RoadVitals

2005 Bigdog Chopper Dt

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Aug 24, 2005
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest Aug 11, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2005 Bigdog Chopper Dt, most frequently naming the engine category. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 21 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Aug 11, 2006
2,101 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROL (EHC) MODULE CAN FAIL RESULTING IN A TOTAL SHUT DOWN OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC POWER.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EHC MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.
BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

STRUCTURE:MOTORCYCLE:KICKSTAND/CENTER STAND

Jan 25, 2006
9,726 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE KICKSTAND SPRING MAY STRETCH AND DETACH FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET OR THE KICKSTAND.
The risk: THIS WILL ALLOW THE KICKSTAND TO DEPLOY INTO THE EXTENDED POSITION AND CAUSE A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW KICKSTAND SPRING FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 17, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.
BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

Sep 28, 2005
3,294 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE REAR WHEEL HUB BOLTS COULD LOOSEN AND BACK OUT ALLOWING THE HUB AND BRAKE ROTOR TO DETACH FROM THE WHEEL WITH AN ASSOCIATED LOSS OF STOPPING POWER.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE, CLEAN AND REATTACH THE REAR HUB BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-312-267-9121.
BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Aug 24, 2005

DT: 2005 BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT A MOTORCYCLE AND WHEN HE PICKED IT UP AND DROVE IT LESS THAN ONE HOUR THERE WAS A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF WHITE SMOKE THAT WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE. TOOK MOTORCYCLE TO DEALER, AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE SMOKING PROBLEM. DROVE IT HOME, AND THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AGAIN. CALLED MANUFACTURER, AND THEY SAID TO BRING VEHICLE BACK AGAIN, THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED TO RE-OUT THE OIL HOSE THAT CAME OUT OF THE HEADS. THEY CHECKED THE HOSE, AND THAT WAS WHERE THE OIL WAS LEAKING OUT, AND IT WAS GOING THROUGH THE AIR BREATHER UNDERNEATH THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE BACK TIRE, DRIVE BELT. IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10134114
Incident
Aug 15, 2005
Mileage
42 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SIL-0008

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

BIG DOG MOTORCYCLE: ELECTRICAL SIDE COVER CONTACT WITH BELT GUARD. A WIRE BUNDLE MAY PROTRUDE INTO THE RIGHT ELECTRICAL SIDE COVER. *PE

SB-1106

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

BIGDOG MOTORCYCLE: NEW PRIMARY INSPECTION COVER GASKET. INSTALL NEW INSPECTION COVER GASKET ON ALL 2005-2008 BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES. *PE

SB-1102

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

BIGDOG MOTORCYCLE: HIDDEN SHOCK ELECTRICAL COVER HARDWARE REPLACEMENT. ELECTRICAL SIDE COVERS MAY CRACK OR BREAK. 243-000011-00 FOR ALL MODELS EXCEPT 2006 K9. 243-000013-00 FOR 2006 K9 MODEL. *PE

SB-1099

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

BIGDOG MOTORCYCLE: FUEL TANK VENT MAY BECOME FLOODED WITH FUEL, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO RUN POORLY DUE TO A FUEL MIXTURE THAT IS TOO RICH. *PE

1069

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

INTERMITTENT PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD OPERATION. *TT

1090

POWER TRAIN

ROUGH SHIFTING, OR NOISY TRANSMISSION CAUSED BY LOOSE TRANSMISSION COUNTERSHAFT SCREW. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Bigdog Chopper Dt by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005Viewing140
2004010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.