NHTSA Complaint #10103022 — 2004 DUCATI 749

I WISH TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AGAINST DUCATI MOTORCYCLES BASED ON A RECENT EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH MY 2004 DUCATI 749 DARK. THE MOTORCYCLE ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 650 MILES ON IT WHEN I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE FROM THE OIL CRANK CASE, RESULTING IN OIL BEING DISCHARGED IN THE PATH OF MY REAR TIRE, AS WELL AS TO THE ENTIRE MOTOR, PRESENTING A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. I ORIGINALLY SUSPECTED THE PROBLEM TO BE BASED ON AN OIL COOLER THAT WAS RECALLED BACK IN AUGUST DESPITE MY MOTORCYCLE BEING PURCHASED LAST MONTH (NOVEMBER). HOWEVER, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNRELATED TO THE RECALL AND WAS BASED ON A DIFFERENT PART FAILING WHERE A CHANGE WAS MADE TO THE 2005 MODEL ADDRESSSING THIS ISSUE. DUCATI'S PROPOSED SOLUTION WAS TO HAVE THE DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE DRILL HOLES INTO THE CRANK CASE TO MAKE IT SIMILAR TO THE 2005 MODEL RATHER THAN PROVIDING THEM WITH A REPLACEMENT PART. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SOLUTION AS THIS CAUSES THE PART OF THE MOTORCYCLE TO NO LONGER BE "FACTORY" GRADE. WHAT'S EVEN MORE TROUBLING IN THIS MATTER IS THAT MY MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT THE FIRST TO EXPERIENCE THIS FAILURE FOR THE 2004 MODEL. DESPITE THIS, THERE IS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THIS DEFECTIVE CRANK CASE DESIGN THAT COULD PRESENT FATAL RESULTS.*AK