NHTSA Complaint #10278080 — 2005 DUCATI MONSTER 620 DARK

2005 DUCATI MONSTER 620 WITH A PLASTIC TANK THAT IS EXPANDING. THE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH THAT THE TANK NOW INTERFERES WITH THE TANK LATCH, THE HANDLEBARS NOW MAKE CONTACT WITH THE TANK WHEN TURNING, AND IT IS PRESSED AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE TANK RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER REST ON THE FRAME. THERE HAVE BEEN NO MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THIS MOTORCYCLE THAT WOULD LEAD TO TANK EXPANSION, THE FUEL SYSTEM AND FUEL PUMP AND EXHAUST HAVE NOT BEEN MODIFIED. I AM NOW VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE AS WELL AS ANY OTHERS THAT HAVE A DUCATI WITH A PLASTIC TANK. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT COULD SPLIT OPEN AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WHILE RIDING. I TOOK THE BIKE TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO HAVE AUTHORIZED A WARRANTY REPLACEMENT AND THEIR BELIEVE IS THAT THE EXPANSION IS CAUSED BY ETHANOL ADDITIVES IN OUR FUEL. THIS LEADS ME TO BE CONCERNED THAT MY NEXT TANK WILL ALSO EXPAND AND PRESENT THE SAME SAFETY HAZARD. *TR