RoadVitals

1999 Bigdog Pitbull

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.
5
Latest Apr 9, 2003
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.
1
Latest Jan 15, 2002
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.
1
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 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Bigdog Pitbull, most frequently naming the body & structure and other / unspecified categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 2 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

  • Body & structure360.0%
  • Other / unspecified240.0%

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

1 campaign 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
02V016000

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

Jan 15, 2002
286 units potentially affected
The defect: ON SOME MOTORCYCLES, THE REAR FENDER FRONT MOUNTING TABS SECURING THE REAR FENDER CAN FRACTURE, CAUSING THE REAR FENDER TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE FRAME AND DROP ONTO THE REAR TIRE.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN TIRE DAMAGE AND UNINTENDED BRAKING ACTION.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WELDED TABS THAT PARTIALLY SUPPORT THE REAR FENDER, LOCATED UNDER THE SEAT, WITH TWO BOLTED-ON FENDER CLAMPS. THE FENDER WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE BIKE SO THAT THE MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE CLAMP CAN BE DRILLED AND THEN REINSTALLED WITH THE ADDITION OF A BACKING PLATE FOR ADDED RIGIDITY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-316-267-2597.
BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE01037ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

MOTORCYCLE SEAT SUPPORT

Opened Nov 2, 2001
Closed Jan 24, 2002

THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLE IS AN EXTREMELY LOW-VOLUME PRODUCTION MODEL IN A HARDTAIL (I.E., NO REAR SUSPENSION) CONFIGURATION.REPORTS INDICATE BRACKETS SECURING THE REAR FENDER/SEAT ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME.THE ASSEMBLY THEN COLLAPSED ONTO THE REAR TIRE.ON JANUARY 16, 2002, BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLC NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING THE SUBJECT VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM.

STRUCTURELed to recall 02V016000

Recent owner complaints

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

Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 9, 2003

WHILE DRIVING REAR TIRE FELL OFF. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10015540
Incident
Mar 12, 2002
Other / unspecified
Filed Mar 5, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT REAR WHEEL OF THE BIKE HAD 60 SPOKES. WHILE RIDING THE BIKE, THE 20+ SPOKES BROKE OFF.*JB

NHTSA ID
10009946
Incident
Dec 1, 2002
Mileage
4,100 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 8, 2002

EASY RIDER IN CENTER BEACH, NY. PHONE# 631/588-8885. ARE UNWILLING TO HONOR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015868
Incident
Apr 17, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Jun 13, 2002

NHTSA RECALL 02 V 016 000/REAR FENDER: DEALER(EASY RIDER, CENTEREACH,NY; PHONE# 631/588-8885) IS NOT INTERESTED IN HONORING RECALL NOTICE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

NHTSA ID
8011752
Incident
Apr 17, 2002
Body & structure
Filed Jan 8, 2000

FRAME WELDING BROKE LOOSE FROM UNDER THE SEAT THAT SUPPORTS THE REAR FENDER, CAUSING THE FENDER TO COLLAPSE INTO THE REAR TIRE, GOUGING THROUGH THE TREAD TO THE CORE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A BAD DESIGN DUE TO THE BRACKETS ARE WELDED ONLY ON ONE SIDE AND MOST OF THE BEED WAS ON THE FRAME, VERY LITTLE ON THE BRACKET THAT IS SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT THE RIDER, FENDER, AND SEAT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
558718

Manufacturer communications

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

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

1088

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN HARNESS WIRES MAY BREAK. *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 Pitbull by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008100—
2007000—
2006020—
2005750—
2004351—
2003000—
2002310—
2001000—
2000000—
1999Viewing511—
1998010—
1997000—

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.