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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation PE10044

Preliminary Evaluation · Ducati North America · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.

NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.

Model years namedModel years in our database that NHTSA associated with this inquiry. Being named in an investigation says nothing about whether an individual vehicle has any problem.
2
1 model
Opened
Nov 4, 2010
Preliminary Evaluation
Closed
Feb 7, 2011
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published

Motorcycle coolant leak...radiator

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.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.

Investigation details

Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA

Action number
PE10044
Investigation type
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
Ducati North America
Component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
Opened
Nov 4, 2010
Closed
Feb 7, 2011
Associated recall campaign
None recorded

Vehicles named in this investigation

2 model years across 1 model

Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.