2009 Ducati 848

After opening this PE, ODI gathered information from involved owners, Ducati dealers, and Ducati North America personnel.We were particularly interested in ascertaining how much hot coolant was leaking and whether it had the potential to burn the rider and/or wash the rear tire contact patch.On November 23, 2010, using a complaint radiator installed in a MY 2010 Ducati 848, we observed the subject leakage noting its consistency with what we were told by various dealers and owners.Over the course of 15 minutes, after reaching operating temperature, we noted the volume of leaked coolant to be de minimis.In the absence of alleged lower extremity burns and/or loss of rear tire traction (let alone, crashes), this supports a finding that no defect trend currently exists involving alleged coolant leakage from the subject radiator(s).Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.The Agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action if warranted in the future.

AFTER COMING HOME FROM A RIDE, I NOTICED THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING COOLANT FROM A PINSIZED HOLE. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR FINDINGS WITH THEIR RADIATORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550490

Incident

Oct 24, 2013

THE RADIATOR HAS A LEAK UNDER THE LEFT MOUNTING BRACKET ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE RADIATOR. THIS HAS CAUSED EXTREMELY HOT COOLANT TO SPRAY OUT THE LEFT VENT ONTO THE RIDERS LEG. ALSO COOLANT HAS COVERED THE FRONT WHEEL AND BRAKES, LEFT FORK AND FOGGED OUT THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT. THIS IS A KNOWN COMPLICATION WITH THIS MODEL BIKE, WITH HUNDREDS OF DOCUMENTED CASES. MY BIKE HAS LESS THEN 6000 MILES, WITH NO ACCIDENTS, AND NO DAMAGE TO THE RADIATOR. THIS LEAK AT THE LEFT MOUNTING BRACKET IS KNOWN TO DUCATI, BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO HELP WITH THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10487639

Incident

Nov 29, 2012

Mileage

5,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DUCATI 848 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH AND ABOVE, THE FUEL TANK WOULD SHAKE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE PLASTIC MATERIAL USED DURING MANUFACTURING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,200. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10418651

Incident

Jul 25, 2011

Mileage

4,200 mi

ONE DAY RIDING HOME FROM WORK I STARTED TO FEEL LIKE MY KNEE WAS BURNING. I LOOKED DOWN TO MY LEFT KNEE AND SAW THAT IT WAS GETTING WET AND WAS BURNING FROM SOMETHING HOT. PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT I WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THE COOLANT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS COMING OUT OF THE COOLANT HOSE. I HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO THE DEALER SHIP THAT I WORK AT. I REMOVED THE FAIRING TO CHECK WHERE IT WAS LEAKING FROM. SAW THAT IT WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE RADIATOR. TRIED TO GET SOME HELP FROM THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY JUST KEPT TRYING TO SAY THAT IT WAS MY FAULT. THE FIRST THING THEY TOLD ME IS THAT IT WAS A STONE THAT HIT THE RADIATOR. WHEN THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THE STONE I WANTED THEM TO SHOW ME WHERE THE STONE HIT BUT THEY COULDN'T SHOW IT TO ME AND BEFORE TAKING THE BIKE DOWN TO THE DEALER I HAD THE RADIATOR PRESSURE TESTED AND FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE LEFT UPPER HANGER SPOT WELD. AFTER THEY COULDN'T SHOW ME I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD IT PRESSURE TESTED AND IT SEEMED TO MAKE THEM MAD AND THEN THEY STARTED TO SAY THAT I DROPPED THE BIKE AND I ASKED THEM THE SAME THING AS BEFORE AND THEY COULDN'T SHOW ME WHERE IT HAD SIGNS THAT IT HAD FALLEN. THEN THEY SEEMED TO GET EVEN MORE MAD. I CALLED DUCATI OF NORTH AMERICA AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPEN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE SORRY FOR WHAT HAPPENED AND THAT THEY WOULD HELP ME OUT BUT THAT I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TO THAT DEALER SO THEY COULD CHECK IT OUT AGAIN. BUT I WASN'T GOING TO HAVE IT TOWED DOWN THERE AGAIN AT THAT POINT I COULD'VE BOUGHT A NEW RADIATOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IN MARCH I LOOKED UP THE PRICE FOR A NEW ONE AND IT WAS $548 AND NOW ITS GONE UP TO $948 AND THE PART NUMBER HAS CHANGED TO 54840742B FROM 54840741B. EVEN WHEN I TALKED TO THE PERSON AT DUCATI HE TOLD ME THAT THEY KNEW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATORS THAT ARE IN THE 1098 AND THE 848. AND AS FOR MY KNEE I HAD TO BUY A BURN CREAM SO IT WOULDN'T HURT FROM THE BURN AND THE GLYCOL IN THE COOLANT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10409144

Incident

Apr 21, 2011

Mileage

20,548 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 DUCATI 848 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED A READING OF 205 DEGREES AS HE NOTICED COOLANT FLUID LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT COOLANT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM A SPOT WELD ON THE LEFT SIDE HANGER. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10407787

Incident

Apr 21, 2011

Mileage

22,500 mi

1. NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN. 2. RADIATOR LEAK. COOLANT SPLASHES ALL OVER LEFT SIDE FAIRINGS. 3. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY'LL REPLACE RADIATOR UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID IT MIGHT TAKE A MONTH FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10284632

Incident

Sep 19, 2009

Mileage

3,800 mi

I JUST BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2009 DUCATI SPORT 1000 MOTORCYCLE. HAVE PUT ABOUT 160 MILES ON THE BIKE AND PARKED IT OUTSIDE WORK FOR 2 HOURS IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. THE GAS TANK WAS HALF FULL. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE BIKE THE TANK HAD EXPANDED APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND 1 INCH FROM FRONT TO BACK. IT STARTED TO LOOK LIKE THE SHAPE OF A BANANA. THE TANK WAS COMPLETELY LOOSE ENOUGH TO LIFT OFF THE FRAME. I OPENED THE GAS TANK AND A GUSH OF AIR ESCAPED AND THE TANK SHRUNK BACK DOWN ABOUT 75% WHICH LEFT CREASES IN THE TANKS SURFACE ALONG WITH RIPPLES IN THE SURFACE. IF I WAS RIDING WHEN THIS OCCURRED I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED! THE BIKE HAS ONLY BEEN REFUELED ONCE WITH 93 OCTANE PREMIUM FUEL. I HAVE PICTURES AVAILABLE THAT WERE TAKEN AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10264993

Incident

Apr 10, 2009

Mileage

160 mi

Procedure for Assessing Front Fork Oil Leaks. Applicability: All Models. This service repair bulletin informs dealers and service managers of the assessment criteria for identifying front fork-related defects. The purpose is prevent technicians from mistaking oozing oil or assembly grease, for legitimate defects. The bulletin further provides examples and pictures for clarification.

Guided Diagnosis for Front Brake System Bleeding. Applicability: All Models. This Service Bulletin replaces and cancels the previous bulletin SRV-SRB-20-014 published on 4/17/2020. It provides dealers and service managers with needed information to correctly bleed the front brake system of the various Ducati models. This bulletin further refers the reader to an attached diagnosis guide. The referenced guide/annex is available to NHTSA upon request.

Finial Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions. Applicability: All Models and Model Years (except XDiavel). This Service Bulletin replaces and cancels the previous bulletins: SRV-SRB-18-030 published on 05/11/2018, SRV-SRB-19-046 published on 12/31/2019, SRV-SRB-20-050 published on 11/24/2020. It provides dealers and service managers additional final drive chain care to ensure optimum performance and longevity for the chain. this includes cleaning, lubricating, inspecting and tension guidelines.

Procedure for Analysis and Control of Oil and Coolant Leaks from Engine_Rev.01. Applicability: All Models. This service repair bulletin instructs dealers and service managers on authorized procedures for identifying and isolating coolant and engine oil leaks. The use of a prescribed leak trace powder is stressed. This bulletin includes service instructions.

Precautions to Follow During Crankcase Cleaning. Applicability: All Models. This service bulletin informs dealers and service managers about precautions in using abrasive cleaners for engine component sealant, and in particular the crankcase covers. The bulletin further provides cleaning instructions with approved cleaning tools.

Procedure for Analysis and Control of Oil and Coolant Leaks from Engine. Applicability: All Models. This service bulletin provides dealers and service managers with troubleshooting guidance for oil or coolant leaks. This bulletin includes service instructions.