DUCATI IS RECALLING 7,130 MY 2007-2008 1098, 1098S, 1098 TRICOLORE

Dec 03, 2008 — Recall Campaign #08V638000

DUCATI IS RECALLING 7,130 MY 2007-2008 1098, 1098S, 1098 TRICOLORE, 1098R, AND MY 2008-2009 848 MOTORCYCLES. THE MOTORCYCLE CHARGING SYSTEM MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY ENGINE HEAT AND STOP OPERATING. THIS RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND ENSUING BATTERY DISCHARGE.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 7,130 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

08V638000

Manufacturer:	Ducati North America
Recall date:	December 03, 2008
NHTSA Campaign #:	08V638000
Units affected:	7,130

Description:: DUCATI IS RECALLING 7,130 MY 2007-2008 1098, 1098S, 1098 TRICOLORE, 1098R, AND MY 2008-2009 848 MOTORCYCLES. THE MOTORCYCLE CHARGING SYSTEM MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY ENGINE HEAT AND STOP OPERATING. THIS RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND ENSUING BATTERY DISCHARGE.
Consequeces:: THIS CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE MOTORCYCLE AND A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THE RIDER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR, INSTALL A HEAT GUARD BETWEEN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND INSTALL A MODIFIED BATTERY SUPPORT. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON DECEMBER 24, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DUCATI AT 1-800-231-6696.
Notes:: DUCATI RECALL NO. RCL-08-005.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Affects the following:

2008 DUCATI 1098R Complaints
WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE IT DEVELOPED A RADIATOR LEAK WITH COOLANT RUNNING DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE LEAK WAS FOUND TO BE NEAR THE UPPER LEFT RADIATOR MOUNT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHER DUCATI MODELS WITH THE SAME RADIATOR. DUCATI REPLACED MANY IN WARRANTY AND EVEN FOR SOME TIME AFTER UNDER A "GOOD WILL" PROGRAM. NO RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE FAULTY PART, THOUGH AN UPDATED PART WAS MANUFACTURED. DUCATI PART 548.4.074.2B TO REPLACE 548.4.0741B. THIS COULD LEAK COULD HAVE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES ON A MOTORCYCLE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF COOLANT LEAKING ONTO THE REAR TIRE. A QUICK LOOK ON THE INTERNET WILL SHOW THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM.;
2008 DUCATI 1098 TRICOLORE Complaints
THE FUEL TANK ON MY 2008 DUCATI MODEL MONSTER S4RS TRICOLORE HAS EXPANDED DUE TO A COMMONLY KNOWN PROBLEM OF ETHANOL FUELS REACTING TO THE MATERIAL WHICH THE TANKS ARE MADE FROM. THE TANK HAS SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED TO THE POINT WHERE IT NOW IMPEDES THE TURNING OF THE HANDLEBARS AND IS WAVY ALONG THE SIDES WHERE THE KNEES ARE POSITIONED. THE TANK, AS OF YET, DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE LEAKING BUT MANY HAVE HAD LEAKS DEVELOP AND IT CERTAINLY APPEARS TO BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. *KB;
2008 DUCATI 1098S Complaints
WHEN MOTORCYCLE DRIVEN AT SLOW PACE OR IN TRAFFIC THE HEAT IS UNBEARABLE FROM EXHAUST MAKING ME OVER HEAT AND ALMOST PASSED OUT FROM THIS BIKE CAUSING BURNS ON LEG. *TR;
2009 DUCATI 1098R Complaints
REFERENCE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V638000 2009 DUCATI 1098R BAYLISS LE ORIGINAL DELIVERY DATE, 05/22/2009, 0 MILES, $43,618.65 FIRST OCCURRENCE ON 11/12/2011, 11,400 MILES, LOSS OF LIGHTING SYSTEMS, ENGINE STALLING AND OCCURRED DURING OPERATION ON A STREET. DEALER REPLACED FAULTY VOLTAGE REGULATOR UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY POLICY. SECOND OCCURRENCE ON 05/28/2016, 20,648 MILES, LOSS OF LIGHTING SYSTEMS, EXPLODED BATTERY, BURNT ALTERNATOR WIRING, BURNT TRACTION/STABILITY CONTROL COMPUTER AS A RESULT OF THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR FAILING AND ALLOWING 18.2 VOLTS THROUGH THE WHOLE SYSTEM. THIS OCCURRENCE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND/OR VEHICLE FIRE. DUCATI IS REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE OR HONOR THE SUBJECT NHTSA RECALL, CLAIMING THE VIN NUMBER IS OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF THE CAMPAIGN AND THAT THE UPDATED VOLTAGE REGULATOR IS NOT FAULTY. THIS IS A BASIC DESIGN FLAW ON THIS SERIES OF MOTORCYCLES DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR ADJACENT TO THE FRONT EXHAUST HEADER PIPE ON THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND EXPOSED TO EXTREME HEAT (REFERENCE ATTACHED DIAGRAM, 2009 DUCATI 1098R REGULATOR POSITION.JPG). THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS REPAIR IS $2062 AND AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, DUCATI IS REFUSING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REPAIR COSTS (REFERENCE ATTACHED DOCUMENT, REPAIR ORDER.PDF) EVEN WITH THE INSISTENCE OF THE LOCAL DUCATI INDIANAPOLIS OWNER. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES DURING ITS FIRST 2 YEARS, BEING AT THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY A CUMULATIVE TOTAL OF SIX MONTHS OUT OF THE FIRST 24 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THIS IS A REOCCURRING ISSUE THAT DUCATI IS WELL AWARE OF WITH THE REDESIGN OF THE NEXT GENERATION MODEL, 1199 PANIGALE IN 2012 BY RELOCATING THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR TO THE UPPER LEFT FAIRING AREA, ABOVE THE ENGINE, WITH NO ADJACENT HEAT SOURCE AND ADEQUATE AIR FLOW (REFERENCE ATTACHED DIAGRAM 2012 DUCATI 1199 PANIGALE REGULATOR POSTION.JPG).;
2009 DUCATI 848 Complaints
AFTER COMING HOME FROM A RIDE, I NOTICED THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING COOLANT FROM A PINSIZED HOLE. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR FINDINGS WITH THEIR RADIATORS. *TR;