2023 DUCATI DESERT X — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
6
Owner Complaints
0
Recalls
7
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2023 DUCATI DESERT X
The 2023 DUCATI DESERT X has received a total of 6 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 7 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ducati North America for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (2 complaints), Electrical System (1 complaint), and Steering (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2023 DUCATI DESERT X
There are no recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2023 DUCATI DESERT X. No Active Recalls
Owner Complaints for the 2023 DUCATI DESERT X
6 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2023 DUCATI DESERT X. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
A few blocks before arriving home after work last night, my bike started smoking and when I got home the plastic heat shield on the rear header pipe was on fire. The rear header pipe seems to be broken and dropped causing a major exhaust leak. This is the second time it has happened to me. First time was october 2023, around 10k miles. That time it melted the rear brake reservoir and the fire was more difficult to put out. Both instances were different riding conditions and ambient temperatures. I know of another person this has happened to twice as well, but she lives in Denmark (exact same bike though). And I have a coworker with the same bike that has recently started sounding louder than it was and may have a similar exhaust leak developing. In my attached photo you can see the oxygen sensor is not at the center of the hole in the heat shield, but it used to be, and there is a hole just up from that where the fire was.
2023 Ducati Desert X dies repeatedly and won't re-start. VIN [XXX] Dates: 30 July to 03 August 2023 Trip to Yosemite. Motorcycle left me stranded 3 Days in a Row. Entire display screen flashes RED Traction Control Error. Motorcycle dies if running. Motorcycle will not re-start. After about 20 seconds the flashing message changes to a RED, rectangular text box at bottom of display. Text reads Traction Control Error. Motorcycle also will not re-start after stopping and turning off the engine. The indicator that the bike is not going to re-start is that the Fan kicks on immediately at an extremely high speed after turning the key on. 1st Incident: Could have been Killed by oncoming traffic. After filling at gas station, making left turn onto Hwy 395 the motorcycle died in front of oncoming traffic. Oncoming cars were only able to avoid me because at that exact spot the highway went from 2 lanes to 4. Motorcycle would not re-start. Carson City, NV. Topography, Flat. Full Daylight. Late afternoon. Forced to stay in Hotel. 2nd Incident: Motorcycle wouldn't re-start after lunch stop. 3rd Incident: Forgot phone at restaurant. Bike would not re-start. 4th Incident: Could have Died due to exposure. Motorcycle died while riding and would not re-start. Riding uphill in the back-country on Hwy 120 at Night into Yosemite NP elevation 8,500 ft. Fortunately I had my camping gear. Forced to camp beside the road. 5th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Yosemite Valley. Cool, clear morning. 6th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Oakhurst, CA, cool evening. Forced to stay in Hotel. 7th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Restaurant beside Keawah River after long, slow alpine descent from Sequioa NP. Evening. Motorcycle temperature never dropped below 207 degrees despite long, slow descent in cool weather. 8th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Visalia CA. Night. Flat topography. Forced to stay in Hotel. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI
2023 Ducati Desert X dies repeatedly and won't re-start. VIN [XXX] Dates: 30 July to 03 August 2023 Trip to Yosemite. Motorcycle left me stranded 3 Days in a Row. Entire display screen flashes RED Traction Control Error. Motorcycle dies if running. Motorcycle will not re-start. After about 20 seconds the flashing message changes to a RED, rectangular text box at bottom of display. Text reads Traction Control Error. Motorcycle also will not re-start after stopping and turning off the engine. The indicator that the bike is not going to re-start is that the Fan kicks on immediately at an extremely high speed after turning the key on. 1st Incident: Could have been Killed by oncoming traffic. After filling at gas station, making left turn onto Hwy 395 the motorcycle died in front of oncoming traffic. Oncoming cars were only able to avoid me because at that exact spot the highway went from 2 lanes to 4. Motorcycle would not re-start. Carson City, NV. Topography, Flat. Full Daylight. Late afternoon. Forced to stay in Hotel. 2nd Incident: Motorcycle wouldn't re-start after lunch stop. 3rd Incident: Forgot phone at restaurant. Bike would not re-start. 4th Incident: Could have Died due to exposure. Motorcycle died while riding and would not re-start. Riding uphill in the back-country on Hwy 120 at Night into Yosemite NP elevation 8,500 ft. Fortunately I had my camping gear. Forced to camp beside the road. 5th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Yosemite Valley. Cool, clear morning. 6th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Oakhurst, CA, cool evening. Forced to stay in Hotel. 7th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Restaurant beside Keawah River after long, slow alpine descent from Sequioa NP. Evening. Motorcycle temperature never dropped below 207 degrees despite long, slow descent in cool weather. 8th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Visalia CA. Night. Flat topography. Forced to stay in Hotel. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI
2023 Ducati Desert X dies repeatedly and won't re-start. VIN [XXX] Dates: 30 July to 03 August 2023 Trip to Yosemite. Motorcycle left me stranded 3 Days in a Row. Entire display screen flashes RED Traction Control Error. Motorcycle dies if running. Motorcycle will not re-start. After about 20 seconds the flashing message changes to a RED, rectangular text box at bottom of display. Text reads Traction Control Error. Motorcycle also will not re-start after stopping and turning off the engine. The indicator that the bike is not going to re-start is that the Fan kicks on immediately at an extremely high speed after turning the key on. 1st Incident: Could have been Killed by oncoming traffic. After filling at gas station, making left turn onto Hwy 395 the motorcycle died in front of oncoming traffic. Oncoming cars were only able to avoid me because at that exact spot the highway went from 2 lanes to 4. Motorcycle would not re-start. Carson City, NV. Topography, Flat. Full Daylight. Late afternoon. Forced to stay in Hotel. 2nd Incident: Motorcycle wouldn't re-start after lunch stop. 3rd Incident: Forgot phone at restaurant. Bike would not re-start. 4th Incident: Could have Died due to exposure. Motorcycle died while riding and would not re-start. Riding uphill in the back-country on Hwy 120 at Night into Yosemite NP elevation 8,500 ft. Fortunately I had my camping gear. Forced to camp beside the road. 5th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Yosemite Valley. Cool, clear morning. 6th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Oakhurst, CA, cool evening. Forced to stay in Hotel. 7th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Restaurant beside Keawah River after long, slow alpine descent from Sequioa NP. Evening. Motorcycle temperature never dropped below 207 degrees despite long, slow descent in cool weather. 8th Incident: Motorcycle would not re-start. Visalia CA. Night. Flat topography. Forced to stay in Hotel. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI
While driving down a dirt highway in rainy conditions the mud built up under the fender quickly and locked up the front wheel throwing me from the bike. In the attached photos you can see the pivot point at which the mud stressed the fender and caused it to break, in the video you can the point at which the wheel locks up. Upon inspection after that fall I noticed the tire would not move. https://youtube.com/shorts/tl6sy3F1cks?feature=share
Safety Rating for the 2023 DUCATI DESERT X
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2023 DUCATI DESERT X in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2023 DUCATI DESERT X
Ducati North America has issued 7 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2023 DUCATI DESERT X. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
TTB-23-001 Rev2 — WHEELS
Tips & Tricks Summary Rev. 02. Front mudguard update for Desert X; installation of the center stand for the Multistrada V4, aluminum fuel tank corrugations for all models, and cosmetic defects or transport damage on carbon rims in all models.
SRV-TSB-23-004 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CR247 Check Engine Oil Pressure Sensor Wiring Position. Applicability: Diavel V4 Model Year 2023 (all country versions). This technical service bulletin informs dealers and service managers of an newly identified need to check and, if necessary, adjust the engine oil pressure sensor's wiring position. This bulletin also includes associated VIN...
SRV-TSB-23-004 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CR247 Check Engine Oil Pressure Sensor Wiring Position. Applicability: Diavel V4 Model Year 2023 (all country versions). This technical service bulletin informs dealers and service managers of an newly identified need to check and, if necessary, adjust the engine oil pressure sensor's wiring position. This bulletin also includes associated VIN...
SRV-TSB-23-003 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CR246 - Spring Installation for Fuel Tank Breather Hose. Applicability: DesertX Model Year 2023 (all country versions). This technical service bulletin informs dealers and service managers of the introduction of a spring into units in production, to prevent possible air blockages after workshop operations involving removal and refitting of the...
SRV-TSB-23-002 — STRUCTURE
CR245 â Side stand replacement. Applicability: DesertX Model Year 2023 (all country versions). This technical service bulletin informs dealers and service managers of a new side stand design and part number, available to replace the old design and part number, through attrition. It also provides production integration information, and part...
SRV-TSB-22-017 — SUSPENSION
CR243 â Rear Shock Protector Installation. Applicability: Desert X Model Year 2023 (all country versions). This technical service bulletin informs dealers and service managers that a new rear shock absorber has been introduced into the affected model production line. It also provides effective date and VIN data, as well as...
TTB-22-001 Rv12 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Tips and Tricks Summary Rev.12. Applicability: Desert X. This bulletin provides information about key storage during pre-delivery operations.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2023 DUCATI DESERT X
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the DUCATI DESERT X
- 2023 DUCATI DESERT X (current)
Other DUCATI Models
- DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC — 155 total complaints
- DUCATI MULTISTRADA — 68 total complaints
- DUCATI 1000GT — 53 total complaints
- DUCATI DUCATI — 34 total complaints
- DUCATI MONSTER S4RS — 34 total complaints
- DUCATI HYPERMOTARD — 33 total complaints
- DUCATI 848 — 29 total complaints
- DUCATI DIAVEL — 29 total complaints