2007 Moto Guzzi Norge 1200 Problems

COMPLAINANT OWNS A 2007 MOTO GUZZI NORGE. THAT MOTORCYCLE HAS SUFFERED THE OIL-PUMP FAILURE AND ENGINE DAMAGE DESCRIBED BELOW. THE OIL PUMPS OF OTHER 2007 MOTO GUZZI NORGES (AND, POSSIBLY, OTHER SIMILAR MODELS) HAVE FAILED IN THIS COUNTRY AND OVERSEAS. THESE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED IN MANY OTHER NORGES KNOWN TO THE COMPLAINANT, AND MORE INFORMATION IS READILY AVAILABLE VIA UNOFFICIAL MOTO GUZZI INTERNET SITES, E.G., THE DISCUSSION FORUMS AT WWW.GUZZITECH.COM & WWW.WILDGUZZI.COM. THE PUMPS HAVE FAILED AS THE RESULT OF NO MISCONDUCT OR ABUSE KNOWN TO THE COMPLAINANT, AND ALL HAVE OCCURRED IN THE COURSE OF ORDINARY SPORT-TOURING RIDING, FOR WHICH THE NORGE WAS OSTENSIBLY DESIGNED. IN ALL CASES KNOWN TO THE COMPLAINANT, THE FAILED OIL PUMPS HAVE DEMONSTRATED FRACTURED ROTORS, LEADING TO OIL STARVATION AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. WHILE NO SUCH INSTANCE KNOWN TO THE COMPLAINANT HAS BROUGHT ABOUT A CRASH AS A RESULT OF LOCKED DRIVE TRAIN, THE POTENTIAL FOR SUCH IS OBVIOUS. COMPLAINANT?S MACHINE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, THO COMPLAINANT WAS OBLIGED TO SHIP AT OWN EXPENSE TO DISTANT DEALER SEVERAL STATES AWAY TO HAVE WORK COMPLETED PROPERLY. OTHER OWNERS HAVE, WHEN DAMAGE WAS EVEN MORE EXTENSIVE, SUFFERED LOSSES OF $4000 AND MORE. EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF A FAILURE, THE OIL PUMP ALONE COSTS ABOUT $450 PLUS THE LABOR OF $650 TO REPLACE IT. COMPLAINANT BELIEVES THAT NUMEROUS OTHER NORGES ARE SIMILARLY AFFECTED, ESPECIALLY THOSE BUILT IN LATE 2006 AND THE FIRST HALF OF 2007, WHEN, IT APPEARS THAT MOTO GUZZI CHANGED SUPPLIERS OR TOOK OTHER ACTION TO PREVENT SUCH FAILURES IN LATER VERSIONS. COMPLAINANT BELIEVES THIS ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN TO MOTO GUZZI; THAT FIRM HAS THE DATA RELEVANT TO THIS COMPLAINT AND; UPON INQUIRY FROM THE NHTSA, THE EVIDENCE WILL SUPPORT COMPLAINANTS CLAIM. *TR

MAKE: MOTO GUZZI MODEL : NORGE 1200 YEAR : 2007 MANUFACTURER : MOTO GUZZI NORTH AMERICA CRASH : NO FIRE : NO NUMBER OF INJURIES: 0 ODI ID NUMBER : NUMBER OF DEATHS: 0 DATE OF FAILURE: JUNE 26, 2010 COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING SUMMARY: THE OIL PUMP OF SOME MY 2007 MOTO GUZZI NORGE (AND, POSSIBLY, OTHER SIMILAR MODELS) HAS FAILED. THIS FAILURES HAS OCCURRED IN MANY NORGES KNOWN TO THE COMPLAINANT, AND MORE INFORMATION IS READILY AVAILABLE VIA UNOFFICIAL MOTO GUZZI INTERNET SITES, E.G., THE DISCUSSION FORUMS AT WWW.GUZZITECH.COM & WWW.WILDGUZZI.COM. THE PUMP FAILED AS THE RESULT OF NO MISCONDUCT OR ABUSE BY THE COMPLAINANT. FAILURE OCCURRED IN THE COURSE OF ORDINARY SPORT-TOURING RIDING, FOR WHICH THE NORGE WAS OSTENSIBLY DESIGNED. IN THIS CASE THE FAILED OIL PUMP EXPERIENCED A FRACTURED ROTOR, LEADING TO OIL STARVATION AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, RESULTING IN A LOCKED DRIVE TRAIN, THE POTENTIAL FOR SUCH IS OBVIOUS. COMPLAINANT OWNS A 2007 MOTO GUZZI NORGE AND THAT MOTORCYCLE HAS SUFFERED THE OIL-PUMP FAILURE AND ENGINE DAMAGE DESCRIBED ABOVE. BECAUSE THE MACHINE WAS OUT OF THE 2-YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD, MOTO GUZZI DECLINED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND THE COMPLAINANT WAS OBLIGED TO SPEND $2000 TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. OTHER OWNERS HAVE, WHEN DAMAGE WAS EVEN MORE EXTENSIVE, SUFFERED LOSSES OF $4000 AND MORE. EVEN IN THE ABSENCE OF A FAILURE, THE OIL PUMP ALONE COSTS ABOUT $450 PLUS THE LABOR OF $650 TO REPLACE IT. COMPLAINANT BELIEVES THAT NUMEROUS OTHER NORGES ARE SIMILARLY AFFECTED, ESPECIALLY THOSE BUILT IN LATE 2006 AND THE FIRST HALF OF 2007, WHEN, IT APPEARS THAT MOTO GUZZI CHANGED SUPPLIERS OR TOOK OTHER ACTION TO PREVENT SUCH FAILURES IN LATER VERSIONS. COMPLAINANT FURTHER BELIEVES THAT SUCH FAILURES ARE WELL KNOWN TO PIAGGIO, THE PARENT COMPANY OF MOTO GUZZI AND THAT MOTO GUZZI HAS THE DATA TO SUPPORT THIS COMPLAINT AND THAT,

I UNDERSTAND THAT PIAGGIO GROUP, THE PARENT COMPANY OF MOTORCYCLE IMPORTER MOTO GUZZI USA, HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS WITH REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE MOUNTING SYSTEM AND IMMINENT SAFETY CONCERN FOR AN ACCESSORY TOP BOX (TRUNK) THAT THEY SELL FOR THE 2007-2008 NORGE 1200 MODEL. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY PASSENGER COULD POSSIBLY FALL OFF THE BIKE AND BE INJURED OR KILLED, WHEN USING THE TOP BOX. THIS IS THE TEXT OF THE BULLETIN THAT I HAVE FOUND ONLINE: " SUBJECT: SAFETY RELATED RECALL FOR NORGE TOP CASE MOUNTING BRACKET CONTACT: MOTO GUZZI TECHNICAL SERVICE A SAFETY RELATED RECALL, INVOLVING THE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE NORGE TOP CASE, WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AND UNTIL REPLACEMENT OR MODIFIED PARTS OR COMPONENTS ARE AVAILABLE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EACH DEALER WITH THE FOLLOWING PARTS IN THEIR INVENTORY, BLOCK THESE PARTS FROM FURTHER RETAIL SALE, EITHER OVER THE COUNTER TO THE RETAIL CUSTOMER OR AS INSTALLED ON THE MOTORCYCLE AS PART OF THE RETAIL SALE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE TOP CASE WITH MOUNTING BRACKET IS IDENTIFIED BY SIX (6) PART NUMBERS DEPENDING ON THE COLOR OF THE TOP CASE. PLEASE CHECK YOUR INVENTORY FOR ALL APPLICABLE NUMBERS. THE SIX (6) PART NUMBERS IN QUESTION ARE: 1. GU 977705F2 TOP CASE (GREY) 2. 977705F2 TOP CASE (GREY) 3. GU 977705Y01 TOP CASE (RED) 4. 977705Y01 TOP CASE (RED) 5. GU 977705ND TOP CASE (BLACK NORGE) 6. 977705ND TOP CASE (BLACK NORGE) IN ADDITION, IF YOUR DEALERSHIP HAS SOLD ANY OF THESE TOP CASES TO YOUR RETAIL OR WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS, PLEASE CONTACT THEM IMMEDIATELY, ASKING THEM TO REMOVE THE TOP CASE AND NOT TO RIDE THEIR MOTORCYCLE WITH THE TOP CASE IN PLACE UNTIL A REPLACEMENT OR MODIFIED MOUNTING BRACKET IS PROVIDED TO THEM OR INSTALLED BY YOUR DEALERSHIP. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT YOUR MOTO GUZZI TECHNICAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. BEST REGARDS. P** ***MOND DIRECTOR AFTERSALES PIAGGIO GROUP AMERICAS, INC. " *TR

ON 8-26-2008 I WAS RIDING MY 2007 MOTO GUZZI NORGE WHICH HAS THE MOTO GUZZI ACCESSORY TOP CASE ON THE MOTORCYCLE. AFTER RIDING MORE THAN 350 MILES THAT DAY I PULL OFF THE ROAD TO TAKE A PICTURE. AS I LEFT THE PAVEMENT AND BEGAN DRIVING ON THE DIRT NEXT TO THE ROAD I HIT A COUPLE OF RUTS AT APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH. AT WHICH POINT THE TOP CASE, WHICH ATTACHES TO THE BACK OF THE BIKE, EJECTED ITSELF FROM ITS MOUNT, STRUCK ME IN THE LOWER BACK AND THEN FELL TO THE GROUND. THE MOUNT WHICH THE TOP CASE ATTACHES TO IS THE NEW STYLE MOUNT WITH THE ALUMINUM LOCKING LUG, WHICH REPLACES THE OLD STYLE MOUNT WITH THE PLASTIC LOCKING LUG THAT WAS PRONE TO BREAKING AND WAS RECALLED BY MOTO GUZZI. PLEASE LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE RECALL, HTTP://FORUM.GUZZITECH.COM/INDEX.PHP?OPTION=COM_FIREBOARD&ITEMID=69&FUNC=VIEW&ID=3483&CATID=25#3483 THE NEW MOUNT IS SUPPOSE TO PREVENT THE TOP CASE FROM BREAKING FREE FROM THE MOUNT, WHICH IT APPARENTLY DOES NOT. PLEASE SEE THE BELOW LINKS FOR PICTURES OF MY TOP CASE AS WELL AS THE LOCKING MECHANISM THAT LOCKS THE CASE TO THE BIKE MOUNT. HTTP://FORUM.GUZZITECH.COM/INDEX.PHP?OPTION=COM_FIREBOARD&ITEMID=69&FUNC=VIEW&ID=7833&CATID=26 HTTP://FORUM.GUZZITECH.COM/INDEX.PHP?OPTION=COM_FIREBOARD&ITEMID=69&FUNC=VIEW&ID=7887&CATID=26 I HAVE CONTACTED MOTO GUZZI AND THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE BUT BOTH THE DEALER AND MOTO GUZZI SEEM TO HAVE LITTLE INTEREST IN ADDRESSING THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE ON MY BIKE. IF THE RATHER HEAVY MOTO GUZZI TOP CASE EJECTED ITSELF OFF A BIKE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND STUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE OR MOTORCYCLE TRAVELING ON THE ROADWAY A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH WOULD OCCUR. THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS OF SUCH POOR QUALITY AND DESIGN THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ONE OF THESE TOP BOXES KILLS SOMEONE. *TR

I UNDERSTAND THAT PIAGGIO GROUP, THE PARENT COMPANY OF MOTORCYCLE IMPORTER MOTO GUZZI USA, HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS WITH REGARDS TO A DEFECTIVE MOUNTING SYSTEM AND IMMINENT SAFETY CONCERN FOR AN ACCESSORY TOP BOX (TRUNK) THAT THEY SELL FOR THE 2007-2008 NORGE 1200 MODEL. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY PASSENGER COULD POSSIBLY FALL OFF THE BIKE AND BE INJURED OR KILLED, WHEN USING THE TOP BOX. THIS IS THE TEXT OF THE BULLETIN THAT I HAVE FOUND ONLINE: " SUBJECT: SAFETY RELATED RECALL FOR NORGE TOP CASE MOUNTING BRACKET CONTACT: MOTO GUZZI TECHNICAL SERVICE A SAFETY RELATED RECALL, INVOLVING THE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR THE NORGE TOP CASE, WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AND UNTIL REPLACEMENT OR MODIFIED PARTS OR COMPONENTS ARE AVAILABLE, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT EACH DEALER WITH THE FOLLOWING PARTS IN THEIR INVENTORY, BLOCK THESE PARTS FROM FURTHER RETAIL SALE, EITHER OVER THE COUNTER TO THE RETAIL CUSTOMER OR AS INSTALLED ON THE MOTORCYCLE AS PART OF THE RETAIL SALE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE TOP CASE WITH MOUNTING BRACKET IS IDENTIFIED BY SIX (6) PART NUMBERS DEPENDING ON THE COLOR OF THE TOP CASE. PLEASE CHECK YOUR INVENTORY FOR ALL APPLICABLE NUMBERS. THE SIX (6) PART NUMBERS IN QUESTION ARE: 1. GU 977705F2 TOP CASE (GREY) 2. 977705F2 TOP CASE (GREY) 3. GU 977705Y01 TOP CASE (RED) 4. 977705Y01 TOP CASE (RED) 5. GU 977705ND TOP CASE (BLACK NORGE) 6. 977705ND TOP CASE (BLACK NORGE) IN ADDITION, IF YOUR DEALERSHIP HAS SOLD ANY OF THESE TOP CASES TO YOUR RETAIL OR WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS, PLEASE CONTACT THEM IMMEDIATELY, ASKING THEM TO REMOVE THE TOP CASE AND NOT TO RIDE THEIR MOTORCYCLE WITH THE TOP CASE IN PLACE UNTIL A REPLACEMENT OR MODIFIED MOUNTING BRACKET IS PROVIDED TO THEM OR INSTALLED BY YOUR DEALERSHIP. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT YOUR MOTO GUZZI TECHNICAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. BEST REGARDS. P** ***MOND DIRECTOR AFTERSALES PIAGGIO GROUP AMERICAS, INC. " *TR

THE COMPLAINT IS FOR A 2007 MOTO GUZZI NORGE MOTORCYCLE WITH ~17,000 MILES. DURING THE COURSE OF ROUTINE RIDING/OPERATION IN APRIL 2011, THE RING NUT MAINTAINING TENSION ON THE PINION GEARS INTERNAL TO THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT CAME LOOSE AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY STRIPPED OF ITS THREADS. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD, DURING DECELERATION, SEVERE GEAR CLASH AND A HIGH-PITCHED SCREECH WAS AUDIBLE FROM THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE DEALER (IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE) FOR EVALUATION, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A "STAR-WASHER", OR LOCKING WASHER, HAD EITHER NOT BEEN ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY TO RETAIN THE RING NUT, OR THE WASHER HAD BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL OPERATION. THE NET RESULT WAS THAT THE RING NUT WAS ABLE TO LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY BE DAMAGED, LEADING TO A LOSS OF PRELOAD/TENSION ON THE INTERNAL PINION GEARS OF THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH THE RING NUT AND STAR WASHER, AND THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AT THE END OF MAY, 2011. ON JUNE 1, 2011, THE FAILURE REAPPEARED, MANIFESTING ITSELF IN THE SAME MANNER: SEVERE GEAR LASH AND A LOUD HIGH-PITCHED SCREECH ARE BOTH AUDIBLE FROM THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT. THE MOTORCYCLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE ARE THAT THE PINION GEARS INTERNAL TO THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT COULD BECOME DAMAGED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE, LEADING TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH. *TR