NHTSA Complaint #10346170 — 2008 DUCATI MONSTER 696

VEHICLE: 2008 DUCATI MONSTER S4RS TRICOLORE (MOTORCYCLE) ISSUE: EXCESSIVE EXPANSION OF THE FUEL TANK CAUSING MATERIAL YIELD AND FITMENT PROBLEMS _______________________________________________________ 1) NORMAL USE OF GAS TANK (REFUELING) OVER A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS. 2) FUEL TANK IS: A) EXPANDING (TO THE POINT OF WITNESSING EXTERNAL CRACKS, RIPPLES, AND BUBBLES ) B) ELONGATION OF THE FUEL TANK CAUSES ACCESS TO COMPONENTS UNDER IT FROM BEING ACCESSED READILY (AS DESIGNED). C) CONDITION IS CONSTANT AND GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. D) RUPTURE/LEAKING HAS NOT OCCURRED, BUT IS EXPECTED. E) CONSIDERING THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE WITH THE FUEL TANK LOCATED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE RIDER, A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WOULD BE EXPECTED. 3) MOTORCYCLE WAS: A) RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR REVIEW, UPON WHICH A DECISION WAS MADE TO REPLACE THE TANK AT THE MANUFACTURE'S EXPENSE. B) THE MANUFACTURE WILL SWAP THE DEFECTIVE TANK FOR THE REPLACEMENT UNIT. *TR