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2004 Big Dog Ridgeback

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
3Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
200410
20053
2006
Compare all Ridgeback years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 3 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

1 reports
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2,800 miles · Oct 13, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS CAUTIOUSLY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING BETWEEN THIRTY MINUTES TO A HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS CAUTIOUSLY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING BETWEEN THIRTY MINUTES TO A HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER VOLUNTARY RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL HARNESS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE REPAIR ON FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE CAM SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.

NHTSA ODI #10360342

Official recalls

1

10V180000 · Electrical System

May 3, 2010

BIG DOG IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2004 CHOPPER, BULLDOG, RIDGEBACK, MASTIFF, BOXER, AND PITBULL MOTORCYCLES. THERE IS A POSSIBLE LOOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AND THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROLLER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO VARIOUS COMPONENTS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A LOSS OF HEADLAMP FUNCTION OR A VEHICLE STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: BIG DOG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE MOTORCYCLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-316-219-9121.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

RQ10002 · Motorcycle Stalling

Opened Jan 27, 2010 · Closed May 10, 2010

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:wiring

This RQ was opened based on seemingly related owner complaints involving motorcycles outside the scope of 06V-301.During the course of subsequent discussions with the company, we learned that the earlier model year Big Dogs had a problem with the electronic harness control module connector that they'd previously addressed with a TSB.Since the TSB addressed a safety-related issue (stalling), Big Dog agreed to recall the motorcycles subject to the TSB (10V-180).With that decision, ODI agreed to waive requiring a response to its information request and is now closing this RQ.