Owners filed 5 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 7 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Electrical System
2
0
1
0
Wheels
1
0
0
0
Vehicle Speed Control
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
7 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Structure › Body07V580000
Filed Dec 18, 20078,061 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE REAR FENDER STRUT ATTACHING BOLTS CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE REAR FENDER TO DETACH FROM THE MOTORCYCLE.
Risk. THIS COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN AN INJURY OR A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE EXISTING STRUT BOLTS AND REPLACE WITH HIGHER TENSILE STRENGTH ATTACHING BOLTS AND UPDATED WASHERS. HIGHER TORQUE VALUES WILL BE OBSERVED WHEN INSTALLING THE REPLACEMENT FASTENERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 21, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.
Structure06V389000
Filed Oct 12, 20062,494 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE LONG PIVOT BOLT MAY BEND OR BREAK DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE.
Risk. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE REAR FENDER TO ABRADE AGAINST THE REAR TIRE WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LONG PIVOT BOLT AND, IF NECESSARY, STRAIGHTEN THE REAR FRAME SIDE PANEL. THE SHORT LEFT SIDE PIVOT BOLT AND PIVOT SHAFT MAY ALSO BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.
Electrical System06V305000
Filed Aug 11, 20062,101 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROL (EHC) MODULE CAN FAIL RESULTING IN A TOTAL SHUT DOWN OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC POWER.
Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EHC MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.
Electrical System › Ignition › Module06V301000
Filed Aug 9, 20062,711 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE IGNITION MODULES ARE ORIENTED WITHIN THE BATTERY TRAY IN A WAY THAT MAKES THE IGNITION MODULE SUSCEPTIBLE TO VIBRATION.
Risk. THIS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO VIBRATION MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A STALLING CONDITION THAT COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW IGNITION MODULE MOUNTING SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 25, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.
Filed Jan 25, 20069,726 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE KICKSTAND SPRING MAY STRETCH AND DETACH FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET OR THE KICKSTAND.
Risk. THIS WILL ALLOW THE KICKSTAND TO DEPLOY INTO THE EXTENDED POSITION AND CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW KICKSTAND SPRING FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 17, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.
Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs05V432000
Filed Sep 28, 20053,294 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE REAR WHEEL HUB BOLTS COULD LOOSEN AND BACK OUT ALLOWING THE HUB AND BRAKE ROTOR TO DETACH FROM THE WHEEL WITH AN ASSOCIATED LOSS OF STOPPING POWER.
Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE, CLEAN AND REATTACH THE REAR HUB BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-312-267-9121.
Power Train05V149000
Filed Apr 14, 20051,418 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc
Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE PRIMARY DRIVE SPROCKET NUT MAY BACK OFF THE ENGINE MAIN SHAFT.
Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE PRIMARY DRIVE TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE A CRASH. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DRIVE SPROCKET NUT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Tires
Filed Aug 27, 2011MO
PURCHASED AN AVON 250/40R18 AV72 TIRE FOR MY MOTORCYCLE,AND WITH LESS THAN 2000 MILES,THERE IS AN OPEN JOIN SPLICE GOING ACROSS TIRE. I HAVE NOT RIDDEN MOTORCYCLE SINCE FINDING DEFECT, FOR FEAR OF HAVING A BLOWOUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND LOSING CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE. AVON NEEDS TO STEP UP AND RECALL THESE TIRES BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR IS SEVERELY INJURED. *TT
Electrical SystemFire
Filed Nov 18, 20101,500 milesFL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BIG DOG CHOPPER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HE ATTEMPTED TO START IT, THE WIRING ON THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROL (EHC) MELTED AND CAUGHT FIRE. HE PULLED THE WIRING APART AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EHC. SEVERAL YEARS LATER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND HE PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE WAITED FOR AN HOUR AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE EHC NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL 06V305000, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Wheels
Filed Dec 31, 20071,500 milesCA
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BIG DOG CHOPPER. THE CONTACT HAS HAD SIX LIFE THREATENING RECALLS CONSISTING OF THE WHEEL HUB NUT, COMPUTER HARNESS, SWING ARM PENDENT, IGNITION RELAY, KICK STAND SPRING, AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR. HE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR ALL SIX RECALLS AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED. HE STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO RECTIFY THE FAILURES AND HAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,500.
Electrical System
Filed Jul 7, 20061,900 milesOK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE SEEMS AS IF IT ATTEMPTED TO START ITSELF AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE BECAME WET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE GASKETS AND GREASED THE CONNECTIONS TO STOP THE WATER FROM SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 6, 20065,200 milesWA
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENTLY PROVIDES AN INCORRECT READING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER. THEY DETERMINED THE MAGNETIC SENSOR ABOVE THE TRANSMISSION INTERFERES WITH THE SPEEDOMETER WHICH RESULTS IN THE INCORRECT READING. THE DEALER CLEANED THE MAGNETIC STRIP, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED.
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: Dec 18, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.