DUCATI Complaints

BATTERY ACID LEAKED ON TO MOTORCYCLE ENGINE; DAMAGING IGNITION WIRING, DAMAGING PAINTED SURFACES, AND EXPERIENCING A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC SITUATION. THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 DUCATI MS4. I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF A ONLINE OWNERS GROUP AND HAVE READ OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAILURE THAT IS COMMON TO THE DUCATI MONSTER MODEL. MY MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN IN WARRANTY REPAIR SINCE APRIL 8, 2003 WAITING ON PARTS. THE BATTERY IS ORIENTATED ON ITS SIDE AND IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE VERTICAL CYLINDER VALVE HEAD WHERE IT IS EXPOSED TO HEAT WITH VERY LITTLE COOLING. THIS IS THE SECOND BATTERY I'VE HAD REPLACED. PRIOR BATTERY REPLACEMENT WAS 5/15/2002. ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT I HAD A LEAKY GAS TANK REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BETWEEN 3/27/2002 AND 5/18/2002. THE TANK LEAKED FROM A POOR WELD WHERE THE TANK HINGE PLATE IS ATTACHED TO THE GAS TANK UNDERSIDE, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE POSITIONED DIRECTLY ABOVE REAR EXHAUST HEADER PIPE. THIS ALSO IS A FREQUENT REPLACEMENT ITEM FOR DUCATI MONSTERS AND 900SUPERSPORTS PRODUCED AFTER 1998 WITH LEAKS SPECIFICALLY FROM THAT PARTICULAR AREA. I'VE TRIED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER AND IMPORTER ON MANY OCCASIONS TO ADDRESS THESE ITEMS WITH NO SUBSTANTIVE REPLY. LEAKING BATTERY ACID IS AN OBVIOUS CORROSIVE HAZARD TO THE RIDER AND MACHINE. LEAKING GAS TANKS THAT EXPOSE FUEL TO EXTREMELY HOT SURFACES ARE ALSO A HAZARD TO A RIDER. ANY LIQUID DISCHARGE FROM A MOTOR VEHICLE CAN BE A HAZARD TO OTHER MOTORIST. I'M CONCERNED THAT THESE FREQUENT FAILURES COULD POSE A HARMFUL SITUATION TO A RIDER OTHER THAN AN OBVIOUS INCONVENIENCE.*AK

THE ENGINE VENTED OIL FROM THE CRANKCASE BREATHER. THE INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED TWICE. THE FIRST 1ST FAILURE WAS AT 600 MILES AND THE 2ND FAILURE AT 1,800 MILES. VEHICLE IS A 2002 DUCATI 998. *JB

OIL LEAK ALMOST RESULTING IN A CRASH. 2002 DUCATI 998 MOTORCYCLE. I WAS RIDING DOWN THE STREET, AND AT A STOP LIGHT NOTICED A WEIRD SMELL. I LOOKED DOWN AND OIL WAS ALL OVER MY ENGINE, MY SWINGARM, AND MY REAR TIRE. I LUCKILY CAUGHT IT (THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME) BEFORE CRASHING. PRELIMINARY TESTS REVEALED POOR COMPRESSION, AND MANY OTHER DUCATI 998 OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM, AND THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE POOR COMPRESSION, RESULTING IN BLOWBY, CAUSING OIL TO SHOOT OUT OF THE ENGINE BREATHER VALVE. BIKE IS NOW IN THE SHOP FOR FURTHER RESEARCH AND REPAIR. I CANNOT REACH DUCATI NORTH AMERICA FOR ANY INFORMATION. *NLM

IN JUNE OF 2002 I PURCHASED A 2000 DUCATI SPS MOTORCYCLE FROM DOUNTOWN HARLEY A DEALER IN TIWILLA WASHINGTON I HAVE JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS MISREPRESENTED AND AN ODOMETER DISCREPENCY. I HAD THE BIKE SOLD TO ANOTHER BUYER AND HE RAN A CAR FAX ON THE VIN # . THE INFORMATION SHOWS A 10000 MILE MISREAD ON THE BIKE. I RESEARCHED THE BIKE AND ALSO FOUND OUT IT WAS PROFESSIONALLY RACED ALL YEAR IN 1999 WITHOUT ANY GAGES ON IT. THE DEALER WHICH I PURCHASED THE BIKE FROM TOLD ME AND ALSO SIGNED AN ACCUALL ODOMETER DISCLOSER THAT THE BIKE HAS 2000 MILES ON IT I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND. I PURCHASED THE BIKE IN GOOD FAITH THAT ALL THE IFORMATION ON THE CONTRACT WAS CORRECT, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IT IS NOT. I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED A RACE BIKE BECAUSE OF THE WEAR AND TEAR ON THEM. PLEASE HELP. GLEN BUTLER

PROBLEM: THE CHROME HARDFACING ON THE ROCKER ARMS FLAKE DUE TO SUBSTANDARD PROCESSING ON THE DUCATI SUPERBIKE SERIES OF MOTORCYCLES. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DUCATI OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT DUCATI NORTH AMERICA HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY TO INITIATE A FIX. DT

WHEN RIDING MOTORCYCLE AND GOING INTO A TURN IT DROPPED INTO A "FALSE NEUTRAL." THEN, IT DROPPED INTO A LOWER GEAR AND LOCKED UP BACK WHEELS. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER, WHO FIXED ISSUE. SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN CONSUMER RECEIVED MOTORCYCLE FROM DEALER. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES FROM INCIDENT.*AK

ALTERNATOR (STATOR) FAILED 3X IN 2000 MILES OF VEHICLE OPERATION - CAUSES BATTERY TO DISCHARGE AND ENGINE TO STOP ABRUPTLY - REPAIRED BY DEALER EACH TIME, OTHER ASSOCIATED PARTS REPLACED ALSO STILL THE DEFECT REMAINS. CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE DESIGN DEFECT!

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE WOULD BE CHATTERING COMING FROM FRONT BRAKES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE HIGHBEAM INDICATOR WAS INOPERATIVE, THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK AT THE REAR OF CYLINDER HEAD AND CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS SWING ARM DAMAGE.*JB

MANUFACTURER AND DEALER OF MOTORCYCLE ARE APATHETIC. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

I NOTICED THAT THE TANK HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK AT THE HINGE SEAM, WHICH ALLOWED FUEL TO DRIP DOWN ONTO THE CYLINDERS AND EXHAUST HEADERS. RECOGNIZING THIS AS A SERIOUS HAZARD I CONTACTED THE DEALER. THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS AS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND CONTACTED DUCATI USA ON MY BEHALF. THE DEALER MANAGED TO GET A REPLACEMENT TANK AND INSTALLED IT. I WAS NOT CHARGED FOR THE TANK, BUT WAS CHARGED FOR THE LABOR. DUCATI USA SAID THAT THE WARRANTY HAD ENDED AND THAT THEY REPLACED THE TANK AS A "GOOD WILL" WARRANTY AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION. DUCATI USA REFUSED MY REQUEST FOR A REFUND OF THE SERVICE CHARGE. IF THEY ARE AWARE OF SUCH A DEFECT AND CAN RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL HAZARD, THEN WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL ISSUE, AND WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A FAULTY CONPONENT. I WISH TO COMMEND ANNETTE RUGGIRELLO OF NORTH BAY MOTORSPORTS FOR HER OBTAINING A NEW TANK AT NO COST TO ME. I HAVE THE E-MAIL THAT I SENT TO DUCATI USA AND THEIR RESPONSE WHICH I WILL MAKE AVAILABLE TO YOU UPON REQUEST.*AK