2005 Ducati Multistrada 1000 S 2005

MY MOTORCYCLE CAME WITH A POLYAMIDE PA6 GAS TANK WHICH EXPANDED. THE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK INCREASED UNTIL IT DID NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME, THE HANDLEBAR SWITCH HIT THE TANK WHEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT, THE FRONT SUSPENSION FORK TUBE HIT THE TANK WHEN STEERED TO THE LEFT, AND THE TANK BECAME NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT AND REAR BODYWORK PANELS, WHICH ATTACH TO THE TANK, BEGAN TO BECOME DAMAGED AT THEIR ATTACHMENT POINTS DUE TO THE PRESSURE ON THEM FROM THE EXPANDING TANK. I HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE EXCEPT FOR AN AFTERMARKET EXHAUST AND SOME COSMETIC CHANGES. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER, WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY). THE ORIGINAL TANK WAS REPLACED IN 4/2010 UNDER A "GOODWILL PROGRAM". THE DEALER DID NOT MENTION WHETHER THE REPLACEMENT TANK WAS DESIGNED TO CORRECT THE EXPANSION PROBLEM. THE REPLACEMENT TANK BEGAN TO SHOW THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF EXPANSION WITHIN 6 MONTHS; BY 10/2010, THE BODY PARTS WERE AGAIN MISALIGNED AND DANGEROUSLY STRESSED AT THEIR ATTACHMENT POINTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT INTERFERENCE WITH THE STEERING WILL OCCUR AGAIN, AS WITH THE ORIGINAL TANK, OR THAT THE SEAL OF THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH IS SEATED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK, WILL FAIL, DUE TO THE DISTORTION OF THE TANK. ON 2/4/2011, DUCATI NORTH AMERICA RELEASED A RECALL NOTICE THAT REFERENCES NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER 11V020. THE RECALL LETTER DESCRIBES A PROBLEM WITH FUEL SEEPAGE CAUSED BY FAILURE OF THE SEAL BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE AND THE FUEL TANK. THE CORRECTION OFFERED IS A REPLACEMENT FLANGE TO TANK SEAL WITH AN "X" CROSS-SECTION. I CONTEND THAT THIS TYPE OF GASKET IS A NON-STANDARD FUEL PUMP GASKET, AND IS A DANGEROUS BAND-AID SOLUTION THAT IGNORES THE CAUSE, WHICH IS FUEL TANK EXPANSION. *TR

2005 DUCATI MULTISTRADA FUEL TANK EXPANDED TO SUCH A POINT IT COULD NOT BE REMOVED TO PERFORM THE REQUIRED ENGINE SERVICES. TANK WAS REPLACED 07-09. NEW TANK IS SHOWING SIGNS OF SAME PROBLEM. OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED LEAKING FUEL. IT IS CRITICAL THAT THE FUEL TANK BE REMOVABLE TO MAINTAIN THE ENGINE COMPONENTS. THE DEALER SAYS THAT DUCATI WILL REPLACE THE TANK AGAIN BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW MANY TIMES WILL THEY DO IT AS THE MODEL IS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1000S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS BEGINNING TO DEFORM AND EXPAND DUE TO THE PLASTIC COMPOSITE MATERIAL IT WAS MANUFACTURER FROM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAD CHANGED AND THE BODY PANELS WERE NOT LINING UP PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS ADJACENT TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND OVER THE REAR WHEEL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IF THE TANK CONTINUED TO DEFORM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,200.