2004 Bigdog Ridgeback 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 2004 Bigdog Ridgeback, 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%
- Engine225.0%
- Brakes112.5%
- Suspension112.5%
- Transmission112.5%
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
APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF. NOW THE COMPANY IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, SO WHAT AM I TO DO? I HAVE NO HEADLIGHT, HORN, AND THE BIKE WON'T START. *TR
EHC MODULE ON 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLES, IT OCCURS EVERYTIME I TRY TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, THE ENGINE STALLED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND ALMOST DIDN'T GET OUT OF TRAFFIC, THE LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER SAFETY SIGNALS STOP WORKING AND I AM TOLD OTHER YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT 2004 AND THE PARTS TO FIX IT ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM BIG DOG MANUFACTURER SO I CANT EVEN FIX IT THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT REPLACING IT BUT REVAMPING IT AND I FEEL IT IS NOT FAIR TO ALL OWNERS THERE ARE AFTERMARKET PARTS BUT NO OEM PARTS AND I CANT TRUST MY LIFE WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS HOPING THEY WILL WORK, I HAVE THE MALFUNCTIONING PART STILL BUT NEED TO GET SOME ANSWERS AND BIG DOG IS NOT WILLING TO HELP CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHERS THAT ARE CONCERNED I FELL IT SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THEY ARE NOT EVEN MAKING THE PART AND SAY IT MAY BE MONTHS BEFORE THEY HAVE ANY PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE EHC MODULE THEY TRIED TO BLAME IT ON A LOOSE CONNECTION AND THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND CAUSED THE CONCERN FOR ME SINCE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM ESPECIALLY ON A MOTORCYCLE THIS IS HAPPENING ON THE 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLES, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW BUT IT IS AROUND 7500 THANKS. *TR
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS CAUTIOUSLY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING BETWEEN THIRTY MINUTES TO A HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER VOLUNTARY RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL HARNESS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE REPAIR ON FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE CAM SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM THE STALLING OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT SIGNAL LIGHTS AND WOULD STALL AFTER STARTING. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE VEHICLE IS FIXED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SALES DEALER HAD PRIVATE RIGHTS TO THE KEY SYSTEM SUCH AS THE ELECTRONICS/WIRING. NO OTHER DEALER INCLUDING THE AUTHORIZED DEALER COULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION OF THE SALES DEALER. THERE WAS A BATTERY ACID LEAK, THE DISC PADS AND ROTORS HAD WORN OUT, THE REAR ROCKER BOX LEAKED OIL, THERE WAS AN OIL PUMP LEAK, THE TRANSMISSION COVER LEAKED, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD, THERE WAS NOISE IN THE FRONT END, AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WITH NO START AND WHEN THE VEHICLE COOLED DOWN, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN NORMAL. *SC *JB
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
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM THE STALLING OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT SIGNAL LIGHTS AND WOULD STALL AFTER STARTING. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE VEHICLE IS FIXED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SALES DEALER HAD PRIVATE RIGHTS TO THE KEY SYSTEM SUCH AS THE ELECTRONICS/WIRING. NO OTHER DEALER INCLUDING THE AUTHORIZED DEALER COULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION OF THE SALES DEALER. THERE WAS A BATTERY ACID LEAK, THE DISC PADS AND ROTORS HAD WORN OUT, THE REAR ROCKER BOX LEAKED OIL, THERE WAS AN OIL PUMP LEAK, THE TRANSMISSION COVER LEAKED, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD, THERE WAS NOISE IN THE FRONT END, AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WITH NO START AND WHEN THE VEHICLE COOLED DOWN, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN NORMAL. *SC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM THE STALLING OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT SIGNAL LIGHTS AND WOULD STALL AFTER STARTING. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE VEHICLE IS FIXED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SALES DEALER HAD PRIVATE RIGHTS TO THE KEY SYSTEM SUCH AS THE ELECTRONICS/WIRING. NO OTHER DEALER INCLUDING THE AUTHORIZED DEALER COULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION OF THE SALES DEALER. THERE WAS A BATTERY ACID LEAK, THE DISC PADS AND ROTORS HAD WORN OUT, THE REAR ROCKER BOX LEAKED OIL, THERE WAS AN OIL PUMP LEAK, THE TRANSMISSION COVER LEAKED, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD, THERE WAS NOISE IN THE FRONT END, AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WITH NO START AND WHEN THE VEHICLE COOLED DOWN, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN NORMAL. *SC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM THE STALLING OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT SIGNAL LIGHTS AND WOULD STALL AFTER STARTING. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE VEHICLE IS FIXED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SALES DEALER HAD PRIVATE RIGHTS TO THE KEY SYSTEM SUCH AS THE ELECTRONICS/WIRING. NO OTHER DEALER INCLUDING THE AUTHORIZED DEALER COULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION OF THE SALES DEALER. THERE WAS A BATTERY ACID LEAK, THE DISC PADS AND ROTORS HAD WORN OUT, THE REAR ROCKER BOX LEAKED OIL, THERE WAS AN OIL PUMP LEAK, THE TRANSMISSION COVER LEAKED, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD, THERE WAS NOISE IN THE FRONT END, AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WITH NO START AND WHEN THE VEHICLE COOLED DOWN, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN NORMAL. *SC *JB
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 .