NHTSA Complaint #10434369 — 2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC

ON OCTOBER 28, 2011, WHILE OPERATING MY 2006 DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LOOSE TOWARDS THE FORWARD PART OF THE FUEL TANK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS NO LONGER SECURED BY EITHER THE LEFT-SIDE OR RIGHT-SIDE MOUNTING BRACKETS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FRAME. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK OVER TIME HAS WARPED OR CHANGED TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TO RENDER THE TWO FORWARD SECURING BRACKETS INEFFECTIVE IN THEIR PRESENT STATE. THIS RESULTS IN THE FUEL TANK DEPENDENT SOLELY ON A SINGLE REAR MOUNTING BOLT TO SECURE THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IT IS CLEAR THAT ANY OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE RISKS INJURY SHOULD THE FUEL TANK COME LOOSE OR BECOME UNSTABLE WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT HAS ALSO BEEN OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANK DIMENSIONS HAVE OVER TIME WARPED TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TO NOW IMPEDE THE FULL USE OF THE VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM. THIS ALSO RESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO ANY OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS CLEAR THAT AN EFFECTIVE, PERMANENT SOLUTION IS REQUIRED OF THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO THIS FUEL TANK AS ITS PRESENT DESIGN, MATERIALS, AND MANUFACTURE IS DEFECTIVE. *TR