2005 Bigdog Pitbull

Routine

Owners filed 7 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 5 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System2
000
Wheels › Hub1
000
Tires1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine1
000
Electrical System › Wiring1
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator07V356000
Filed Aug 8, 20077,611 vehiclesBig Dog Motorcycles, Llc

Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A WARPED BUS BAR WITHIN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CAN CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Risk. THIS COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING CIRCUIT BREAKER LOCATED BETWEEN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR POSITIVE BATTERY LEAD (B+ LEAD) AND THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL WITH AN ALTERNATIVE CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICE THAT WILL PREVENT A THERMAL EVENT IF THERE IS A SHORT TO GROUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-316-219-9129 OR EMAIL TO [email protected].

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.

Structure › Motorcycle › Kickstand/Center Stand06V019000
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 16, 201119,000 milesMS

I RECENTLY PURCHASED AN AVON COBRA MOTORCYCLE TIRE (300/35R18). IN LESS THAN 2000 MILES OF NORMAL RIDING CONDITIONS, THE CENTER OF THE TIRE IS BEGINNING TO "ERODE" OFF THE TIRE. I DON'T SPIN OR BURNOUT, YET THE CENTER OF THE TIRE NOW HAS A 2" TO 3" WIDE SECTION THAT APPEARS TO BE VANISHING AND HAS ACTUALLY LEFT A GROOVE IN MY TIRE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE RIDING THIS TIRE AND HAVE "GROUNDED" MY BIKE UNTIL I CAN GET ANOTHER TIRE. THE AVON VENOM TIRE I HAD BEFORE THIS GOT CLOSE TO 10000 MILES BEFORE A CHANGE WAS REQUIRED. THE RUBBER ON THE AVON COBRA FEELS SOFT AND MUST BE OF DIFFERENT MATERIAL/CONTRUCTION THAN THE PREVIOUS AVON VENOM TIRES. I FEEL THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT OR FLAW IN THE MATERIALS USED TO MANUFACTURE THIS TIRE. MY OPTIONS FOR THIS SIZE TIRE ARE LIMITED AND MY PAST EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN POSITIVE WITH AVON. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEIR QUALITY BACK TO WHERE IT ONCE WAS WITH THE VENOM TIRES. *KB

Electrical System
Filed Nov 1, 20103,000 milesWI

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BIG DOG PITBULL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER; THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD IMMEDIATELY RESTART AND OTHER TIMES, THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROLLER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN; THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AGAIN. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NO LONGER MANUFACTURING THE CONTROLLER AND WERE WORKING ON THE PART THAT WOULD REPLACE IT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3,000.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 11, 20102,242 milesVA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BIG DOG PITBULL MOTORCYCLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V305000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME SYMPTOMS STATED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL REMEDY REPAIR. THERE WERE CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY ISSUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,242. UPDATED 04-15-10 *BF UPDATED 07/07/10.*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 19, 2005AZ

CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 2005 BIG DOG PIT BULL ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY DIED WHILE RIDING. *TS *JB

Wheels › Hub
Filed Nov 7, 2005UT

I JUST GOT A LETTER ABOUT A RECALL ON MY 2005 BIGDOG MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS (4) TO CONTACT BIGDOG TO SEE IF I CAN TAKE IT ANYWHERE ELSE OTHER THAN THE DEALER WHICH IS ABOUT 30 MILES AWAY, PLUS I DO NOT TRUST THE DEALER (ROLLING THUNDER) TO DO THE WORK PROPERLY BECAUSE OF TERRIBLE WORK DONE IN THE PAST. I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. COULD YOU PLEASE HELP. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Jul 5, 2005IL

DT: CONSUMER HAD PURCHASED A BIG DOG PIT BULL 2005 MOTORCYCLE ON MAY 16, 2005. FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM DID NOT PUMP FUEL THROUGH THE VEHICLE AND VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN AND NOT MOVE, ON JUNE 30, 2005 THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED, THE REPLACED VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE BACK DISC BRAKES LOCKED UP, THE BRAKE WAS SMOKING, VIN NUMBER WAS FOR THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, NONE OF THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AS OF NOW, WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK TO HIM. *AK

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Mar 24, 2005SC

RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V052000 CONCERNING ELECTRIC HARNESS CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER TO HONOR THIS RECALL BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.*AK

7 of 7 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20081000Routine
20060200Routine
2005 — this page7500Routine
20043500Routine
20023100Routine
19995100Routine
19980100Routine

Compare every Pitbull year →

Reading this record

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: Aug 8, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.