RoadVitals

2008 Ducati 848 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
9
Latest Apr 8, 2013
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
75%
of 12 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Ducati 848 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Apr 8, 2013

THE RADIATOR DEVELOPED A LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10505587
Incident
Apr 5, 2013
Mileage
8,800 mi
EngineFuel systemSteering
Filed Sep 20, 2012

FAILURE OF GAS TANK. GAS TANK SEEMS TO UNDERGO CHANGES OVER TIME A USE. THE CHANGES ARE, SWELLING, LEAKING, INTERNAL FAILURE, DAMAGE TO FUEL SYSTEM. SWELLING CAUSES INABILITY TO TURN HANDLE BARS TO MOVE TO FULL TURN. LEAKING CAUSES HARMFUL GAS FUMES TO BE CONSUMED BY RIDER WHICH CAN LEAD TO CANCER AND OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS, FIRE OR EXPLOSION IS ALSO A PROBLEM. INTERNAL FAILURE ALSO CAUSES THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT ALSO THE INSIDE OF THE TANKS ALSO UNDERGO FLEX AND CAUSE CRACKING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE TANKS. DAMAGE TO FUEL SYSTEM FROM THE MATERIALS THAT MIX AND FALL INTO THE TANK. THIS CAN CLOG THE FUEL LINES CAUSING INJECTOR FAILURE OR EVEN ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10476533
Incident
Sep 14, 2012
Mileage
7,400 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 19, 2012

ON THE TOP LEFT SIDE OF RADIATOR MOUNT CRACKED AND STARTS TO LEAK. I HEARD FROM MY FRIENDS, DEALER AND RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND DUCATI.ORG FORUM. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2008 DUCATI 848 AND MANY OTHERS WERE SAYING THIS IS THE FACTORY FAILURE AND KNOWN DEFECT. RADIATOR LEAK CAUSED BY WEAKENED MOUNTING BRACKET. THIS DESIGN FLAW IS DUE TO EXTRA WEIGHT PLACED ON THE LEFT SIDE MOUNTING BRACKET FROM THE BATTERY MOUNTED ON THE SAME BRACKET. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AS IT CAUSED EXTREMELY HOT COOLANT TO SPRAY OUT OF THE LEFT FAIRING ON TO THE RIDER'S LEG, IN ADDITION TO CAUSING A CRASH DUE TO LUBRICATED FLUID BEING EXPELLED UNDER THE BIKE WHICH COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR TIRE AND THE ROAD. THIS ITEM NEEDS A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE. *JS

NHTSA ID
10455821
Incident
Apr 6, 2012
Mileage
2,800 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 15, 2011
Crash reported

RADIATOR LEAK CAUSED BY WEAKENED MOUNTING BRACKET. THIS DESIGN FLAW IS DUE TO EXTRA WEIGHT PLACED ON THE LEFT SIDE MOUNTING BRACKET FROM THE BATTERY MOUNTED ON THE SAME BRACKET. THIS IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD AS IT CAUSED EXTREMELY HOT COOLANT TO SPRAY OUT OF THE LEFT FAIRING ON TO THE RIDER'S LEG, IN ADDITION TO CAUSING A CRASH DUE TO LUBRICATED FLUID BEING EXPELLED UNDER THE BIKE WHICH COMPROMISED THE INTEGRITY OF THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE REAR TIRE AND THE ROAD. THIS ITEM NEEDS A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10419529
Incident
Aug 3, 2011
Mileage
6,180 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 12, 2011

MY 2008 DUCATI 848 (WHICH ONLY HAS 4100 MILES ON IT) DEVELOPED A RADIATOR LEAK ON THE REAR-LEFT UPPER SIDE OF THE RADIATOR. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP THE LEAK. MY BIKE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR TWO WEEKS AND WAS NOT TOUCHED BY ANYONE. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS ISSUE, RIDERS MAY BE IN DANGER AS RADIATOR FLUID MAY LEAK ONTO THE FRONT TIRE AND/OR FRONT BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10418638
Incident
Aug 11, 2011
Mileage
4,103 mi
Engine
Filed May 19, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 DUCATI 848 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING ABNORMALLY FROM THE REAR. THERE WAS NO ROAD HAZARD THAT CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO FAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER WITHIN THE NEXT TWO DAYS FOR INSPECTION AND POSSIBLE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,600.

NHTSA ID
10402068
Incident
May 17, 2011
Mileage
3,600 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 18, 2010

1. MY 2008 DUCATI 848 MOTORCYCLE DEVELOPED A RADIATOR LEAK. THERE ARE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OTHER THAN NORMAL RIDING. MY MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. 2. THE FAILURE IS A LEAKING RADIATOR. CONSEQUENCES ARE HIGHER RISK OF CRASH (DUE TO SLICK FLUID EMANATING FROM THE MACHINE), AND MASSIVE ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO OVERHEATING. 3. NO REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY OUT OF SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10350464
Incident
Aug 18, 2010
Mileage
4,700 mi
Engine
Filed May 4, 2010

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND 170F-215F DEGREE HOT COOLANT/ANTIFREEZE BEGAN BLOWING ONTO MY LEG. THE RADIATOR ON MY 2008 DUCATI 848 WITH ONLY 4,000 MILES, WHICH IS A KNOWN DUCATI 848 PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO RECALL, BEGAN TO LEAK FROM THE UPPER LEFT BRACKET AREA. CALLED DUCATI NORTH AMERICA AND THEY WERE NOT VERY FRIENDLY AND LESS THAN WILLING TO OFFER A SOLUTION. WILL EVENTUALLY BE A INJURY OR CRASH DUE TO THIS COOLANT/RADIATOR LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10328877
Incident
May 4, 2010
Mileage
4,318 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 25, 2009

I OWN A 2008 DUCATI 848 MOTORCYCLE. IT HAS ONLY 4000 MILES ON IT AND THE RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING. THE LEAK ON THE RADIATOR IS LOCATED ON TOP OF THE RADIATOR WHERE RADIATOR MOUNTING BRACKET IS LOCATED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS DEFECT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE RADIATOR IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE MOTORCYCLE WHERE 80 PERCENT OF BRAKING IS MOSTLY DONE AND ALSO STEERING. I INFORMED DEALERSHIP ABOUT LEAK AND THEY SAID IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED RADIATOR FROM ITALY AND WAIT TIMES VARY FROM A WEEK TO 3-4 WEEKS (EVEN MORE WHEN DUCATI GOES ON THEIR 1MONTH VACATION). I WAS ALSO TOLD BY SERVICE DIRECTOR OF DEALERSHIP THAT PART IS NOT AN UPDATED RADIATOR. CONTACTED DUCATI OF NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SEEM OBLIVIOUS OF MY COMPLAINT. I AM A MEMBER OF A FEW MOTORCYCLE FORUMS AND MOST 848 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM (SOME OF THEM HAVE INSTALLED THEIR SECOND RADIATOR DUE TO THE DAME PROBLEM). I AM STILL WAITING ON MY RADIATOR AND IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 1 WEEK (WENT TO DEALERSHIP ON JULY 16TH). *TR

NHTSA ID
10278288
Incident
Jul 13, 2009
Mileage
4,380 mi

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 .