2012 Ducati Multistrada 1200 ABS

The defect

DUCATI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 848, STREETFIGHTER, HYPERMOTARD, MULTISTRADA, AND MONSTER MOTORCYCLES. THE FRICTION MATERIAL MAY DETACH FROM THE BACKING PLATE OF THE REAR BRAKE PADS.

The risk

IF THE FRICTION MATERIAL DETACHES, THERE WOULD BE A SUDDEN LOSS OF REAR BRAKE EFFICIENCY, INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

The remedy

DUCATI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE, AS NECESSARY, THE REAR BRAKE PADS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DUCATI AT 1-800-231-6696 OR GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.DUCATI.COM.

DUCATI NORTH AMERICA · up to 283 vehicles across all model years covered

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened February 18, 2021 · closed July 9, 2021 · led to recall 21V315000

the brakes, the hydraulic brakes

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) based on twenty-two (22) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) for soft rear brakes caused by air seeping into the rear brake lines of model year (MY) 2012-2020 Ducati Monster, Multistrada, SuperSport, Panigale, Scrambler and Diavel motorcycles.The consumers were alleging that the rear brakes would not properly function unless the rear brake pedal was applied several times or that there was a total loss of rear braking during normal applications, increasing the risk of a crash. In a March 2020 meeting, Ducati indicated that they were aware of certain models in which air may enter the motorcycles' rear braking system through the brake lines, due to exposure to heat from the exhaust system. Although this condition compromises rear braking performance, Ducati stated that they did not consider this to be a safety defect because the front and rear brake systems are hydraulically independent from each other, and a motorcycle's front brake system performs most of the stopping. Additionally, they believed that routine brake fluid replacement would resolve consumers' concerns, however complainants and dealership service technicians reported that, in some cases, after a dealer serviced the rear brake system, the rear brake pedal would feel soft and spongy again (indicating compromised brake performance) less than a year later--well before the recommended two-year brake fluid service interval. As a precaution, Ducati issued a series of technical service bulletins (TSBs) to replace the brake lines with redesigned ones, rerouting them away from the exhaust system.ODI's position is that all of the brakes on a motorcycle are considered necessary for safety. Analysis of the data identified that neither the entire model line nor the entire model year range of motorcycles covered by the investigation were affected, but rather certain sub-models or narrower model year ranges of motorcycles incorporated brake lines with a higher exposure to the heat from the exhaust system. Because of the unique routing of each model's brake line, some motorcycles are more susceptible to the condition than others. As these specific models and model years were most likely to exhibit an increased risk of a crash from the lengthened stopping distance, Ducati converted the previously issued TSBs into a safety recall.After receiving a total of 94 VOQs, ODI is closing this PE with Ducati's safety recall 21V-315. With the recall action taken by Ducati, this investigation is closed. However, the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist on other models or MY vehicles outside of the recall scope. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

THE REAR BRAKE IS INEFFECTIVE AT ANY SPEED. THE BLEEDER SCREW IS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CALIPER AND IT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PROPERLY BLEED. THE BRAKE LINE LEADING TO THE CALIPER IS TOO CLOSE TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING THE FLUID IN THE LINE TO BOIL. I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I CAN THINK OF TO FIX THESE ISSUES BUT THE BRAKE IS STILL INEFFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint 11398784. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

18,500 miles

THE REAR BRAKE BECOMES USELESS AFTER BLEEDING BY THE DEALER. THEY TESTED THE SYSTEM AND REPORTED IT HOLDS PRESSURE WITH NO ISSUE YET AFTER TIME TYPICALLY WITHIN 12 MONTHS THE BRAKE FAILURE OCCURS. THE ONLY REASONING GIVEN IS DESIGN WITH LOCATION TOO CLOSE TO THE HEAT SOURCE. THESE BIKES ARE NOT ENTRY LEVEL SO IT ONLY DUE TO THE EXPERIENCE OF THE RIDERS THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FATALITY DUE TO NO REAR BRAKE.

NHTSA complaint 11142360. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

1,000 miles

THE REAR BRAKE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG OWNERS (AND DUCATI MECHANICS). DUCATI IS ALSO WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT OFFERED ANY TYPE OF FIX. THE PROBLEM IS THAT NO MATTER HOW OFTEN ONE BLEEDS THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM, WITHIN JUST A FEW HUNDRED MILES, THE REAR BRAKE NO LONGER HAS ANY EFFECT ON THE BIKE'S SPEED. IF ONE GOES MUCH PAST 700-800 MILES, THE BRAKE PEDAL SIMPLY GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN, DOING NOTHING AT ALL. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN DECEMBER 2012. DUCATI HAS REPLACED THE REAR MASTER CYLINDER TWICE, BUT AGAIN, WITHIN JUST A FEW HUNDRED MILES, THE BRAKES ARE GONE. ACCORDING TO DUCATI MECHANICS AND OTHER RIDERS WHO HAVE THIS ISSUE, THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE …

NHTSA complaint 11132335, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

9,600 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 DUCATI MULTISTRADA 1200 ABS. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH THE TRANSMISSION POPS OUT OF FIRST AND SECOND GEAR WHEN UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT DRUM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,600. MAILED OUT 01/13/15*LJ

NHTSA complaint 10661906. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

20 miles

THE REAR BRAKE DOES NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. I HAVE ASKED DUCATI TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AND AFTER 4 SEPARATE REPAIR SESSIONS IT IS STILL NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. THIS WILL CAUSE NO REAR BRAKES NEEDS A OFFICIAL RECALL! *TR

NHTSA complaint 10611150. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

7,500 miles

REAR BRAKE IS INEFFECTIVE, PEDAL HAS EXCESSIVE TRAVEL AND SOFT. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10574430. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.