2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC Recalls, Complaints & Safety

I WAS SENDING IN A COMPLAINT DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE READ THAT THERE WAS LAWSUIT REGARDING THE GAS TANKS EXPANDING ON DUCATI'S. I WANTED INFORMATION ON HOW TO GO ABOUT GETTING MINE REPLACED. *TR

THE GAS TANK HAS EXPANDED TO THE POINT THAT IT DOES NOT STAY IN THE HOLDING BRACKETS. THE TANK IS LOOSE AND IS A DANGEROUS DRIVING HAZARD. DUCATI IS REPLACING THE TANK WITH THE EXACT SAME MATERIAL WHICH DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. A TANK MADE OUT OF THE SAME MATERIAL WILL RESULT IN THE SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN. A PERMANENT SOLUTION SHOULD REQUIRE A CHANGE IN THE GAS TANK MATERIAL USED. *TR

FUEL TANK OF SAID 2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC, 1.) FUEL TANK HAS EXPANDED NO LONGER FITTING INTO THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD THE FUEL TANK SECURELY IN PLACE. (FUEL TANK WOULD MOVE ABOUT) 2.) FUEL TANK DEVELOPED DEFORMATION ALONG THE TOP PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK APPROXIMATELY A 10 MM IN LENGTH AREA (LEFT OF FUEL FILLER CAP). 3.) FUEL TANK DEVELOPED PROTRUDING DIMPLES ALONG RIGHT SIDE AND LEFT SIDE OF FUEL TANK. 4.) FACTORY DECAL ON FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A 1.5 MM DIA. X .3 MM PROTRUDING BUBBLE ON THE FRONT PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK NEAR THE IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

NOTED FUEL LEAKING WHERE FUEL PUMP HOUSING ATTACHES TO COMPOSITE FUEL TANK. FUEL PUMP HOUSING, CONNECTIONS, AND FITTINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN REMOVED OR ALTERED IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM BY THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE (OWNED 4/12/2007 TO PRESENT). ISSUE APPEARS BE RELATED TO COMPOSITE (NON-METALLIC) FUEL TANK DEFORMATION OVER TIME. LEAKING FUEL IS A SERIOUS SAFETY-ISSUE THAT MAY CAUSE POTENTIALLY SERIOUS INJURY, HARM, OR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR, VEHICLE, AND OTHER PERSONS AND/OR PROPERTY. *TR

ON OCTOBER 28, 2011, WHILE OPERATING MY 2006 DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LOOSE TOWARDS THE FORWARD PART OF THE FUEL TANK. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS NO LONGER SECURED BY EITHER THE LEFT-SIDE OR RIGHT-SIDE MOUNTING BRACKETS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FRAME. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK OVER TIME HAS WARPED OR CHANGED TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TO RENDER THE TWO FORWARD SECURING BRACKETS INEFFECTIVE IN THEIR PRESENT STATE. THIS RESULTS IN THE FUEL TANK DEPENDENT SOLELY ON A SINGLE REAR MOUNTING BOLT TO SECURE THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, IT IS CLEAR THAT ANY OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE RISKS INJURY SHOULD THE FUEL TANK COME LOOSE OR BECOME UNSTABLE WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT HAS ALSO BEEN OBSERVED THAT THE FUEL TANK DIMENSIONS HAVE OVER TIME WARPED TO SUCH AN EXTENT AS TO NOW IMPEDE THE FULL USE OF THE VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM. THIS ALSO RESULTS IN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO ANY OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS CLEAR THAT AN EFFECTIVE, PERMANENT SOLUTION IS REQUIRED OF THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO THIS FUEL TANK AS ITS PRESENT DESIGN, MATERIALS, AND MANUFACTURE IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

GAS TANK HAS SPREAD AND IS NO LONGER SECURELY MOUNTED TO THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2006 DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC FROM A DUCATI DEALER IN 2006, AND HAVE SINCE PUT APPROXIMATELY 2700 MILES ON THE BIKE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND PREMIUM FUEL USED. THE MOTORCYCLE'S GAS TANK IS MADE OF SOME SORT OF PLASTIC OR FIBERGLASS, AND SO IT HAS SPREAD TO THE POINT WHERE THE RUBBER CUPS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD IT TO THE FRAME ON EITHER SIDE ARE NO LONGER IN PLACE. SINCE THE TANK IS ONLY HELD ONTO THE FRAME VIA ONE SCREW MOUNT, THE TANK CAN BE ALMOST COMPLETELY LIFTED OFF OF THE FRAME IN THE FRONT. THE TANK HAS ALSO WARPED ON THE TOP RIGHT SIDE, IN A "WAVY" PATTERN. DUE TO THE LOOSENESS OF THE TANK, IF THIS BIKE WERE TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT, THE TANK COULD COME OFF AND RESULT IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY BECOME A BOMB. IN ADDITION TO THE LOOSE TANK, SINCE IT HAS SPREAD ON THE BOTTOM, THE HANDLE BAR ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE NOW COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE TANK, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN AESTHETIC BLEMISH, AND REDUCES THE TURNING RADIUS, IN ADDITION TO POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY AT SLOW SPEEDS IF THE RIDER CATCHES HER HAND BETWEEN THE BAR AND TANK. I HAVE CONTACTED A DEALERSHIP NEARBY, AND THEY WILL TAKE PICTURES OF IT, AND HAVE TOLD ME THAT DUCATI WANTS THE DEALERSHIP TO "SHIM" THE TANK FIRST, MEANING THAT THEY WOULD ADD WASHERS ON EITHER SIDE TO TRY TO STABILIZE THE TANK. IF THIS IS UNABLE TO BE FIXED, DUCATI *MAY* REPLACE THE TANK WITH A TANK OF THE SAME TYPE OF MATERIAL, AND THE PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IF THE BIKE, WHICH IS A 2006, IS OUT OF WARRANTY, DUCATI MAY MAKE ME PAY FOR THE "REPLACEMENT" TANK (APPROX $1800), AND HAS (TO DATE) OFFERED NO REAL SOLUTION TO THE ISSUE (I.E. A TANK MADE OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL). *TR

2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC THE FUEL TANK EXPANDED AND NO LONGER REST ON THE FORWARD SUPPORTS. THE TANK ALSO IS DEFORMED AND SMALL BLISTER APPEARED. *LN

2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE FUEL TANK HAS EXPANDED AND WARPED RESULTING IN IT BECOMING LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. *TR

THE FUEL TANK ON MY 2006 DUCATI PAUL SMART MOTORCYCLE IS DEFECTIVE. THE TANK HAS WARPED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NO LONGER PROPERLY ATTACHED TO THE MOTORCYCLE'S FRAME. THIS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS, PERHAPS EVEN FATAL, INJURY TO THE RIDER. MY DUCATI DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL TANK UNDER THE 5 YEAR EMISSIONS WARRANTY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TANK THAT DUCATI PROVIDED IS MADE FROM THE EXACT SAME COMPOSITE MATERIAL AS THE ONE THAT WENT BAD. I BELIEVE THE ETHANOL IN TODAY'S GASOLINE IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE OF TANK WARPAGE AND SEPARATION. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND HAVE DUCATI RECALL ALL THEIR SPORT CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES (WHICH INCLUDES MY 2006 PAUL SMART MODEL) TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK WITH ONE THAT IS NOT AFFECTED BY ETHANOL. NOTE THAT MY MOTORCYCLE HAS FEWER THAN 350 MILES OVER THE 5 YEAR PERIOD. THIS IS A TRAVESTY ON DUCATI'S PART. SHAME ON THEM. *TR

THE PLASTIC GAS TANK HAS "SPREAD" OR DEFORMED AND NO LONGER MOUNTS TO THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME CORRECTLY. *TR

SPREADING TANK ON MY 2006 DUCATI PAUL SMART SPORT CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. THE TANKS SPREADS TO THE POINT WHERE IT DOES NOT FIT IN THE MOUNTING BRACKETS ON THE FRAME. THIS CAUSES THE TANKS TO BECOME DANGEROUSLY LOOSE MAKING THE MOTORCYCLE UNSAFE TO RIDE. THIS SWELLING AND SPREADING OF THE TANK CAN ALSO CAUSE A FAILURE IF THE O RING SEALING THE FUEL PETCOCK. THIS COULD LEAD TO FUEL LEAKING DIRECTLY ONTO A HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST CAUSING A FIRE OR EXPLOSION LIKELY TO CAUSE SEVERE BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

1. UNKNOWN 2. TANK EXPANSION (HAPPENED OVER 3 YRS) STARTING TO HAPPEN AGAIN SINCE REPLACEMENT. BEGAN TO GET LOOSE ON THE FRAME WHERE IT WOULD SEPARATE PARTLY FROM THE BIKE. 3. REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC; RE: DEFECTIVE GAS TANK, SWELLS AND DEFORMS UNTIL IT EFFECTS STEERING (ACTUALLY GETS IN WAY OF HANDLE BAR AND COMES OFF FRONT MOUNTS LEAVING ONLY ONE BOLT HOLDING DOWN THE REAR). SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AS MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING ON ONLINE FORUMS. DUCATI WILL REPLACE A TANK ONCE IT SWELLS OR DEFORMS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL BUT THE REPLACEMENT WILL SOON START TO DO THE SAME. *TR

THE PLASTIC USED FUEL TANKS IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE MOTORCYCLES' FUEL, WHICH CAUSES THE TANKS TO RAPIDLY DEGRADE AND DEFORM AND LEADS TO A NUMBER OF UNSAFE CONDITIONS. AMONG OTHER THINGS, AS THE PLASTIC DEGRADES AND DEFORMS, THE FUEL TANKS INTERFERE WITH THE FULL RANGE OF STEERING, LEAK FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE, AND DESTABILIZE THE MOTORCYCLE'S WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION-OFTEN TO THE POINT THAT THE MOTORCYCLE CANNOT BE SAFELY OPERATED AFTER ONLY A FEW THOUSAND MILES OF USE. *TR

GAS TANK IS EXPANDING OFF IT'S FRAME MOUNTS. *TR

MY 2006 DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC HAS NOW HAD A THIRD PLASTIC TANK FITTED UNDER WARRANTY TO ADDRESS SPREADING AND DEFORMATION CAUSED BY ETHANOL; HOWEVER THE SAME COMPONENT IS BEING USED, GUARANTEEING THAT THE PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR. *TR

THE GAS TANK ON MY 2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE HAS BECOME DEFORMED AND THE MOUNTS CAN NO LONGER SECURELY HOLD THE TANK IN PLACE. THE MANUFACTURER MAY REPLACE THE TANK BUT IT WILL BE REPLACED WITH THE A GAS TANK MADE OF THE SAME DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. *TR

FUEL TANK EXPANSION ON DUCATI. THIS CONDITION MAKES THE RIDER INSUFFICIENTLY "CONNECTED" TO THE BIKE. *TR

LIKE JUST ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE WHO OWNS A LATE MODEL DUCATI WITH A PLASTIC FUEL TANK, MY TANK IS DISTORTING AND SPREADING OVER TIME. IT'S NO LONGER IN CONTACT WITH THE MOUNTING PUCKS AT THE FRONT OF THE FRAME, AND THEREFORE WIGGLES AROUND A SHIFTS POSITION. MY WIFE OWNS A SIMILAR MODEL, AND HER TANK DOES THE EXACT SAME THING. BOTH OF OUR BIKES ARE STORED INDOORS IN A CLIMATE-CONTROLLED GARAGE, AND HAVE NEVER BEEN CRASHED OR OTHERWISE DAMAGED. DUCATI KNOWS GOOD AND WELL THAT THEIR FUEL TANK DESIGNS HAVE A PROBLEM, AND THEY NEED TO STEP UP AND FIND A PERMANENT SOLUTION! THIS HAPPENS TO MOST OF THEIR OTHER MODELS AS WELL, BUT DUE TO THE SHAPE OF THE TANK ON THE SPORT CLASSIC LINE, THE EFFECT IS MUCH MORE NOTICEABLE AND SERIOUS. *TR

THE FUEL TANK ON MY 2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC BECAME BADLY DISTORTED. IT WAS REPLACED 24 MARCH 2009. THE REPLACEMENT TANK IS NOW DISTORTED AS WELL. IT CONCERNS ME THAT IT MAY BE A HAZARD AS THE FIT IS POOR ENOUGH TO ALLOW SEPARATION OF THE TANK FROM THE FRAME. *TR

FUEL TANK IS MADE FROM A PLASTIC MATERIAL NOT COMPATIBLE WITH FUEL THAT CAN LEAD TO DEFORMATION, LEAKING, AND/OR TANK COMING LOOSE AND SHIFTING. *TR

STRUCTUAL FAILURE OF THE FUEL TANK ON MY SPORT CLASSIC DUCATI MOTORCYCLE. *TR

THE GAS TANK ON MY 2006 DUCATI SPORT 1000 IS DEFORMED. THE TANK IS SPREADING AND BECOMES LOOSE ON ITS HINGES. I HAVE HAD THE TANK REPLACED TWICE, BUT THE THIRD ONE IS NOW DEFORMED AGAIN. *TR

FUEL TANK OF MOTORCYCLE DEFORMS IN SUCH A MANNER TO BECOME UNSECURED FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME AND BE UNSAFE TO OPERATE. MANUFACTURER HAS ADMITTED NO DEFECT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TANK AND ONLY OFFERS TO REPLACE THE TANK WITH ANOTHER DEFECTIVE TANK THAT WILL ONLY DEFORM IN THE FUTURE AS WELL. I AM CURRENTLY DUE FOR MY 3RD TANK IN 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR

THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK ON MY '06 DUCATI PS1000LE DEFORMED SO MUCH THAT IT WAS AT RISK OF FALLING OFF THE BIKE AND CAUSING A FIRE. DUCATI REPLACED IT WITH AN IDENTICAL TANK THAT IS HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR

2006 DUCATI PAUL SMART 1000LE USES A FUEL TANK THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND BEGINS TO DEFORM AND DEGRADE WHEN USING FUEL SOLD IN THE U.S. AFTER TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, I HAD TO HAVE MY TANK REPLACED. THE REPLACEMENT TANK IS MADE FROM THE SAME MATERIAL AS THE ORIGINAL TANK, THUS WILL MOST LIKELY DEFORM IN A FEW MORE YEARS. THE IS A CLASS ACTION SUITE FILED IN CALIFORNIA AGAINST DUCATI NORTH AMERICA. *TR

FUEL TANK ON MOTORCYCLE HAS EXPANDED AND BUCKLED. IT IS NO LONGER BEING HELD IN PLACE BY THE "PUCKS" AT THE FRONT OF THE TANK. IT IS ONLY HELD BY THE SINGLE BOLT AT THE REAR OF THE TANK AND BY THE FRONT FAIRING. THE FRONT OF THE TANK CAN BE LIFTED UP OFF THE BIKE. THE TANK SHIFTS BACK AND FORTH WHEN RIDING THE BIKE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT THE TANK COULD SHIFT AND THROW OFF MY BALANCE UNDER HARD CORNERING, LEADING TO A LOSS OF CONTROL. DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (DNA) HAS BEEN REPLACING THESE TANKS FOR OTHER OWNERS, BUT THE REPLACEMENT TANKS SUFFER FROM THE SAME ISSUE. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF A TRUE LONG TERM SOLUTION, I HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF REQUESTING A REPLACEMENT YET. IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF EFFORT, AND BE A SHORT TERM SOLUTION AT BEST. IT SEEMS THAT THE CULPRIT IN THIS PROBLEM IS ETHANOL IN GASOLINE. OWNERS WHO ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE ETHANOL FREE GASOLINE HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. ETHANOL DOES NOT BELONG IN OUR GASOLINE! *TR

I HAVE A 2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC 1000. THE TANK SEEMS TO HAVE GROWN WIDER AND DETACHED ITSELF FROM THE BRACKETS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REVEALED THAT IS AN OVERWHELMING AND SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE COMPANY IS REPLACING THE TANKS APPARENTLY, BUT NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE, WHICH MIGHT BE MATERIALS, DESIGNS, ETC. *TR

PLASTIC TANK ON MY 2006 DUCATI SPORTCLASSIC HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF SPREADING, BUT DUCATI HAS NO FIX. THE TANK GETS SO LOOSE IT CAN COME OFF ITS MOUNTINGS WHICH COULD UNSEAT THE RIDER. *TR

EXPANDED FUEL TANK CAUSING INTERFERENCE WITH SAFETY STEERING STOPS. *TR

FUEL TANK IS BUBBLING, SPREADING AND WILL EVENTUALLY COME APART AT THE FUEL PUMP MOUNTING SURFACE AND LEAK ON MY HEADERS. FIRE AND EMISSION HAZARD, THE TANK IS BEING REPLACE BY DUCATI NORTH AMERICA, BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN 10YEARS FORM NOW WHEN I NEED ANOTHER TANK FOR MY 15,000 DOLLAR MOTORCYCLE? *TR

GAS TANK WARPING AND REGULATOR FAILURE. UNDER 3000 MILES GAS TANK WAS WARPING AND COMING OFF TANK MOUNTS. AT 7,546 MILES REGULATOR FAILED. BOTH WERE REPLACED. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2006 DUCATI SPORT 1000 SPORT CLASSIC. IN JANUARY I NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAD DEFORMED IN SHAPE AND WAS NOW UNABLE TO REST IN ITS MOUNTS. THE FACT THAT THE FUEL TANK MOVES ALL AROUND ON THE BIKE AND IS UNSECURED MAKES IT UNUSABLE AND UNSAFE. I HAVE CONTACTED DUCATI ABOUT THIS AND HAVE NO HEARD ANYTHING FROM THEM REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. CURRENTLY MY MOTORCYCLE IS UNUSABLE AS THE POTENTIAL FOR RUPTURE OR SPILLAGE WHILE RIDING IS VERY HIGH. CURRENTLY I AM HEARING FROM OTHER OWNERS THAT DUCATI REPLACES THE PART WITH THE EXACT SAME PIECE AND THE ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED. I HAVE MET OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TWO OR THREE TANKS REPLACED FOR THE SAME ISSUE. CURRENTLY DUCATI IS SELLING THIS MODEL NEW WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2006 DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC SPORT 1000 FROM THE DEALER (TOURING SPORT IN GREENVILLE, SC) THAT SOLD IT TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THEN TO ME. THE GAS TANK HAS DEFORMED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NO LONGER SECURELY HELD IN PLACE ON THE FRAME. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE. MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE NHTSA. I HAVE SUFFERED NO CATACLYSMIC EVENTS DUE TO THIS DEFECT. HOWEVER, THE POTENTIAL IS GREAT AND I MUST HAVE SOME RESOLUTION BEFORE I WILL CONSIDER THE MOTORCYCLE SAFE TO DRIVE. THANK-YOU. *TR

FUEL TANK ON MY 2006 DUCATI PAUL SMART (PS1000LE) HAS DEVELOPED WAVES ON THE SURFACE AND NUMEROUS DIMPLES. THE SURFACE IS NO LONGER UNIFORM. ALSO, IT SEEM TO HAVE INCRESED ITS OUTSIDE SIZE. THIS IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE HOWEVER. DUE TO THE TANK DEFORMATION IT IS NO LONGER FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE FRAME AND CAN ESILY BE MOVED(ROCKED) SIDE TO SIDE. THIS IS EXTREMEMLY DANGEORUS AND I AM WORRIED THAT IF THIS DEFORMATION CONTINUES THE TANK CAN BECOME DISLOGED OR CRACK CAUSING A FUEL LEAK AND FIRE. I ASKED MY DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT, I WAS REFUSED.

GAS TANK WARPS AND DEFORMS AS AIR TEMP OR PRESSURE CHANGES. CAUSES LOUD POP AND CONTRACTION OF TANK AT FUEL STOPS, AND AFTER A WHILE WILL CAUSE PAINT TO BUBBLE. DUCATI HAS ALREADY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL TANK AFTER 18 MONTHS AND NOW THE SECOND IS STARTING TO EXPAND AND CONTRACT A BIT. *TR

FUEL TANK DEVELOPED VISIBLE "BUBBLE". *TR

MY PLASTIC FUEL TANK EXPANDS AND DEFORMS, A PHENOMENON SUPPOSEDLY CAUSED BY A CHEMICAL REACTION OF THE PLASTIC TANK TO THE ETHANOL IN THE FUEL (THIS PROBLEM SEEMS ONLY TO OCCUR FOR THE BIKES THAT ARE IN THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE OTHER COUNTRIES APPARENTLY DO NOT HAVE ETHANOL IN THE GAS). THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. THERE ARE OVER 100 COMPLAINTS FILED IN THIS NHTSA SITE, MOSTLY WITH THE SPORT CLASSIC LINE, BUT ALSO WITH THE MONSTER, HYPERMOTARD, AND SUPERBIKE LINES AS WELL. ANY OF DUCATI'S BIKES WITH PLASTIC FUEL TANKS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE. ON A POPULAR WEBSITE, DUCATI.MS, 238 SPORT CLASSIC OWNERS STATED THEY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TANK EXPANDING. THE CONCERN IS THAT EVEN THE REPLACEMENT TANKS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY SECOND TANK HAS ALSO DEFORMED AND NOW I AM SEEKING A THIRD TANK FROM DUCATI. THE WORRY FOR ALL SPORT CLASSIC OWNERS IS THAT SOON DUCATI WILL STOP HONORING THESE CLAIMS AS OUR WARRANTY PERIODS HAVE ENDED. THE SPORT CLASSICS WERE SUCH LIMITED EDITION BIKES, THAT THERE IS ALSO CONCERN THAT DUCATI WILL NOT MANUFACTURE ANY MORE REPLACEMENT TANKS. BUT ONCE AGAIN, THE FRUSTRATION IS THAT TO THIS DATE, DUCATI STILL HAS NOT INTRODUCED A REPLACEMENT PLASTIC FUEL TANK THAT WILL NOT EXPAND. AGAIN, ALTHOUGH THIS PROBLEM IS MOST PREVALENT FOR OWNERS OF THE SPORT CLASSIC LINE, DEALERS INFORM ME THEY ARE SEEING SIMILAR PROBLEMS NOW WITH ALL DUCATI BIKES EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC FUEL TANKS, SOMETHING DUCATI NEVER DID BEFORE, INTRODUCING THEM IN 2006. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED WITH HOPES THAT THE NHTSA CAN MAKE SURE DUCATI CONTINUES TO DEVELOP A REPLACEMENT TANK THAT WILL NOT DEFORM (AGAIN THE REPLACEMENT TANKS NOW ARE NO BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL ONES). AND UNTIL THEY DO THAT, I HOPE THE NHTSA CAN PERSUADE DUCATI TO CONTINUE TO REPLACE THESE PROBLEM TANKS, REGARDLESS OF WHEN THE BIKE WAS PURCHASED, AND TO SPECIFICALLY PROVIDE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THOSE REPLACEMENTS. *TR

1) THE PLASTIC GAS TANK HAS "SPREAD" OR DEFORMED AND NO LONGER MOUNTS TO THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME CORRECTLY. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE TANK COULD COME LOOSE. 2) THE SPREADING SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY FUEL CONTAINING ETHANOL AND ONCE THE TANK HAS SPREAD IT DOES NOT RETURN TO THE ORIGINAL SHAPE. 3) DUCATI IS CURRENTLY REPLACING TANKS, BUT FOR HOW LONG? THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE MY TANK, BUT THE REPLACEMENT TANK WOULD NOT BE AUTOGRAPHED (THE ORIGINAL TANK IS AUTOGRAPHED WHICH ADDS TO THE VALUE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. DUCATI PAID TO HAVE THE MOTORCYCLE RACER COME TO THE US AND AUTOGRAPH THE TANKS IN ORDER TO SELL THE MOTORCYCLES - SO THEY ADDED THE VALUE). I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL, DEFORMED TANK. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I HAVE A 2006 DUCATI SPORT1000 MOTORCYCLE [XXX] [XXX] WITH A FUEL TANK WHICH HAS BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE MOUNTING TO THE FRAME OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS DUE TO A WELL KNOWN DEFECT ON DUCATI SPORT CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES, IN WHICH THE FUEL TANK SLOWLY SPREADS APART, SO THAT THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER PROPERLY ENGAGE. THIS IS BOTH A SAFETY AND EMISSIONS RISK. THIS DEFECT WAS DOCUMENTED IN MY MOTORCYCLE BY DUCATI SEATTLE ON MARCH 5, 2010, BUT THE DESIGN FLAW IS KNOWN TO HAVE EXISTED FROM THE DATE OF MANUFACTURE. *TR

I HAVE A MOTORCYCLE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE CONNECTOR: NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V017000 COMPONENT: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS BECAUSE OF AN OVERSIGHT BY EITHER DUCATI NORTH AMERICA, OR THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY MOTORCYCLE, EASTSIDE MOTORSPORTS, OR WHERE I HAD RECENTLY HAD SERVICE, DUCATI SEATTLE, I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE RECALL. INSTEAD, MY ENGINE FAILED WHILE ON A CURVED ON-RAMP, WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS. NOBODY KNOWS WHY I WASN'T INFORMED, OR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. *TR

AFTER ONLY 3000 MILES, THE GAS TANK WARPS AND SPREADS UNTIL IT IS NOT SECURE ON THE FRAME. THIS IS POSSIBLY DUE TO GAS INTERACTIONS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY DUCATI. *TR

THE FUEL TANK ON MY DUCATI MOTORCYCLE IS SPREADING AND HAS FALLEN OFF INTO FRAME MOUNT ON THE LEFT SIDE AND IS COMING CLOSE TO FALLING OFF ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE SPORTCLASSIC SERIES. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR DEFORMATION AT THE FUEL PUMP SUMP. I'M WORRIED ABOUT LEAKS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. *TR

THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK ON MY MOTORCYCLE EXPANDED, 'BUBBLED' AND WARPED TO A POINT THAT IT WAS UNSAFELY ATTACHED TO MOTORCYCLE. THE DEALER REPLACED FUEL TANK WITH AN IDENTICAL COPY, WHICH WORRIES ME ABOUT FUTURE ISSUES. *TR