28 of the
34 complaints filed about the Ducati Monster S4RS
are about the fuel system —
82% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
THIS DUCATI MONSTER S4RS MOTORCYCLE IS ONE OF THE MANY THAT EXPERIENCED DEFORMATION OF THE FUEL TANK AND COMPROMISE OF THE INTERNAL FUEL PUMP OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CAUSE OF THE DEFORMATION IS DUE TO INCOMPATIBILITY WITH FUEL ITSELF; VERY POSSIBLY ETHANOL IN PARTICULAR. THIS MOTORCYCLE'S GAS TANK WAS REPLACED LAST NOVEMBER. IT IS ALREADY IN NEED OF ANOTHER NEW TANK. THE COST OF A NEW ONE IS APPROXIMATELY $2500.00.
NHTSA complaint #10473832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME, THE HANDLEBARS HIT IT ON TURNING, AND IT PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH. PREVIOUSLY IT OPENED AND CLOSED WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW I HAVE TO WEDGE IT AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH TO CLOSE IT. THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER SIT ON THE FRAME. I HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE EXCEPT FOR SOME COSMETIC CHANGES. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY) AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TANK. I WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW. THE TANK'S SWELLING HAS MADE IT SO THE HANDLEBARS DO NOT TURN CORRECTLY. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT WILL SPLIT OPEN AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM RIDING.
NHTSA complaint #10441444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A PLASTIC GAS TANK WHICH HAS BEGUN TO EXPAND AND DISTORT. THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE TANK HAVE INCREASED AND IT NOW DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THE FRAME AND IT PRESSES AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH IS NOW SERIOUSLY DISTORTED. PREVIOUSLY THE TANK WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE WITHOUT PROBLEMS, NOW IT IS WEDGED TIGHTLY AGAINST THE IGNITION. THE RUBBER MOUNTS NO LONGER SIT ON THE FRAME PROPERLY SUCH THAT THE TANK IS NOT SUPPORTED ADEQUATELY AS IT WAS DESIGNED AND TESTED. I HAVE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE EXCEPT FOR AN AFTERMARKET EXHAUST AND SOME COSMETIC CHANGES. I HAVE MADE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THE FUEL TANK OR FUEL PUMP AT ALL. I TOOK MY BIKE TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA (THE IMPORTER/FACTORY) AND THEY REPLACED THE TANK. I WAS NOT GIVEN A REASON FOR THE TANK SWELLING. I AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS MOTORCYCLE NOW AS THE REPLACED TANK IS ENLARGED AND DISTORTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE PREVIOUS ONE AT ONLY 10050 MILES. IF THE TANK SWELLS ENOUGH, IT MAY POSSIBLY SPLIT OPEN AND I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM RIDING OR WHEN PARKED INSIDE A BUILDING SPILLING GAS THAT COULD IGNITE OR THE TANK COULD SIMPLY FALL OFF THE BIKE. I HAVE TAKEN THE BIKE BACK TO THE DUCATI DEALER AND THEY HAVE SUBMITTED YET ANOTHER CLAIM TO DUCATI NORTH AMERICA TO REPLACE THE TANK WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED. HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THESE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE FUEL TANKS CAUSES DEATH OR INJURY? WE NEED A RECALL OF THESE TANKS AND SAFE NON SWELLING FUEL TANK REPLACEMENTS. DUCATI IS JUST RUNNING THE CLOCK OUT ON THEIR OBLIGATIONS. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD FUEL TANK ON THIS BIKE IN UNDER 11000 MILES OF USE.
NHTSA complaint #10424474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2007 DUCATI MONSTER S4RS PLASTIC TANK IS SWELLING. WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ONCE. NEW WARRANTED TANK HAS NOW SWELLED. DUCATI HAS THUS FAR, SAID IT IS ONLY A COSMETIC ISSUE. HOWEVER THERE ARE THE CHANCES OF THE TANK SPLITTING, SWELLING TO THE POINT THAT IT WILL NOT LATCH DOWN OR SWELL TO THE POINT THAT IT PUSHES THE SEAT AND POSSIBLY UNLATCHING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10419683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 DUCATI MONSTER S4RS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS SWELLING AND CAUSING A FUEL LEAK ON TO THE MOTOR IN WHICH THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER REGARDING THE SWELLING FUEL TANK BUT THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE THE CONTACT WITH ANY INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,800.
NHTSA complaint #10395159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PLASTIC GAS TANK ON MY 2007 DUCATI MONSTER MODEL S4RS HAS BECOME DEFORMED TO THE POINT THAT THE GAS TANK MOUNTING CLAMP HAS BEEN OBSCURED SUCH THAT THE TANK CANNOT BE PROPERLY SECURED TO THE MOTORCYCLE, CREATING A RISK OF BECOMING LOOSE WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN OPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10367409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FUEL TANK ON MY 2007 DUCATI S4RS HAS EXPANDED TO THE POINT IT COULD NO LONGER FIT ON THE BIKE. THIS TANK WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE SAME PROBLEM LESS THEN A YEAR AGO. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK REACTING THE FUEL. IT MAY BE RELATED TO ETHANOL IN THE FUEL. THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO REPLACE THE TANKS UNDER WARRANTY BUT I BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE STARTED SINCE THIS PROBLEM CAN LEAD TO A TANK BEING UNLOCKED ON THE FRAME WITHOUT KNOWING IT. IN ADDITION THE FUEL LINES CAN LEAK DUE TO THE SHIFTING OF THE TANK AND THIS CAN LEAD TO FUEL SPILLING ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST LEADING TO FIRE. DUCATI SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REDESIGN THE TANK EITHER IN A BETTER PLASTIC OR METAL.
NHTSA complaint #10362668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MOTORCYCLE PLASTIC GAS TANK HAS EXPANDED. THE FAILURE IS DUE TO INCOMPATIBILITY OF MATERIALS AND FUEL ADDITIVES. COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE, CONTROL INTERFERENCE, POSSIBLE CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10357494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL TANK HAS INCREASED IN SIZE AND SHAPE IS DEFORMED. TANK SUPPORTS TO FRAME OF MOTORCYCLE ARE PUSHED AWAY FROM FRAME. TANK IS IN CONTACT WITH STEERING HEAD OF MOTORCYCLE. LATCH TO REMOVE TANK IS JAMMED INTO IGNITION SWITCH. THESE ISSUES ARE A SAFETY CONCERN IF LATCH OR TANK SUPPORTS FAIL. LATCH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF TANK. TANK COULD BE LIFTED UP AND BACK WHILE RIDING IF LATCH FAILS. TANK IS MADE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL. SIZE INCREASE AND DEFORMATION APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY ABSORPTION OF WATER/ETHANOL DUE TO PHASE SEPARATION OF GASOLINE AND ETHANOL. REPLACEMENT TANKS FROM DUCATI ARE MADE OF SAME MATERIAL. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR UNLESS NEW TANKS ARE LINED OR MADE OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS.
NHTSA complaint #10353209 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2007 DUCATI S4RS MOTORCYCLE FUEL TANK SWELLED TO THE POINT IT WAS NOT RESTING SECURELY ON THE FRAME, THE BARS WOULD CONTACT IT BEFORE FULL LEFT OR RIGHT TURNING MOVEMENT, IT PUSHED AGAINST THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THE FUEL TANK LATCH TO NOT ENGAGE, AND THE PAINT CRACKED OFF. DUCATI UNOFFICIALLY CLAIMS (LEARNED FROM MY DEALER) THAT ETHANOL IN AMERICAN GAS IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR FUEL SEEPAGE AND FIRE ALONG WITH THE TANK BECOMING DISLODGED WHILE RIDING.
NHTSA complaint #10351474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL TANK IS PLASTIC AND APPEARS TO HAVE A REACTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS CAUSING THE MATERIAL TO SWELL IN ALL DIMENSIONS. THIS CAUSES THE TANK MOUNTING TO BECOME HIGHLY STRESSED, UNSEATED AND UNSTABLE. THE TANK IS INTERFERING WITH THE STEERING.
NHTSA complaint #10349350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DUCATI MOTORCYCLE GAS TANK EXPANDING. EXPANDED SO MUCH THAT IT WAS NOT SITTING PROPERLY ON MOTORCYCLE FRAME, WAS UNABLE TO UNLATCH OR RELATCH TO BIKE TO GAIN ACCESS TO BATTERY. HAD TANK REPLACE LAST YEAR UNDER WARRANTY BY DUCATI. BUT THE NEW TANK IS NOW EXPANDING AND IT HAS BEEN 1 YEAR. FEEL THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM...GAS TANK IS PLASTIC. OLD TANKS WERE METAL, NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE. SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO ETHANOL IN THE GAS, AND THE PLASTIC GAS TANKS. I BELIEVE DUCATI NORTH AMERICA NEEDS TO GO BACK TO RE-DESIGN TANKS, POSSIBLY GO BACK TO METAL GAS TANKS. I WILL BE CONTACTING DUCATI AGAIN SOON TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPLACE MY 2ND EXPANDED GAS TANK. I ALSO HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS. I WORRY THAT THE TANK CAN BURST FROM THE PRESSURE, AND HAVE CONCERNS THAT THIS COULD OCCUR WHEN I AM DRIVING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10348525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2006 DUCATI MONSTER S2R800 DARK MOTORCYCLE- FUEL TANK WARPED INEXPLICABLY AT THE FUEL PUMP MOUNTING FLANGE, CAUSING A DANGEROUS FUEL LEAK OVER THE HORIZONTAL CYLINDER HEAD. ONLY THE RECOMMENDED FUEL OCTANE LEVEL WAS USED, NO FUEL ADDITIVES USED WHATSOEVER. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS PARTICULAR WARPING OF THE FUEL TANKS ON THESE DUCATI MODELS IS COMMON, AND INEVITABLE. TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE, I HAD TO BUY A NEW FUEL TANK AT MY OWN EXPENSE, WHICH WAS $2000 USD. I HAVE KEPT THE OLD TANK. I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BY DUCATI FOR THIS INCONVENIENCE, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY TO MYSELF OR OTHERS.
NHTSA complaint #10339041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE GAS TANK ON MY 2007 DUCATI MONSTER 695 HAS EXPANDED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NO LONGER TO PROPERLY ATTACH TO THE MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE REQUESTED A NEW TANK FROM DUCATI NORTH AMERICA, AND AM AWAITING A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO REPLACE IT.
NHTSA complaint #10336821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.