Owners filed 10 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 6 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical System
4
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
1
0
0
0
Service Brakes
1
0
0
0
Power Train › Driveline
1
0
0
0
Power Train
1
0
0
0
Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Switch
1
0
0
0
Electrical System › Ignition › Module
1
0
0
0
6 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Electrical System10V180000
Filed May 3, 20101,895 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. BIG DOG IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2004 CHOPPER, BULLDOG, RIDGEBACK, MASTIFF, BOXER, AND PITBULL MOTORCYCLES. THERE IS A POSSIBLE LOOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AND THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROLLER.
Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO VARIOUS COMPONENTS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A LOSS OF HEADLAMP FUNCTION OR A VEHICLE STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy. BIG DOG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE MOTORCYCLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-316-219-9121.
Filed Nov 2, 20044,457 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE KICKSTAND SPRING ATTACHING STUD MAY BREAK OFF ALLOWING THE KICKSTAND TO DEPLOY INTO THE EXTENDED POSITION.
Risk. IF THE KICKSTAND DEPLOYS, IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL A NEW KICKSTAND UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 20, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar04V164000
Filed Apr 6, 20042,098 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A SCREW MAY BECOME LOOSE IN THE HANDLEBAR CONTROL DUE TO THE LACK OF A LOCK WASHER AND LOCTITE.
Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE OR FRONT BRAKE CONTROL TO BIND, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LOCK WASHER AND LOCTITE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-316-219-7006.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder04V137000
Filed Mar 23, 20041,906 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE PISTON IN THE REAR MASTER CYLINDER MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SIZED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE REAR BRAKES TO DRAG OR LOCKUP.
Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE PISTON FROM THE REAR MASTER CYLINDER AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW PISTON. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-316-267-9121.
Structure › Frame and Members03V535000
Filed Dec 18, 20031,446 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES ASSEMBLED WITH AN EARLY VERSION ROLLING THUNDER FRAME, A STRESS CRACK COULD EMERGE IN THE FRAME.
Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE FRAME. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-316-267-9121.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Aug 15, 2014OH
WHERE DO I GET A 2004 MASTER CYLINDER FOR MY BIKE??? EVERYTHING THAT'S ON RECALL IS ON MY BIKE!! AND EVEN MORE TO BE PISSED ABOUT IS THEY SOLD THIS TO ME A FEW MONTHS AFTER THERE RECALL WHEN THEY NEW ABOUT IT, EVERYTHING THAT WAS FIXED BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE PROBLEMS I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. BUT YET THEY NEW ABOUT THIS RECALL. WHAT DO I DO??? *TR
Electrical System
Filed Apr 13, 20135,000 milesSC
HEAD LIGHT TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. THEY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAD TO HAVE MY BIKE TOWED. *TR
Electrical System
Filed Aug 16, 20105,000 milesGA
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG MOTORCYCLE CHOPPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V180000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IN 2006, BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND BOTH ADVISED THAT THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE MOTORCYCLE THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 11/16/10*BF UPDATED 11/23/10*JB
Electrical System
Filed Jun 5, 20085,345 milesGA
THE 2004 BIG DOG CHOPPER I WAS OPERATING ELECTRICALLY SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH NEARLY CAUSING ME TO CRASH IN TRAFFIC. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED DIELETRIC GREASE IN THE CONNECTOR TO KEEP WATER FROM SHORTING IT OUT. I APPLIED THEIR FIX AND THE UNIT STILL DOES NOT FUNCTION. I HAD TO PURCHASE THE 2007 UNIT FOR 641.99 DOLLARS. AFTER RESEARCHING THE MATTER, I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2005 AND 2006 MODELS BUT NOT THE 2004. THE 2004 MODEL IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME MALFUNCTION THAT THE 2005 AND 2006 MODELS ARE EXPERIENCING. I RESEARCHED FURTHER AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET OF OWNERS WITH THE 2004 MODEL EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD TO ANYONE WHO RIDES THIS MOTORCYCLE WITH THE OLD EHC MODULE, A RECALL NEEDS TO BE MADE ON THE 2004 MODELS OF BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES. *TR
Power Train › Driveline
Filed Nov 14, 2007800 milesLA
RECURRING SQUEAKS FROM DRIVE BELT. 4 TRIPS TO THE 1ST DEALER FOR ADJUSTMENT UNTIL REAR PULLEY WAS REPLACED BY 2ND DEALER DUE TO INCOMPATIBILITY WITH BELT. SQUEAK CONTINUED AFTER 3 ADDITIONAL TRIPS TO 2ND DEALER. MFG FELT THAT BELT SHOULD BE REPLACED BUT WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE BELT WAS CONSIDERED A WEAR ITEM. WITH LESS THAN 3000 ORIGINAL MILES MFG FINALLY AGREED THAT BELT WEAR WAS PREMATURE DUE TO INCOMPATIBILITY WITH PULLEY AND REPLACED BELT WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE TO FINALLY RESOLVE PROBLEM. *TR
Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Oct 21, 200711,000 milesFL
1) SIGNAL LIGHTS QUIT WORKING,THEN HEADLIGHT BLEW OUT, THEN SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING, THEN ALL ELECTRICAL WENT OUT AND BIKE WILL NOT START AND ALL ELECTRICAL IS OUT. 3) CALLED BIGDOG MOTORCYCLE DEALER. WAS TOLD THE 2004 EHC MODULE HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND MUST UP GRADE TO AN 07 WITH HARNESS. COST DIFFERENCE $202.00 FOR 2004 AND 650.00 FOR AN 2007 MODULE. *TR
Electrical System
Filed Aug 1, 200712,000 milesUT
2004 BIG DOG MOTORCYCLE. MOTORCYCLE KEEPS LOSING ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WHEN RIDING ON THE INTERSTATE DUE TO AN INHERENTLY DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROLLER. THIS SAME EHC HAD BEEN RECALLED IN 2005 AND 2006 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO CRASH BUT I HIT CONSTRUCTION CONES AND ALMOST CRASHED TRYING TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. *JB
Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Switch
Filed Feb 16, 200550 milesIL
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER THE MOTORCYCLE'S TURN SIGNAL ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL SHORTED OUT BECAUSE WATER RAN DOWN THE COIL WIRE. *AK
Power Train
Filed Jan 13, 2005HI
WHILE RIDING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED A RETCHING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA WHICH TOOK PLACE OF THE POWER BEING TRANSFERRED TO REAR WHEEL DURING ACCELERATION. *BF THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE BELT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE FIRST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *SC
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Jan 7, 2005MD
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 04V137000 CONCERNING REAR MASTER CYLINDER PISTOL. AFTER HAVING THE REAR MASTER CYLINDER PISTOL REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: May 3, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.