WHEN MOTORCYCLE DRIVEN AT SLOW PACE OR IN TRAFFIC THE HEAT IS UNBEARABLE FROM EXHAUST MAKING ME OVER HEAT AND ALMOST PASSED OUT FROM THIS BIKE CAUSING BURNS ON LEG. *TR
2008 Ducati 1098S
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 1098S years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 4 of 4 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. 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.
What owners actually said
4 reportsTHE VEHICLE I'M REFERRING TO IS A 2008 1098S DUCATI. WHILE IDLING, DRIVING OR WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE MOTORCYCLE WILL SHUT OFF WHEN THE CLUTCH IS APPLIED. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT GEAR I AM ON OR THE MOTORCYCLE'S TEMPERATURE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE OFF OF THE DEALERSH…
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THE VEHICLE I'M REFERRING TO IS A 2008 1098S DUCATI. WHILE IDLING, DRIVING OR WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE MOTORCYCLE WILL SHUT OFF WHEN THE CLUTCH IS APPLIED. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT GEAR I AM ON OR THE MOTORCYCLE'S TEMPERATURE. THE PROBLEM BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE OFF OF THE DEALERSHIPS LOT. I NOTIFIED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE PROBLEM DURING THE 300 COURTESY INSPECTION. I'VE SINCE TAKEN THE BIKE TO GET REPAIRED FOR THE SAME ISSUE OVER FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. EACH TIME THE BIKE IS RETURNED UNDER THE PREMISE THAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. DURING A TWO WEEK PERIOD I DOCUMENTED THAT THE BIKE SHUT OFF 16 TIMES. DURING ONE OF THE SHUT OFFS, I WAS SPLITTING LANES. THE CARS GOT TOO CLOSE TO ME AND UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE CLUTCH THE MOTORCYCLE SHUT OFF INCREASING MY CHANCES OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT. DURING THE TIMES THE MOTORCYCLE WAS SENT TO BE REPAIRED, ASIDE FROM THE INSPECTION DONE ONLY THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND THE THROTTLE BODIES WERE CHANGED. *TR
EXCESSIVE EXHAUST HEAT CAUSED BLISTER BURNS THROUGH LEATHER SUIT ON LEG WHEN MOTORCYCLE DRIVEN SLOW. THIS MOTORCYCLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN SLOW WITH OUT THE EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE EXHAUST HEAT. *TR
DUCATI 1098S 2008 BIKE WAS PURCHASED 29 OCT 2008, RODE HOME FIRST NIGHT WITH NO ISSUES. ON THE SECOND DAY OF RIDING THE BIKE STALLED AS I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT, I SQUEEZED THE CLUTCH LEVER AND WAS PRESSING BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AT THE TIME AS I WAS DOWNSHIFTING FROM THIRD INTO SECOND GEAR, WAS ANNOYED BUT WASN'T CONC…
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DUCATI 1098S 2008 BIKE WAS PURCHASED 29 OCT 2008, RODE HOME FIRST NIGHT WITH NO ISSUES. ON THE SECOND DAY OF RIDING THE BIKE STALLED AS I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT, I SQUEEZED THE CLUTCH LEVER AND WAS PRESSING BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES AT THE TIME AS I WAS DOWNSHIFTING FROM THIRD INTO SECOND GEAR, WAS ANNOYED BUT WASN'T CONCERNED AT FIRST BECAUSE IT HAPPENED AS I WAS STOPPING AT A LIGHT. IT HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES IN A VERY SIMILAR MANNER AS THE FIRST BUT IN A LESS IDEAL SITUATION DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THEN ON 1 NOVEMBER 2008 IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN ONE DAY. LAST INCIDENT HAPPENED IN A MIDDLE OF A RIGHT HAND TURN, A TAXI CUT ME OFF CAUSING ME TO BRAKE AND SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY, I WAS STILL LEANED OVER WHEN THE BIKE STALLED AS I SQUEEZED THE CLUTCH LEVER TO DOWN SHIFT. I ALMOST CRASHED WHEN THE BIKE STALLED WITH CARS BEHIND ME BRAKING RAPIDLY TO AVOID BOTH THE TAXI THAT CUT ME OFF AND MY BIKE WHICH STALLED IN THE INTERSECTION. I RODE THE BIKE ON 2 NOV 2008 WITHOUT INCIDENT, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE INTERMITTENT AND FROM MY EXPERIENCE I'M NOT SURE WHAT IS ACTUALLY CAUSING IT. I'VE RODE MOTORCYCLES SINCE 1994 AND HAVE OWNED AND RODE NUMEROUS MOTORCYCLES OVER THE YEARS AND NEVER ONCE HAVE I EXPERIENCED A MOTORCYCLE THAT STALLS WHEN YOU HOLD THE CLUTCH LEVER. *TR
Official recalls
208V638000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator
Dec 3, 2008
DUCATI IS RECALLING 7,130 MY 2007-2008 1098, 1098S, 1098 TRICOLORE, 1098R, AND MY 2008-2009 848 MOTORCYCLES. THE MOTORCYCLE CHARGING SYSTEM MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY ENGINE HEAT AND STOP OPERATING. THIS RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND ENSUING BATTERY DISCHARGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE MOTORCYCLE AND A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THE RIDER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR, INSTALL A HEAT GUARD BETWEEN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND THE ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AND INSTALL A MODIFIED BATTERY SUPPORT. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON DECEMBER 24, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DUCATI AT 1-800-231-6696.
08V253000 · Power Train
Jun 5, 2008
DUCATI IS RECALLING 3,614 MY 2007-2008 1098, 1098S, AND 1098 TRICOLORE MOTORCYCLES. THE REAR DRIVE SPROCKET CAN FAIL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SPROCKET WERE TO FAIL WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING DRIVEN, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WILL EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND/OR THE CHAIN MAY BECOME ENTANGLED WITH THE CHASSIS. THIS CAN RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR DRIVE SPROCKET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 25, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DUCATI AT 1-408-253-0499.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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