CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF OIL LUBRICANT CAN LEAK ON TO THE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE FROM

Jul 08, 2004 — Recall Campaign #04V340000

CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF OIL LUBRICANT CAN LEAK ON TO THE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE FROM THE OIL COOLER.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 1,800 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

04V340000

Manufacturer:	Ducati North America
Recall date:	July 08, 2004
NHTSA Campaign #:	04V340000
Units affected:	1,800

Description:: CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF OIL LUBRICANT CAN LEAK ON TO THE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE FROM THE OIL COOLER.
Consequeces:: OIL LEAKAGE CAN CAUSE DANGEROUS RIDING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR A CRASH.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE OIL COOLER AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DUCATI AT 408-343-4411.
Notes:: CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Affects the following:

2004 DUCATI 749 Complaints
I AM REPORTING THIS INCIDENT AS HAVING INVOLVE 0 DEATHS, BUT IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MOTORCYCLES, OIL SPILLING OUT TO THE REAR TIRES AS A RESULT OF A BLOWUP WITHIN THE FIRST 700 MILES SINCE PURCHASED NEW SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE AND CAN BE POTENTIALLY FATAL FOR THE RIDER. I EXPERIENCED THIS ON MY 2004 DUCATI 749 DARK. AN OIL COOLER WAS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED ON THE MOTORCYCLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR IT TO FAIL AND SPILL OIL INTO THE PATH OF THE REAR TIRE. I AM QUITE SURPRISED THAT HAVING A "BLOWUP" WHERE OIL FROM THE CRANKCASE SHOOTS OUT THE AIRBAG DUE TO INADEQUATE VENTILATION AND/OR BAD PISTONS FROM THE FACTORY HAS NOT YET BEEN ADDRESSED. AT WHAT POINT DOES THE NEGLIGENCE SHIFT FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO THE GOVERNMENT AGENCY INVOLVED IN ENSURING OUR SAFETY AND PROTECTION FROM DEFECTIVE VEHICLES? I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT REQUESTING YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER AS EVEN THE DEALER FROM WHERE I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE ADMITS THAT THIS HAPPENS ON OCCASION WITH THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF MY MOTORCYCLE AS WELL AS THE 999 MODEL SINCE THEY'RE SIMILARLY DESIGNED. IN THE INTEREST FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHER RIDERS OF THIS MOTORCYCLE, YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IS WARRANTED. I WOULD LIKE A CALL BACK TO VERIFY THAT SOMEONE FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS ACCEPTED THIS CASE TO PURSUE AGAINST DUCATI. OTHERWISE, I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO MAKE PUBLIC THE NEGLIGENCE OF NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS MATTER UNTIL AFTER SOMEONE DIES FROM IT. I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT YOUR CALL. *AK;
2004 DUCATI 999S Complaints
HI I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT ANYTHING, JUST ASKING A QUESTION ABOUT A SERIOUS PROBLEM I HAVE HAD WITH MY DUCATI 999S 2004 MODEL. MY FRONT BRAKE SEIZED UP ON ME RECENTLY WITHOUT ME PULLING THE LEVER. THIS RESULTED IN ME NEARLY KILLING MYSELF. I CHECKED YOUR SITE AND NOTICED THERE WAS RECALLS FOR DUCATI 999S 2004- 2005 AND 2006. THIS RECALL WAS IN 2006. I EMAILED DUCATI ASKING THEM IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS IN EUROPE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND I RECEIVED A PHONECALL THE NEXT DAY SAYING THAT EUROPE HASN'T HAD ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK MY DUCATI TO A DUCATI DEALER IN CARDIFF WALES AND THEY CHECKED THE BRAKES FROM THE CALIPERS UP, CHANGED THE BRAKE FLUID AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. I MENTIONED THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POOR PIVOT ALIGNMENT AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT AFFECT UK BIKES. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN RIDING THE BIKE NOW AND I AM WONDERING IF THIS PART HAS BEEN PUT ON SOME OF THE UK BIKE. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE PART WAS BOUGHT BY A PREVIOUS OWNER. BECAUSE I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE FAIRING HAS BEEN SPRAYED SO I DARE SAY THE BIKE MAY HAVE HAD DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE LEVER AND REPLACE WITH EITHER A NEW ONE OR A SECOND HAND ONE. WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN A RECALL PART. COULD ANYONE HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR;