NHTSA Complaint #10366897 — 2008 DUCATI 1000GT

BOUGHT A 2008 DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC SPORT 1000 IN AUGUST OF 2008. WAS NOT INFORMED BY ANYONE (SALES STAFF OR DUCATI OF NORTH AMERICA) THAT THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE PLASTIC TANKS DEFORMING, BUBBLING, DIMPLING AND/OR LEAKING AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO THE GASOLINE USED IN N. AMERICA. 12 MONTHS LATER THE TANK ON MY DUCATI BEGAN TO PULL AWAY FROM THE MOUNTS ON THE FRAME. THIS CAUSED THE TANK TO BE LOOSE AND UNSAFE. I WAS TOLD TO SHIM IT BY THE DUCATI DEALERSHIP. I DID SO. 8 MONTHS LATER THE TANK HAS SMALL BUBBLES APPEARING UNDER THE PAINT. I RETURNED THE BIKE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPLACED THE TANK. THE REPLACEMENT TANK FROM DUCATI IS MADE OF THE SAME MATERIALS AS THE FIRST ONE AND DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE "NEW" TANK WILL SPREAD, BUBBLE, DIMPLE AND/OR LEAK AGAIN. DUCATI HAS NOT OFFERED ANY SOLUTION TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THEIR TANKS OTHER THAN TO REPLACE THE TANK WITH ANOTHER ONE OF THE SAME MATERIAL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND IRRESPONSIBLE PRACTICE. *TR