RoadVitals

2005 Bigdog Ridgeback Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
12
Latest Oct 27, 2014
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 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

  • Other / unspecified750.0%
  • Electrical321.4%
  • Brakes214.3%
  • Powertrain (other)17.1%
  • Tires & wheels17.1%

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

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

7
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V147000 (WHEELS: CENTER SECTION) IN JUNE 2009. HE STATED THAT HE WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE REPLACEMENT WHEEL WOULD BE ARRIVING SOON IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE PART NEVER ARRIVED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE POTENTIAL OF THE REAR WHEEL FRACTURING FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSING DAMAGE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,400. UPDATED 01/21/11 *BF UPDATED 04/04/11

NHTSA ID 10355147 · filed Sep 13, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLE. HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V147000: WHEELS: CENTER SECTION) ON MAY 29, 2009. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A RECALL REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMED HIM EACH TIME THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER VERIFIED THE THAT PARTS MAY POSSIBLY BE ON BACK ORDER FOR SIX MONTHS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO ADDRESS THE FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID 10321531 · filed Mar 23, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE EHC FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ID 10650263 · filed Oct 27, 2014

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 2004 BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES HAVE A SAFETY RECALL FOR POWER FAILURES WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING OPERATED. I HAVE A 2005 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. PLEASE RESEARCH TO SEE IF OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. [XXX] *TR

NHTSA ID 10334071 · filed Jun 1, 2010

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2005 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK, MULTIPLE PROBLEMS BEGAN TO ARISE. THE BIKE WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON, ALSO IT HAD AN EVER INCREASING SQUEAL THAT EVENTUALLY BECAME LOUDER THAN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER THAT THE BIKE WAS PURCHASED FROM WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE ISSUES AND WAS DISHONEST ABOUT THE SERVICE THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO. EVENTUALLY THAT DEALER REFUNDED THE MONEY FOR MY FIRST SERVICE AND PAID ME BACK FOR MOST OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO MY BIKE. OBVIOUSLY I NO LONGER WISH TO BRING MY BIKE THERE FOR SERVICE. AFTER REALIZING THAT THERE WERE NO FACTORY SERVICE CENTERS WITHIN A REASONABLE DISTANCE, I CONTACTED THE BIG DOG FACTORY AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. I EVEN TRAILERED THE BIKE TO DAYTONA WHERE THE FACTORY MECHANIC DID A NON-APPROVED REPAIR ON THE SQUEAL, BUT THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SINCE DAYTONA THE FACTORY HAS FAILED TO REMEDY MY PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE FRONT AND REAR HUB BOLTS ARE COMING LOOSE, THE ENGINE STILL SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY, AND THE RE-MACHINING OF THE FRONT PULLEY COULD LEAD TO A BELT FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I'T APPEARS THAT SEVERAL OF MY BIKES ISSUES WERE ACTUALLY RECALLS THAT BOTH THE DEALER AND THE FACTORY HAVE IGGNORED. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS BIKE IS UNSAFE!!!! *JB

NHTSA ID 10186711 · filed Apr 2, 2007

THE TWO BOLTS HOLDING THE FRONT CALIPER ON MY 2005 BIGDOG RIDGEBACK BACKED OUT. I DISCOVERED IT AFTER RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE TWO BOLTS HAD BACKED OUT TO WHERE THEY WERE BEING HELD BY A COUPLE OF THREADS. I THEN REMOVED THE BOLTS, AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO" LOCKTITE" APPLIED TO EITHER OF THE BOLTS. IF THE FRONT CALIPER FALLS OFF WHILE RIDING, IT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. I PURCHASED SOME "LOCKTITE", AND APPLIED IT TO THE BOLT THREADS, AND REINSTALLED THE BOLTS. *JB

NHTSA ID 10159108 · filed Jun 6, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2005 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK, MULTIPLE PROBLEMS BEGAN TO ARISE. THE BIKE WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON, ALSO IT HAD AN EVER INCREASING SQUEAL THAT EVENTUALLY BECAME LOUDER THAN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER THAT THE BIKE WAS PURCHASED FROM WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE ISSUES AND WAS DISHONEST ABOUT THE SERVICE THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO. EVENTUALLY THAT DEALER REFUNDED THE MONEY FOR MY FIRST SERVICE AND PAID ME BACK FOR MOST OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO MY BIKE. OBVIOUSLY I NO LONGER WISH TO BRING MY BIKE THERE FOR SERVICE. AFTER REALIZING THAT THERE WERE NO FACTORY SERVICE CENTERS WITHIN A REASONABLE DISTANCE, I CONTACTED THE BIG DOG FACTORY AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. I EVEN TRAILERED THE BIKE TO DAYTONA WHERE THE FACTORY MECHANIC DID A NON-APPROVED REPAIR ON THE SQUEAL, BUT THIS IS A TEMPORARY FIX THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. SINCE DAYTONA THE FACTORY HAS FAILED TO REMEDY MY PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE FRONT AND REAR HUB BOLTS ARE COMING LOOSE, THE ENGINE STILL SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY, AND THE RE-MACHINING OF THE FRONT PULLEY COULD LEAD TO A BELT FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I'T APPEARS THAT SEVERAL OF MY BIKES ISSUES WERE ACTUALLY RECALLS THAT BOTH THE DEALER AND THE FACTORY HAVE IGGNORED. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS BIKE IS UNSAFE!!!! *JB

NHTSA ID 10186711 · filed Apr 2, 2007

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

1 HAVE AN AVON TIRE 300 AV72 THAT HAS THE TREAD SEPARATING DOWN THE CENTER OF THE TIRE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS TIRE HAS DONE THIS TO ME WITH LESS THAN 3000 MILES HOW MANY COMPLAINTS WILL IT TAKE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED WITH ONE OF THESE TIRES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TT

NHTSA ID 10422289 · filed Aug 27, 2011

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

Data on this page last refreshed .