NHTSA Complaint #10025562 — 2001 DUCATI DUCATI

I OWN A DUCATI MONSTER S4 - YEAR MODEL 2001. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON THE MOTORCYCLE INCLUDES A GS BRAND BATTERY - MODEL #GT12B-4. LAST YEAR, ON A HIGHWAY, MY MOTORCYCLE WAS SPILLING GAS ONTO THE ROAD CAUSING MY BACK WHEEL TO SLIP. WITH NO SHOULDER PRESENT, I HAD TO WAIT TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY BEFORE I COULD STOP. UPON DOING SO, I FOUND THAT MY BATTERY HAD LEAKED AND COMPROMISED THE GAS LINE CAUSING THE LEAK. THE BATTERY ACID DAMAGED PARTS OF THE ENGINE AS WELL. THE BATTERY WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE ENGINE IS STILL AWAITING PARTS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I BELONG TO A CHAT GROUP FOCUSED ON THIS TYPE AND MANUFACTURER OF MOTORCYCLE AND HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A LENGTHY DISCUSSION REVOLVING AROUND THIS COMMON ISSUE. AS MANY AS 13 PEOPLE IN THE DISCUSSION ALONE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE. LUCKILY, NO ONE HAS BEEN HURT BY IT YET - TO OUR KNOWLEDGE. IT SEEMS THAT THE MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER. BECAUSE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, REPLACEMENT OF SAID BATTERY IS NOT A SOLUTION. DAMAGE TO OTHER BIKES INCLUDES BUT IS NOT CONFINED TO FUEL LINES, DAMAGE/RUPTURE TO GAS TANK, ELECTRICAL WIRING, AND COMPROMISE OF ENGINE INTEGRITY. ANY NUMBER OF THESE THINGS, IN A NORMAL RIDING SITUATION, CAN BE HAZARDOUS AND/OR LETHAL TO THE MOTORCYCLE RIDER OR OTHER MOTORISTS IN THE VICINITY. AS A SAFTEY CONCERN TO MOTORCYCLE RIDERS AND OTHERS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE DUCATI OF NORTH AMERICA CALLED TO RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CONSUMER AND SUPPORTERS OF THEIR PRODUCTS.*AK