2004 DUCATI 999 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

CERTAIN CRG FRONT BRAKE LEVERS, MODEL RB-511 DESIGNED FOR USE ON 2004-2006 YAMAHA YZF-R1 MOTORCYCLES, AND 2005-2006 YAMAHA YZF-R6 MOTORCYCLES. MODEL RB-512 IS DESIGNED FOR USE ON 2003-2006 DUCATI 749 AND 999 MOTORCYCLES, AND ON 2004-2006 APRILIA MILLE R MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE PIVOT BORE, THE BRAKE LEVER COULD BECOME SEIZED IN THE BRAKE ENGAGED POSITION, THEREBY PREVENTING THE FRONT BRAKE FROM DISENGAGING.

Remedy: CRG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ROCKER FOR THE FRONT LEVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONCACT CRG AT 831-763-7811.

1,611 vehicles affected

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF OIL LUBRICANT CAN LEAK ON TO THE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE FROM THE OIL COOLER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE OIL COOLER AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DUCATI AT 408-343-4411.

1,800 vehicles affected

I OWN 2004 DUCATI 998 MATIRX MOTORCYCLE. IT HAS A PROBLEM OF STALLING AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. THE BIKE DIES INSTANTANEOUSLY. INITIALLY, IT WAS STALLING WHILE STOPPED AND IDLING. LATER, IT WOULD DIE AS I WAS RIDING THE BIKE. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004, I WAS CROSSING A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN THE BIKE DIED AND CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS FORCED TO SWERVE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH MY MOTORCYCLE. I HAD TO PUSH THE BIKE OUT OF THE INTERSECTION BECAUSE IT WOULD START THEN IMMEDIATELY DIE. I TOOK THE BIKE TO MY DEALER. THEY HAD IT FOR 6 WEEKS AND FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE INTERNET AND VISITED SEVERAL DUCATI WEBSITES. I DISCOVERED FROM OTHER OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, THE STALLING PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS IN DUCATI MOTORCYCLES. I THEN EMAILED DUCATI IN ITALY. THEIR RESPONSE WAS FOR ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA AND TO CONTACT DUCATI NORTH AMERICA. I RETURNED THE BIKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY KEPT THE BIKE FOR 2 MORE WEEKS AND AGAIN FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I RETURNED THE BIKE A THIRD TIME. AGAIN, I WAS CROSSING A BUSY INTERSECTION WHEN THE BIKE DIED AND CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THIS TIME THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO LOCK UP THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE BIKE IS NOW IN THE SHOP. IT HAS BEEN THERE ALMOST THE ENTIRE WEEK. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY HAVE CONTACTED TECH REPS AND ATTENDED A DUCATI SCHOOL WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE STALLING IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE WHEN RIDING THIS BIKE. THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME WERE VERY ALERT. I COULD HAVE SUFFERED INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH DUE TO DUCATI IGNORING THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR BIKES FOR ALMOST 10 YEARS. *NM