NHTSA Complaint #10424263 — 2004 MV AGUSTA BRUTALE

THE SERVICE POWER UNIT (SPU) SHORTED INTERNALLY AND CAUGHT FIRE. A HOLE BURNED THROUGH THE BACK OF THE PLASTIC UNIT. SINCE THE SPU RESTS AGAINST THE FUEL TANK, WHICH IS PLASTIC ON THIS MOTORCYCLE, THE FIRE STARTED TO MELT THE FUEL TANK. I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE FUEL TANK AND THE SMOLDERING SPU FROM THE BIKE BEFORE THE FUEL TANK MELTED AND GASOLINE SPILLED ONTO THE BURNING SPU. I HAVE PICTURES OF BOTH THE FUEL TANK AND THE DAMAGED SPU WHICH I HAVE FORWARDED TO MV AGUSTA USA. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE DEFECTIVE SPU IS 8000A9615. SPUS WITH THIS PART NUMBER ARE FAILURE PRONE AND THEIR FAILURES ARE WELL DOCUMENTED. HEADLIGHTS REMAINING LIT AFTER THE BIKE HAS BEEN SHUT OFF, BLINKERS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUING TO RUN EVEN AFTER THE KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION ARE ALL SYMPTOMS OF A FAILING SPU. I HAVE NOT HEARD OF A FAILURE AS CATASTROPHIC OR AS DANGEROUS AS THE ONE I EXPERIENCED. MV AGUSTA (THE MANUFACTURER) IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THESE SPUS AND HAVE REDESIGNED THE UNIT. THE NEW PART NUMBER IS 8A00A9615. A SECOND REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER IS 8A00A9300. ALTHOUGH MV AGUSTA HAS REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE UNITS AT THEIR DISCRETION, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A GENERAL RECALL. EVIDENCE POINTS TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SPU PART NUMBER 8000A9615 ARE UNSAFE TO RIDE. *TR