2007 DUCATI 1098 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THE GAS TANK ON MY 2007, DUCATI 1098 MOTORCYCLE CANNOT BE SECURED TO THE BRACKET LOCATED ON THE FRAME OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE GAS TANK ON THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND EXPANDS DUE TO THE ETHANOL IN THE FUEL. THIS MAKES THE MOTORCYCLE UNSAFE TO RIDE. I CONTACTED DUCATI NORTH AMERICA TO TRY AND GET THE TANK REPLACED AND WAS INFORMED EXTENDED WARRANTY ON TANK REPLACEMENTS WERE LIMITED TO 72 MONTHS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE AND MY MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED 82 MONTHS AGO. THE LIMITS WERE SET BY THE COURTS AFTER A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS TIME LIMIT BY DUCATI OR THE COURTS. NOW I HAVE TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT AND THE TANK IS OVER $2000. ISN'T THERE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO HOLD DUCATI RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TANK? A RECALL? THANK YOU. *TR

ON MOST DUCATI MOTORCYCLES WITH A PLASTIC FUEL TANK, THE TANK HAS BEEN KNOWN AND DOES INDEED DEFORM. IT IS SAID TO AFFECT MOTORCYCLES BUILT AS FAR BACK AS THEY HAVE USED A PLASTIC TANK. IT IS SAID IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ETHANOL IN FUEL SOLD HERE IN THE STATES, BUT NOW IT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN IN EUROPE AS WELL. THE TANK SWELLS AND DEFORMS UNTIL IT NO LONGER WILL SEAT OR SEAL PROPERLY CAUSING A SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY RISK. MY OWN MOTORCYCLE, A DUCATI 1098 MADE IN 2007 IS ALSO IN THIS GROUP. CURRENTLY, DUCATI SAYS THEY WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED TANKS, BUT THEY ARE REPLACING THEM WITH THE SAME TANK, SO IT WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. IN ADDITION I HAVE BEEN WAITING NEARLY 2 MONTHS WITH NO WORD FROM DUCATI ABOUT THIS. *TR

ON DUCATI MOTORCYCLE, MODEL YEAR 2007, MODEL MULTISTRADA 1100S, FUEL TANK DEFORMATION (EXPANSION) CAUSING TANK TO LOCK IN PLACE (UNABLE TO REMOVE FROM MOTORCYCLE TO PERFORM PERIODIC MAINTENANCE) OR ALTERNATIVELY EXPAND WHILE OFF MOTORCYCLE WHILE PERFORMING ENGINE MAINTENANCE AND CAUSING INABILITY FOR THE FUEL TANK TO BE REINSTALLED. PROBLEM APPEARS EPIDEMIC AMONG THESE MODEL MOTORCYCLES. POSSIBILITY OF RUPTURE OR FUEL LEAKS POST DEFORMATION EXISTS, MANUFACTURER'S REPLACEMENT TANKS ARE MADE OF THE SAME MATERIAL AS THE ORIGINAL, THUS PERPETUATING THE HAZARD. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 DUCATI 1098 AND READ THIS INFORMATION TODAY 8/16/2010 ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WEBSITE AND WANTED TO KNOW IF MY BIKE WAS AFFECTED BY THESE RECALLS AND IS MY LIFE IN DANGER? MY VIN NO. IS [XXX]. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT HAS SERVICED THE BIKE SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW AND TO DUCATI USA ABOUT STALLING ISSUE AND THEY ACT LIKE THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BIKE AND I AM IMAGING THERE BEING A PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DUCATI 1098. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-70 MPH OR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK. ALSO, THE REAR SPROCKET THAT HOLDS THE CHAIN WAS UNDER RECALL AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED NOT TO RIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,100.