2007 Ducati Monster S4RS Fuel system Problems

THIS DUCATI MONSTER S4RS MOTORCYCLE IS ONE OF THE MANY THAT EXPERIENCED DEFORMATION OF THE FUEL TANK AND COMPROMISE OF THE INTERNAL FUEL PUMP OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CAUSE OF THE DEFORMATION IS DUE TO INCOMPATIBILITY WITH FUEL ITSELF; VERY POSSIBLY ETHANOL IN PARTICULAR. THIS MOTORCYCLE'S GAS TANK WAS REPLACED LAST NOVEMBER. IT IS ALREADY IN NEED OF ANOTHER NEW TANK. THE COST OF A NEW ONE IS APPROXIMATELY $2500.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473832

Incident

Nov 11, 2011

Mileage

6,759 mi

THE FUEL TANK IS DEFORMING AND CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10443930

Incident

Jun 14, 2011

Mileage

10,366 mi

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND AND DISTORT. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME AND IT PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS NOW SERIOUSLY DISTORTED. PREVIOUSLY THE TANK WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW IT IS WEDGED TIGHTLY AGAINST THE IGNITION. THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER SIT ON THE FRAME PROPERLY SUCH THAT THE TANK IS NOT SUPPORTED ADEQUATELY AS IT WAS DESIGNED AND TESTED. I HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE EXCEPT FOR AN AFTERMARKET EXHAUST AND SOME COSMETIC CHANGES. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP AT ALL. I TOOK MY BIKE TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY) AND THEY REPLACED THE TANK. I WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON FOR THE TANK SWELLING. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW AS THE REPLACED TANK IS ENLARGED AND DISTORTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE PREVIOUS ONE AT ONLY 10050 MILES. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT MAY POSSIBLY SPLIT OPEN AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM RIDING OR WHEN PARKED INSIDE A BUILDING SPILLING GAS THAT COULD IGNITE OR THE TANK COULD SIMPLY FALL OFF THE BIKE. I HAVE TAKEN THE BIKE BACK TO THE DUCATI DEALER AND THEY HAVE SUBMITTED YET ANOTHER CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA TO REPLACE THE TANK WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED. HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE FUEL TANKS CAUSES DEATH OR INJURY? WE NEED A RECALL OF THESE TANKS AND SAFE NON SWELLING FUEL TANK REPLACEMENTS. DUCATI IS JUST RUNNING THE CLOCK OUT ON THEIR OBLIGATIONS. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD FUEL TANK ON THIS BIKE IN UNDER 11000 MILES OF USE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10424474

Incident

May 5, 2010

Mileage

6,600 mi

2007 DUCATI MONSTER S4RS PLASTIC TANK IS SWELLING. WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ONCE. NEW WARRANTED TANK HAS NOW SWELLED. DUCATI HAS THUS FAR, SAID IT IS ONLY A COSMETIC ISSUE. HOWEVER THERE ARE THE CHANCES OF THE TANK SPLITTING, SWELLING TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NOT LATCH DOWN OR SWELL TO THE POINT THAT IT PUSHES THE SEAT AND POSSIBLY UNLATCHING IT. *KB

NHTSA ID

10419683

Incident

Aug 16, 2011

Mileage

27,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DUCATI MONSTER S4RS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS SWELLING AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK ON TO THE MOTOR IN WHICH THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING THE SWELLING FUEL TANK BUT THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE THE CONTACT WITH ANY INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,800.

NHTSA ID

10395159

Incident

Apr 4, 2011

Mileage

7,800 mi

MOTORCYCLE GAS TANK EXPANDING, DUCATI S4RS 2007. *TR

NHTSA ID

10371006

Incident

Nov 1, 2010

Mileage

1,500 mi

NYLON MOTORCYCLE FUEL TANK EXPANDS & CHANGES DIMENSIONS WHEN E10 IS USED. NYLON ABSORBS WATER FROM E10. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369115

Incident

Jul 15, 2010

Mileage

8,000 mi

THE PLASTIC GAS TANK ON MY 2007 DUCATI MONSTER MODEL S4RS HAS BECOME DEFORMED TO THE POINT THAT THE GAS TANK MOUNTING CLAMP HAS BEEN OBSCURED SUCH THAT THE TANK CANNOT BE PROPERLY SECURED TO THE MOTORCYCLE, CREATING A RISK OF BECOMING LOOSE WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN OPERATION.

NHTSA ID

10367409

Incident

Nov 17, 2010

THE FUEL TANK ON MY 2007 DUCATI S4RS HAS EXPANDED TO THE POINT IT COULD NO LONGER FIT ON THE BIKE. THIS TANK WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM LESS THEN A YEAR AGO. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK REACTING THE FUEL. IT MAY BE RELATED TO ETHANOL IN THE FUEL. THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO REPLACE THE TANKS UNDER WARRANTY BUT I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE STARTED SINCE THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAD TO A TANK BEING UNLOCKED ON THE FRAME WITHOUT KNOWING IT. IN ADDITION THE FUEL LINES CAN LEAK DUE TO THE SHIFTING OF THE TANK AND THIS CAN LEAD TO FUEL SPILLING ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST LEADING TO FIRE. DUCATI SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REDESIGN THE TANK EITHER IN A BETTER PLASTIC OR METAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10362668

Incident

Oct 23, 2010

Mileage

6,800 mi

MOTORCYCLE PLASTIC GAS TANK HAS EXPANDED. THE FAILURE IS DUE TO INCOMPATIBILITY OF MATERIALS AND FUEL ADDITIVES. COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, CONTROL INTERFERENCE, POSSIBLE CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10357494

Incident

Sep 20, 2010

Mileage

9,000 mi

FUEL TANK HAS INCREASED IN SIZE AND SHAPE IS DEFORMED. TANK SUPPORTS TO FRAME OF MOTORCYCLE ARE PUSHED AWAY FROM FRAME. TANK IS IN CONTACT WITH STEERING HEAD OF MOTORCYCLE. LATCH TO REMOVE TANK IS JAMMED INTO IGNITION SWITCH. THESE ISSUES ARE A SAFETY CONCERN IF LATCH OR TANK SUPPORTS FAIL. LATCH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF TANK. TANK COULD BE LIFTED UP AND BACK WHILE RIDING IF LATCH FAILS. TANK IS MADE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL. SIZE INCREASE AND DEFORMATION APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY ABSORPTION OF WATER/ETHANOL DUE TO PHASE SEPARATION OF GASOLINE AND ETHANOL. REPLACEMENT TANKS FROM DUCATI ARE MADE OF SAME MATERIAL. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR UNLESS NEW TANKS ARE LINED OR MADE OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353209

Incident

Aug 15, 2010

Mileage

8,500 mi

MY 2007 DUCATI S4RS MOTORCYCLE FUEL TANK SWELLED TO THE POINT IT WAS NOT RESTING SECURELY ON THE FRAME, THE BARS WOULD CONTACT IT BEFORE FULL LEFT OR RIGHT TURNING MOVEMENT, IT PUSHED AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THE FUEL TANK LATCH TO NOT ENGAGE, AND THE PAINT CRACKED OFF. DUCATI UNOFFICIALLY CLAIMS (LEARNED FROM MY DEALER) THAT ETHANOL IN AMERICAN GAS IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR FUEL SEEPAGE AND FIRE ALONG WITH THE TANK BECOMING DISLODGED WHILE RIDING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10351474

Incident

Jul 6, 2010

Mileage

5,000 mi

FUEL TANK IS PLASTIC AND APPEARS TO HAVE A REACTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CAUSING THE MATERIAL TO SWELL IN ALL DIMENSIONS. THIS CAUSES THE TANK MOUNTING TO BECOME HIGHLY STRESSED, UNSEATED AND UNSTABLE. THE TANK IS INTERFERING WITH THE STEERING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349350

Incident

Aug 1, 2010

Mileage

8,610 mi

DUCATI MOTORCYCLE GAS TANK EXPANDING. EXPANDED SO MUCH THAT IT WAS NOT SITTING PROPERLY ON MOTORCYCLE FRAME, WAS UNABLE TO UNLATCH OR RELATCH TO BIKE TO GAIN ACCESS TO BATTERY. HAD TANK REPLACE LAST YEAR UNDER WARRANTY BY DUCATI. BUT THE NEW TANK IS NOW EXPANDING AND IT HAS BEEN 1 YEAR. FEEL THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM...GAS TANK IS PLASTIC. OLD TANKS WERE METAL, NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE. SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO ETHANOL IN THE GAS, AND THE PLASTIC GAS TANKS. I BELIEVE DUCATI NORTH AMERICA NEEDS TO GO BACK TO RE-DESIGN TANKS, POSSIBLY GO BACK TO METAL GAS TANKS. I WILL BE CONTACTING DUCATI AGAIN SOON TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPLACE MY 2ND EXPANDED GAS TANK. I ALSO HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS. I WORRY THAT THE TANK CAN BURST FROM THE PRESSURE, AND HAVE CONCERNS THAT THIS COULD OCCUR WHEN I AM DRIVING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10348525

Incident

Aug 9, 2009

FUEL TANK ON 2007 DUCATI S4R IS EXPANDING AND BULGING. CONCERNED GAS TANK WILL EVENTUALLY SPLIT, LEAKING FUEL ON HOT ENGINE RESULTING IN FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10340535

Incident

Jun 28, 2010

Mileage

6,000 mi

EXPANDING PLASTIC GAS TANK ON A 2007 DUCATI MONSTER S4RS MOTORCYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336897

Incident

May 1, 2010

Mileage

7,000 mi

THE GAS TANK ON MY 2007 DUCATI MONSTER 695 HAS EXPANDED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NO LONGER TO PROPERLY ATTACH TO THE MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE REQUESTED A NEW TANK FROM DUCATI NORTH AMERICA, AND AM AWAITING A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO REPLACE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336821

Incident

May 15, 2010

Mileage

4,600 mi

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEEN EXPANDING. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW THE HANDLEBARS HIT IT ON TURNING AND IT PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT WHAT IS MORE WORRYING IS THE FACT THAT WHEN HIT A MODERATE BUMP ON THE ROAD, THE TANK BECOMES UNLATCHED AND REQUIRES ME TO RELATCH IT TO PREVENT THE TANK FROM BECOMING LOOSE. ADDITIONALLY, PREVIOUSLY IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW IT IS COMPLETELY WEDGED AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN CLOSED. I HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA AND THEY REPLACED THE TANK. HOWEVER, THE NEW TANK THAT I HAVE HAS STARTED TO SHOW THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN WITHIN JUST FOUR MONTHS. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW. THE TANK'S SWELLING HAS MADE IT SO THE HANDLEBARS DO NOT TURN CORRECTLY. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH I FEAR THIS WILL CAUSE THE TANK TO SPLIT OPEN WHILE RIDING OR THAT THE TANK WILL BECOMES UNLATCHED WHILE RIDING AND POSSIBLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10305978

Incident

Feb 4, 2010

Mileage

2,000 mi

EXPANDING GAS TANK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10298384

Incident

Dec 6, 2009

Mileage

34,850 mi

MY 2007 DUCATI MONSTER S4RS HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS HAVE INCREASED AND IT DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME AND IT NOW PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK AND THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THE FUEL TANK. I TOOK THE BIKE TO MY DEALER TO SHOW THEM THE PROBLEM BUT AS YET HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE IS UNSAFE TO RIDE NOW DUE TO THE TANKS MOVING RELATIVE TO IT'S MOUNTS ON THE FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294566

Incident

Oct 30, 2009

Mileage

3,800 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2007 DUCATI MONSTER S4RS MOTORCYCLE NEW, TAKING DELIVERING IN APRIL, 2007. OVER THE PAST YEAR, I HAVE ENCOUNTERED INCREASING DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING AND REFASTENING THE LATCH THAT HOLDS THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE ON THE MOTORCYCLE. UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK HAS EXPANDED, AND THE TANK NO LONGER FITS PROPERLY ON THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME. THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY IS NOW INTERFERING WITH THE FUEL TANK, RUBBING AGAINST IT AS THE MOTORCYCLE IS OPERATED, AND THE PAINT HAS BEEN ABRADED OFF THE TANK, AND NOW THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY IS WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE PLASTIC OF THE FUEL TANK ITSELF. I HAVE TAKEN THE MOTORCYCLE TO MY LOCAL FRANCHISED DUCATI DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND WARRANTY CLAIM AGAINST DUCATI, AND AM WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM REGARDING DUCATI'S RESPONSE TO THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282373

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

Mileage

10,000 mi

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME, THE HANDLEBARS HIT IT ON TURNING, AND IT PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. PREVIOUSLY IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW I HAVE TO WEDGE IT AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CLOSE IT. THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER SIT ON THE FRAME. I HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE EXCEPT FOR AN AFTERMARKET EXHAUST AND SOME COSMETIC CHANGES. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY) AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TANK. I WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW. THE TANK'S SWELLING HAS MADE IT SO THE HANDLEBARS DO NOT TURN CORRECTLY. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT WILL SPLIT OPEN AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM RIDING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10281497

Incident

Aug 3, 2009

Mileage

2,250 mi

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND AND DEFORM. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME, THE HANDLEBARS HIT IT ON TURNING, AND IT PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. PREVIOUSLY IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW I HAVE TO FORCE THE LATCH OPEN AND CLOSED . IT IS WEDGED AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH SO TIGHT YOU CAN NOT CLOSE IT OTHERWISE. THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER SIT ON THE FRAME. I HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE EXCEPT FOR AN AFTERMARKET EXHAUST AND SOME COSMETIC CHANGES. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY) . A REPLACEMENT TANK HAS BEEN ORDERED.I WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING FROM THE DEALER THAT DUCATI HAS NOT MADE ANY CHANGES TO THE REPLACEMENT TANKS FROM THE ORIGINAL. THE NEW TANK WILL ALSO FAIL.. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW. THE TANK'S SWELLING HAS MADE IT SO THE HANDLEBARS DO NOT TURN CORRECTLY. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT WILL SPLIT OPEN AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM RIDING OR STORED IN MY GARAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10278771

Incident

Jul 14, 2009

Mileage

6,400 mi

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. PREVIOUSLY IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW I HAVE TO WEDGE IT AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CLOSE IT. I HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE EXCEPT FOR AN AFTERMARKET EXHAUST AND SOME COSMETIC CHANGES. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY) AND THEY WILL REPLACE THE TANK WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC ONE. WHICH I FEAR IT WILL DEFORM AS WELL. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT WILL SPLIT OPEN AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM RIDING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10278017

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

14,000 mi

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME, THE HANDLEBARS HIT IT ON TURNING, AND IT PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. PREVIOUSLY IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW I HAVE TO WEDGE IT AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CLOSE IT. THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER SIT ON THE FRAME. I HAVE GOTTEN A REPLACEMENT TANK FROM MY LOCAL DUCATI DEALER SHIP BUT THEY STATED THAT IS WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX AND THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD MOST LIKELY RETURN. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW ONCE THE ISSUE RESURFACES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10277622

Incident

Apr 7, 2009

Mileage

7,500 mi