2007 Ducati 1098

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DUCATI 1098S TRICOLOR. ALMOST EVERYTIME THE CONTACT ACCELERATES FROM A STOP, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLS. HE MUST RESTART THE ENGINE FOR THE VEHICLE TO PROPERLY ACCELERATE. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE RIDING 5 MPH. THE FAILURE HAS NOT CAUSED ANY CRASHES, BUT A FEW CLOSE CALLS HAVE OCCURRED FROM VEHICLES ALMOST REAR ENDING HIM DUE TO NOT TAKING OFF AT LIGHTS. THE CONTACT IS ALSO VERY CONCERNED ABOUT AN ENGINE OIL LEAKAGE. THE ENGINE OIL WAS SUCKED INTO THE AIRBOX THROUGH THE BREATHER OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS SO MUCH OIL IN THE ENGINE THAT IT BEGAN TO LEAK OUT OF THE AIRBOX, DIRECTLY BENEATH THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE IS ALSO EXPERIENCING BRAKE ROTOR FAILURE. THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE BRAKE DISCS, WHICH CAUSED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND WORE OUT THE BRAKE PADS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THE ONLY REPAIR THAT WAS PERFORMED WAS THE CLEANING OF THE AIRBOX. THE DEALER CLEANED OUT ALL OF THE OIL, BUT THE LEAK CONTINUED. THE AIRBOX WAS REFILLED WITH OIL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER TO OBTAIN RECALL INFORMATION AND WAS INFORMED THAT NONE WERE AVAILABLE FOR HIS VEHICLE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED THREE RECALLS ON THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE. HE ALSO LEARNED THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES, IN WHICH SOME LED TO DEATH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IS EXPERIENCING OTHER FAILURES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED, BUT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE RECALL NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,200. UPDATED 06/25/08 *BF