2009 Ducati 1198

Defect. DUCATI IS RECALLING 1,549 MY 2009 1198, 1198 S, 1098 R, 848 AND MY 2010 F1098 STREETFIGHTER AND STREETFIGHTER S MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES MAY EXPERIENCE FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL LINE AT THE FUEL INJECTOR CONNECTION. THE PLASTIC FITTING BETWEEN FUEL INJECTOR AND HOSE CAN WARP OR BREAK WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THE RIDER AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE MOTORCYCLE.

Risk. ANY DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE MAY LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK OF FIRE OR AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE, THE THEREBY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED INJECTOR COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2009. TO LOCATE YOUR NEAREST AUTHORIZED DUCATI DEALER, YOU MAY GO TO WWW.DUCATIUSA.COM AND SELECT THE "DEALER LOCATOR" OR YOU MAY CALL TOLL FREE AT 1-800-231-6696.

THE DUCATI 1198 AND PREVIOUS MODELS WERE RECALLED DUE TO FAULTY MOUNTING OF VOLTAGE REGULATOR (IT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL HEAT SHIELDING). I NEVER RECEIVED RCL-08-005 (NHTSA NUMBER 08V-638). I WAS DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT AND THE HEADLIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS, AND ALL OTHER MARKER LIGHTS WENT OUT. I WAS STRUCK FROM SIDE BY A DRIVER WHO DID NOT SEE ME, BUT LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT IMMEDIATELY. I WAS UNABLE TO CATCH THE DRIVER AND MY LEG WAS CRUSHED BETWEEN THE CAR AND MY MOTORCYCLE. DUCATI IS UNWILLING TO PERFORM ANY REPAIRS ON MY VEHICLE, THE DEALER IS UNAWARE OF THE RECALL AND DUCATI S.P.A. STATED CLEARLY THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. RCL-08-005 MAKES CLEAR THAT OWNERS ARE IN DANGER SHOULD THEY EXPERIENCE THIS FAILURE, EXACTLY THE FAILURE I EXPERIENCED. GIVEN THAT MY MODEL IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, I FULLY EXPECT DUCATI TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE AT THEIR COST AND PAY DAMAGES AND MEDICAL EXPENSES EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF THIS KNOWN MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. *TR

SINCE PURCHASING MY 2009 DUCATI 1198 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK THREE TIMES. THE FUEL TANK IS EXPANDING TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS BEGUN LEAKING ONTO THE MOTOR AND EXHAUST SYSTEM. ALSO THE HANDLE BARS ARE HITTING THE TANK CAUSING ISSUES WITH DRIVABILITY. *TR

BRAKES: REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN 2011, REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED ONCE AGAIN JAN 2011...REAR BRAKE LINES WERE BLED TO RULE OUT AIR TRAPPED IN THE BRAKE LINE, ONLY TO DISCOVER BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE RUBBER TUBE WHICH FEEDS INTO THE TOP OF THE BRAKE MASTER...IN ADDITION, THE RUBBER GROMMET THAT SEATS INTO THE REAR MASTER FREE-ROTATES IN PLACE. DUCATI DEALERSHIP WILL BE REPLACING THE REAR MASTER A SECOND TIME UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I FEAR THE CAUSE IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED! LIGHTING: FRONT HEADLIGHTS HAVE WATER CONDENSATION BUILT UP INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS, CAUSING LIMITED VISIBILITY DURING NIGHT TIME. DUCATIUSA DECLINED REPLACING IT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS GLAD TO OFFER TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS AT MSRP+LABOR COSTS. THE BIKE HAS OTHERWISE BEEN PLEASURE TO OWN AND RIDE. *TT

FUEL TANK EXPANSION WELL BEYOND SPEC TOLERANCE, IMPACTING STEERING DAMPENER MOUNT AND FURTHER PRESSING AGAINST THE FRONT SUSPENSION. BIKE WAS MAINTAINED BY ORIGINAL OWNER AND ALWAYS REFILLED FROM REPUTABLE GAS STATIONS AND ONLY USED 92 OR 93 OCTANE PREMIUM FUEL. *TR

THE GAS TANK STARTED TO DEFORM THEN IT STARTED TO SEEP GAS