NHTSA Complaint #10381674 — 2004 DUCATI MTS 1000

RE: NHTSA 11V020 2004 DUCATI MTS 1000. I HAVE RECEIVED THE NOTICE REGARDING THE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE O-RING AT THE FUEL TANK-PUMP FLANGE. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE O-RING IS NOT THE PROBLEM WITH THESE MOTORCYCLES AND THIS WILL BE A TEMPORARY, BANDAID SOLUTION AT BEST. THE REAL ISSUE IS THE POLYMER FUEL TANKS ARE EXPANDING/WARPING DUE TO ETHANOL IN THE GASOLINE. WHILE MINE HAS NOT LEAKED YET, IT IS SHOWING CLEAR SIGNS OF TANK WARPAGE AND EVEN WITH AN IMPROVED O-RING I AM CONCERNED IT WILL EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO LEAK GASOLINE. EVEN BEFORE LEAKS DEVELOP, OWNERS ARE REPORTING PROBLEMS REMOVING AND REINSTALLING THE FUEL TANKS DUE TO EXPANSION AND WARPAGE. THE ONLY REAL FIX TO THIS PROBLEM IS TO HAVE DUCATI AND/OR THEIR FUEL TANK SUPPLIER (ACERBIS) REPLACE THE TANKS WITH UNITS THAT DO NOT REACT WITH GASOLINE CONTAINING ETHANOL. IT IS MY HOPE THAT THE NHTSA CAN BRING THE REQUIRED PRESSURE TO CAUSE THIS TO HAPPEN, THEREBY HELPING TO ENSURE THAT THE OWNERS/RIDERS OF THESE MOTORCYCLES ARE OPERATING SAFE MACHINES. *TR