2004 Bigdog Ridgeback

Routine

Owners filed 4 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
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)1
000
Engine and Engine Cooling1
000

5 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.

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.

Structure › Motorcycle › Kickstand/Center Stand04V523000
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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Jun 24, 20145,000 milesMO

APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF. NOW THE COMPANY IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, SO WHAT AM I TO DO? I HAVE NO HEADLIGHT, HORN, AND THE BIKE WON'T START. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Nov 15, 20107,500 milesIA

EHC MODULE ON 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLES, IT OCCURS EVERYTIME I TRY TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, THE ENGINE STALLED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND ALMOST DIDN'T GET OUT OF TRAFFIC, THE LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER SAFETY SIGNALS STOP WORKING AND I AM TOLD OTHER YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT 2004 AND THE PARTS TO FIX IT ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM BIG DOG MANUFACTURER SO I CANT EVEN FIX IT THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT REPLACING IT BUT REVAMPING IT AND I FEEL IT IS NOT FAIR TO ALL OWNERS THERE ARE AFTERMARKET PARTS BUT NO OEM PARTS AND I CANT TRUST MY LIFE WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS HOPING THEY WILL WORK, I HAVE THE MALFUNCTIONING PART STILL BUT NEED TO GET SOME ANSWERS AND BIG DOG IS NOT WILLING TO HELP CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHERS THAT ARE CONCERNED I FELL IT SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THEY ARE NOT EVEN MAKING THE PART AND SAY IT MAY BE MONTHS BEFORE THEY HAVE ANY PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE EHC MODULE THEY TRIED TO BLAME IT ON A LOOSE CONNECTION AND THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND CAUSED THE CONCERN FOR ME SINCE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM ESPECIALLY ON A MOTORCYCLE THIS IS HAPPENING ON THE 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLES, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW BUT IT IS AROUND 7500 THANKS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 13, 20102,800 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS CAUTIOUSLY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING BETWEEN THIRTY MINUTES TO A HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER VOLUNTARY RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL HARNESS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE REPAIR ON FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE CAM SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Mar 25, 2005150 milesVA

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM THE STALLING OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT SIGNAL LIGHTS AND WOULD STALL AFTER STARTING. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE VEHICLE IS FIXED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SALES DEALER HAD PRIVATE RIGHTS TO THE KEY SYSTEM SUCH AS THE ELECTRONICS/WIRING. NO OTHER DEALER INCLUDING THE AUTHORIZED DEALER COULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM WITHOUT THE INTERVENTION OF THE SALES DEALER. THERE WAS A BATTERY ACID LEAK, THE DISC PADS AND ROTORS HAD WORN OUT, THE REAR ROCKER BOX LEAKED OIL, THERE WAS AN OIL PUMP LEAK, THE TRANSMISSION COVER LEAKED, THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD, THERE WAS NOISE IN THE FRONT END, AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WITH NO START AND WHEN THE VEHICLE COOLED DOWN, THE ENGINE WOULD RUN NORMAL. *SC *JB

4 of 4 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2005
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20080200Routine
20063200Routine
200512600Routine
2004 — this page4500Routine

Compare every Ridgeback 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: May 3, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.