2013 MOTO GUZZI NORGE 1200 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

SUSPENSION:REAR

Piaggio Group Americas (Piaggio) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Moto Guzzi Stelvio NTX 1200 motorcycles manufactured February 6, 2012, through April 10, 2013; and model year 2012-2013 Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 motorcycles manufactured January 25, 2012, through March 21, 2013; and model year 2012-2013 Moto Guzzi Griso 1200 motorcycles manufactured January 26, 2012, through April 29, 2013. Due to a manufacturing fault, the rear suspension connecting links could fracture.

Remedy: Piaggio will notify owners, and Moto Guzzi dealers will replace the rear suspension connecting links on the affected vehicles, free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2013. Owners may contact Piaggio at 1-877-696-6864.

680 vehicles affected

THE MOTO GUZZI NORGE IS MANUFACTURED WITH A PLASTIC FUEL TANK. THE FUEL TANK HAS DEFORMED TO THE POINT THAT IT NO LONGER FITS PROPERLY ONTO THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DEFORMATION HAS RESULTING IN THE BODY PANELS, FAIRING PANELS AND ELECTRICAL WIRING COVER PANELS BEING PUSHED PUSHED OUT OF POSITION AND MUST NOW BE HELD IN PLACE USING ZIP TIES INSTEAD OF THE BOLTS DESIGNED TO HOLD THEM IN PLACE. THE TANK HAS SWELLED IN ALL DIRECTIONS AND ALSO GREATER IN CERTAIN AREAS SO THAT LARGE BUMPS ARE VISIBLE AND CAN ALSO BE FELT BY TOUCH. THE DEFORMATION UNDERNEATH THE FUEL TANK HAS RESULTED IN INTERFERENCE WITH PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO CONTROL SYSTEMS AS WELL AS INTERFERING WITH THE TURNING OF THE HANDLEBARS TO THEIR MAXIMUM POINTS. ONE PORTION OF THE FUEL TANK HAS EITHER DEFORMED OR BECOME OTHERWISE AFFECTED SO THAT THE COLOR OF THE FUEL TANK HAS GIVEN WAY TO A DARK SPOT OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AS MANY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS OF THIS BRAND THAT USE PLASTIC FUEL TANKS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. MOTO GUZZI SOURCED THESE FUEL TANKS FROM THE SAME SOURCE THAT PROVIDED PLASTIC FUEL TANKS TO DUCATI FOR WHICH A RECALL WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE PLASTIC FUEL TANKS. BODY PANELS, ELECTRICAL WIRING COVERS AND FAIRING PARTS HELD IN PLACE VIA ZIP TIES CAN BE DANGEROUS SINCE THEY CAN BREAK OR OTHERWISE BECOME DAMAGED ALLOWING THESE PARTS TO SEPARATE FROM THE MOTORCYCLE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE TO THE RIDER AND OTHERS ON THE ROADWAYS. THE INTERFERENCE WITH THE MOTORCYCLE'S CONTROLS AND STEERING PRESENT A DANGER TO THE RIDER AND OTHERS ON THE ROADWAYS SINCE THAT AFFECTS THE OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DEFORMATION OF THE FUEL TANK CAUSES A LOSS OF VALUE TO THE OWNER BECAUSE IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT. THE TANK DEFORMATION APPEARS TO HAVE DAMAGED OTHER BODY PARTS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN BENT OR OTHERWISE DEFORMED BY THE PRESSURE FROM THE TANK.

THERE IS A GROANING NOISE COMING FROM THE CLUTCH AREA OF THE MOTORCYCLE THE CLUTCH LEVER IS ALSO HARDER TO PULL THAN USUAL AND WILL SOMETIMES NOT FULLY ENGAGE CAUSING DIFFICULTY DOWNSHIFTING AND UP-SHIFTING. THE NOISE IS MORE OF A SQUEAL AND IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT ALSO THE CLUTCH IS NOT MORE JERKY AS OPPOSED TO BEING SMOOTH. *TR