTIC FUEL TANK ON MOTORCYCLE NO LONGER FITS CORRECTLY ON THE FRAME OF THE BIKE. THE BOTTOM RUBBER MOUNTS ARE OUTSIDE THE FRAME, THE FRONT OF THE TANK PRESSES AGAINST THE KEYSWITCH, AND THERE IS RIPPLING ON THE SIDES OF THE TANK CONSISTENT WITH EXPANSION. THE RUBBER MOUNTS ARE SUPPOSED TO SIT SQUARELY ON THE FRAME TO HOLD THE TANK SECURELY, AND THE FRONT LATCH IS SUPPOSED TO CONNECT UNDER THE KEYSWITCH TO LOCK THE TANK IN PLACE, BUT THE TANK IS NOT SUPPOSED TO TOUCH THE KEYSWITCH. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO THE MANUFACTURER. DEALER SAYS THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OF THIS MODEL AND DUCATI HAS REPLACED SEVERAL OTHERS. I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AS I FEEL MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE MY TANK WITH AN IDENTICAL ONE. I DO NOT NEED MY GAS TANK EXPANDING AND SPLITTING WHILE I AM RIDING! I HAVE HEARD THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO ETHANOL PENETRATING THE PLASTIC TANK, BUT I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE. IF THE NEW TANK IS THE SAME AS THE OLD ONE IT DOES ME NO GOOD. *TR

2008 DUCATI MONSTER S2R 1000, PLASTIC TANK EXPANDS OVER TIME (ABOUT 3000 MILES) TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS COMPLETELY OFF OF THE SUPPORTS ON THE FRAME. THERE WAS A REPORT OF A DUCATI TANK EXPLODING IN NORTH CAROLINA... DUCATI AGREED TO REPLACE MY TANK UNDER THEIR EMISSIONS WARRANTY. HOWEVER, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE BIKE WHEN ITS WARRANTY EXPIRES, OR WHEN THIS ISSUE BECOMES WIDELY KNOWN AND NOONE WOULD WANT THIS BIKES USED. *TR

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND AND DEFORM. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME, THE HANDLEBARS HIT IT ON TURNING, AND IT PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. PREVIOUSLY IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW I HAVE TO FORCE THE LATCH OPEN AND CLOSED . IT IS WEDGED AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH SO TIGHT YOU CAN NOT CLOSE IT OTHERWISE. THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER SIT ON THE FRAME. 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. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY) . A REPLACEMENT TANK HAS BEEN ORDERED.I WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE DEALER THAT DUCATI HAS NOT MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE REPLACEMENT TANKS FROM THE ORIGINAL. THE NEW TANK WILL ALSO FAIL.. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW. THE TANK'S SWELLING HAS MADE IT SO THE HANDLEBARS DO NOT TURN CORRECTLY. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT WILL SPLIT OPEN AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM RIDING OR STORED IN MY GARAGE. *TR

I OWN A 2007 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC. THIS BIKE HAS A WELL KNOWN DESIGN ISSUE THAT CAUSES THE GAS TANK TO "SPREAD". DUCATI HAS BEEN REPLACING THEM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE REPLACEMENT HAS THE SAME FLAWED DESIGN, AND WILL FAIL ALSO. MY WARRANTY IS STILL IN EFFECT AND THE DEALER JUST ORDERED MY REPLACEMENT TANK, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT WHEN THIS NEXT ONE SPREADS MY WARRANTY WILL BE NULL. *TR

I OWN A 2008 DUCATI 848 MOTORCYCLE. IT HAS ONLY 4000 MILES ON IT AND THE RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING. THE LEAK ON THE RADIATOR IS LOCATED ON TOP OF THE RADIATOR WHERE RADIATOR MOUNTING BRACKET IS LOCATED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE RADIATOR IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE MOTORCYCLE WHERE 80 PERCENT OF BRAKING IS MOSTLY DONE AND ALSO STEERING. I INFORMED DEALERSHIP ABOUT LEAK AND THEY SAID IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED RADIATOR FROM ITALY AND WAIT TIMES VARY FROM A WEEK TO 3-4 WEEKS (EVEN MORE WHEN DUCATI GOES ON THEIR 1MONTH VACATION). I WAS ALSO TOLD BY SERVICE DIRECTOR OF DEALERSHIP THAT PART IS NOT AN UPDATED RADIATOR. CONTACTED DUCATI OF NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SEEM OBLIVIOUS OF MY COMPLAINT. I AM A MEMBER OF A FEW MOTORCYCLE FORUMS AND MOST 848 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM (SOME OF THEM HAVE INSTALLED THEIR SECOND RADIATOR DUE TO THE DAME PROBLEM). I AM STILL WAITING ON MY RADIATOR AND IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 1 WEEK (WENT TO DEALERSHIP ON JULY 16TH). *TR

2005 DUCATI MONSTER 620 WITH A PLASTIC TANK THAT IS EXPANDING. THE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH THAT THE TANK NOW INTERFERES WITH THE TANK LATCH, THE HANDLEBARS NOW MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TANK WHEN TURNING, AND IT IS PRESSED AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE TANK RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER REST ON THE FRAME. THERE HAVE BEEN NO MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THIS MOTORCYCLE THAT WOULD LEAD TO TANK EXPANSION, THE FUEL SYSTEM AND FUEL PUMP AND EXHAUST HAVE NOT BEEN MODIFIED. I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE AS WELL AS ANY OTHERS THAT HAVE A DUCATI WITH A PLASTIC TANK. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT COULD SPLIT OPEN AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WHILE RIDING. I TOOK THE BIKE TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO HAVE AUTHORIZED A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT AND THEIR BELIEVE IS THAT THE EXPANSION IS CAUSED BY ETHANOL ADDITIVES IN OUR FUEL. THIS LEADS ME TO BE CONCERNED THAT MY NEXT TANK WILL ALSO EXPAND AND PRESENT THE SAME SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. PREVIOUSLY IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW I HAVE TO WEDGE IT AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CLOSE IT. 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. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY) AND THEY WILL REPLACE THE TANK WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC ONE. WHICH I FEAR IT WILL DEFORM AS WELL. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT WILL SPLIT OPEN AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM RIDING. *TR