NHTSA Complaint #726323 — 1997 DUCATI 748

HARD CHROME PLATING ON FACE OF ROCKER ARMS, THAT CONTACT CAMSHAFT, FLAKES OFF AND BECOMES SUSPENDED IN THE OIL SYSTEM. ROCKER ARMS WITHOUT PLATING WEAR CAM SHAFTS AND ROCKER ARMS. I HAVE THIS ISSUE ON MY 1997 DUCATI, AND KNOW OF NUMEROUS OTHER CASES. DUCATI WILL ONLY REPAIR ROCKER ARMS THAT HAVE CURRENTLY FAILED AND REQUIRE THAT I PAY FOR LABOR. THEY WILL NOT PAY TO REPAIR ALL ROCKER ARMS, YET STILL INSIST THAT I PAY FOR ALL LABOR - EVEN ON FUTURE PROBABLE FAILURES. THIS IS KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM ON 1997 AND 1998 DUCATI MODEL 748 MOTORCYCLES. THE CHROME FLAKES OFF IN LARGE SEGMENTS AND COULD POSSIBLY CLOG OIL PASSAGES - CAUSING THE ENGINE SIEZURE.