2005 Bigdog Pitbull Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Bigdog Pitbull, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical337.5%
- Tires & wheels225.0%
- Brakes112.5%
- Engine112.5%
- Fuel system112.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BIG DOG PITBULL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER; THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND OTHER TIMES, THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROLLER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN; THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER MANUFACTURING THE CONTROLLER AND WERE WORKING ON THE PART THAT WOULD REPLACE IT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BIG DOG PITBULL MOTORCYCLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V305000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL REMEDY REPAIR. THERE WERE CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY ISSUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,242. UPDATED 04-15-10 *BF UPDATED 07/07/10.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I RECENTLY PURCHASED AN AVON COBRA MOTORCYCLE TIRE (300/35R18). IN LESS THAN 2000 MILES OF NORMAL RIDING CONDITIONS, THE CENTER OF THE TIRE IS BEGINNING TO "ERODE" OFF THE TIRE. I DON'T SPIN OR BURNOUT, YET THE CENTER OF THE TIRE NOW HAS A 2" TO 3" WIDE SECTION THAT APPEARS TO BE VANISHING AND HAS ACTUALLY LEFT A GROOVE IN MY TIRE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE RIDING THIS TIRE AND HAVE "GROUNDED" MY BIKE UNTIL I CAN GET ANOTHER TIRE. THE AVON VENOM TIRE I HAD BEFORE THIS GOT CLOSE TO 10000 MILES BEFORE A CHANGE WAS REQUIRED. THE RUBBER ON THE AVON COBRA FEELS SOFT AND MUST BE OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL/CONTRUCTION THAN THE PREVIOUS AVON VENOM TIRES. I FEEL THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT OR FLAW IN THE MATERIALS USED TO MANUFACTURE THIS TIRE. MY OPTIONS FOR THIS SIZE TIRE ARE LIMITED AND MY PAST EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN POSITIVE WITH AVON. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEIR QUALITY BACK TO WHERE IT ONCE WAS WITH THE VENOM TIRES. *KB
I JUST GOT A LETTER ABOUT A RECALL ON MY 2005 BIGDOG MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS (4) TO CONTACT BIGDOG TO SEE IF I CAN TAKE IT ANYWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN THE DEALER WHICH IS ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY, PLUS I DO NOT TRUST THE DEALER (ROLLING THUNDER) TO DO THE WORK PROPERLY BECAUSE OF TERRIBLE WORK DONE IN THE PAST. I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: CONSUMER HAD PURCHASED A BIG DOG PIT BULL 2005 MOTORCYCLE ON MAY 16, 2005. FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM DID NOT PUMP FUEL THROUGH THE VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN AND NOT MOVE, ON JUNE 30, 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED, THE REPLACED VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE BACK DISC BRAKES LOCKED UP, THE BRAKE WAS SMOKING, VIN NUMBER WAS FOR THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, NONE OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AS OF NOW, WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK TO HIM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 2005 BIG DOG PIT BULL ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY DIED WHILE RIDING. *TS *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: CONSUMER HAD PURCHASED A BIG DOG PIT BULL 2005 MOTORCYCLE ON MAY 16, 2005. FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM DID NOT PUMP FUEL THROUGH THE VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN AND NOT MOVE, ON JUNE 30, 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED, THE REPLACED VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE BACK DISC BRAKES LOCKED UP, THE BRAKE WAS SMOKING, VIN NUMBER WAS FOR THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, NONE OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AS OF NOW, WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK TO HIM. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .