2009 DUCATI MONSTER 696 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

PLASTIC GAS TANK EXPANSION RESULTED IN THE TANK BEING FUSED TO THE BIKE. DUCATI NORTH AMERICA REFUSED TO COVER THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DUCATI MONSTER 696. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING INTO HIS GARAGE HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND LEAKING ON HIM. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE OR REENACT IT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 2,100.

WHILE RIDING ON MY 2009 DUCATI MONSTER 696 MOTORCYCLE, I NOTICED A RUBBING SOUND AND FELT A SENSATION OF OSCILLATION. WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SPROCKET OF THE CHAINDRIVE SLIPPED ON THE TRANSMISSION SPLINE CAUSING THE CHAIN TO RUN OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND ACTED AS A CHAINSAW CUTTING INTO THE REAR SWING ARM. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT COULD HAPPEN. THERE IS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE (ESTIMATED AT $3000). NO REPAIRS HAVE OCCURRED YET AND WONT UNTIL I HEAR FROM NHTSA. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAMAGE AND THE MOTORCYCLE CAN BE EASILY INSPECTED. *TR

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW DUCATI MONSTER 696 MOTORCYCLE SEPTEMBER 12 2009 FROM ATLANTA MOTOR WORLD 1275 UPPER HEMBREE RD ROSWELL, GA 30076 770-664-0820 WWW. ATLANTAMOTORWORLD.COM. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS DIGITAL AND BEGAN FOGGING UP WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF MY OWNING IT. THIS BIKE HAS NEVER BEEN WET NOR HAS IT BEEN WASHED. IT IS ALWAYS IN THE GARAGE. THE DEALER MECHANIC SAID HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING WHEN IN FACT HE PERSONALLY REPLACED TWO PANELS FOR A CUSTOMER NAMED ERIC HUFFMAN, WHO HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH TWO OF HIS DUCATIS. THE DEALER PROMISED IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND DUCATI NORTH AMERICA WOULD REPLACE IT IN ALL LIKELIHOOD. THE TECH SAID HE WOULD CALL DUCATI NA AND ASK WHAT TO DO AND HE FAILED TO CALL ME BACK. I FOUND OUT FROM MR HUFFMAN THAT HIS DUCATIS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALER REPLACED THEM. NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT WITH DUCATI NORTH AMERICA. I CALLED THE DEALER AFTER A MONTH OF HEARING NOTHING FROM THEM REGARDING MY QUERY. THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT ONLY TO CALL BACK AND SAY DUCATI NA SAID THEY DO NOT WARRANTY WEATHER RELATED ISSUES SUCH AS FOGGING INSTRUMENT PANELS. IN A SEARCH DONE ON THE WEB I HAVE FOUND COUNTLESS PEOPLE ACROSS THE US & INTERNATIONALLY WHO HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. DUCATI NA REFUSES TO FIX MOST OF THEM AND THE ONES THEY DO HAVE NO RHYME OR REASON. MANY HAVE REPORTED RUSTING IN THE PANEL AND RENDERING THE DIGITIZED WORKS USELESS ONCE RUST SETS IN. DUCATI RECOMMENDED THE DEALER DRILL A HOLE IN THE BACK OF THE POD WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE WARRANTY TO VOID AS WELL AS TAKING IT APART TO CLEAN IT. THEY EVEN SAID I WAS EXPECTED TO PAY THE DEALER FOR THE "FIX" AND THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD NOT CHARGE ME OUT OF FAIRNESS. REALLY? WHY WOULD I PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT? DEALER MANAGER, SEAN, SAID HE WOULD CONTACT THEM DUCATI NA AGAIN FOR ME AS PER MY INSISTENCE, THOUGH HE TOLD ME IT WAS MY PLACE TO DO SO BECAUSE IT WAS "OUT OF HIS HANDS". I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM HIM IN OVER 2 WKS POST DISCUSSION. *TR

2009 DUCATI MONSTER 1100 HAS SHUT OFF (NOT STALLED) WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED (15 - 30 MPH) ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK AND THE BIKE TO SKID UNTIL THE CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED. BIKE RESTARTS INSTANTLY WHICH SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM (BAD CONTACT?) IS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DIE. *TR