NHTSA Complaint #10395551 — 2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC

I PURCHASED A 2006 DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC FROM A DUCATI DEALER IN 2006, AND HAVE SINCE PUT APPROXIMATELY 2700 MILES ON THE BIKE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND PREMIUM FUEL USED. THE MOTORCYCLE'S GAS TANK IS MADE OF SOME SORT OF PLASTIC OR FIBERGLASS, AND SO IT HAS SPREAD TO THE POINT WHERE THE RUBBER CUPS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD IT TO THE FRAME ON EITHER SIDE ARE NO LONGER IN PLACE. SINCE THE TANK IS ONLY HELD ONTO THE FRAME VIA ONE SCREW MOUNT, THE TANK CAN BE ALMOST COMPLETELY LIFTED OFF OF THE FRAME IN THE FRONT. THE TANK HAS ALSO WARPED ON THE TOP RIGHT SIDE, IN A "WAVY" PATTERN. DUE TO THE LOOSENESS OF THE TANK, IF THIS BIKE WERE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT, THE TANK COULD COME OFF AND RESULT IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY BECOME A BOMB. IN ADDITION TO THE LOOSE TANK, SINCE IT HAS SPREAD ON THE BOTTOM, THE HANDLE BAR ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE NOW COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE TANK, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN AESTHETIC BLEMISH, AND REDUCES THE TURNING RADIUS, IN ADDITION TO POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY AT SLOW SPEEDS IF THE RIDER CATCHES HER HAND BETWEEN THE BAR AND TANK. I HAVE CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP NEARBY, AND THEY WILL TAKE PICTURES OF IT, AND HAVE TOLD ME THAT DUCATI WANTS THE DEALERSHIP TO "SHIM" THE TANK FIRST, MEANING THAT THEY WOULD ADD WASHERS ON EITHER SIDE TO TRY TO STABILIZE THE TANK. IF THIS IS UNABLE TO BE FIXED, DUCATI *MAY* REPLACE THE TANK WITH A TANK OF THE SAME TYPE OF MATERIAL, AND THE PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IF THE BIKE, WHICH IS A 2006, IS OUT OF WARRANTY, DUCATI MAY MAKE ME PAY FOR THE "REPLACEMENT" TANK (APPROX $1800), AND HAS (TO DATE) OFFERED NO REAL SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE (I.E. A TANK MADE OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL). *TR