IllustrationPROBLEM: THE CHROME HARDFACING ON THE ROCKER ARMS FLAKE DUE TO SUBSTANDARD PROCESSING ON THE DUCATI SUPERBIKE SERIES OF MOTORCYCLES. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF DUCATI OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT DUCATI NORTH AMERICA HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY TO INITIATE A FIX. DT
1998 Ducati 748
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 748 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reportsTHE ENGINE CASE BOLT HOLE HAS BROKEN. THIS IS WHERE THE MOTOR IS HELD IN THE FRAME OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS A MAJOR PART THAT KEEPS THE BIKE TOGETHER. THE BOLT ITSELF IS NOT BROKEN BUT IT IS EXPOSE. IF IT CONTINUEDS TO CRACK, IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE IT FIXED BY DUCATI.*AK
ROCKER ARM IS FLAKING/ VAVLES DO NOT OPEN, AND MOTORCYCLE RUNS LEAN. ALSO, VALVES BURNED AND PISTONS CRACKED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
ROCKER ARMS INSIDE THE MOTOR HAVE A HARD CHROME PLATING WHICH HAS FLAKED OFF OF THREE ROCKERS, ENHANCING WEAR OF THE ROCKERS AND THE CAMSHAFT LOBES. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL-KNOWN AMONG DUCATI MOTORCYCLE OWNERS, AND IF LEFT UNNOTICED AND UNREPAIRED IT COULD *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF RECALL (99V-048) PRIOR TO NOTICE ON TWO OCCASIONS RESULTING IN LEAKAGE OF FUEL. MJS
Official recalls
199V048000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 11, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE FUEL LINES INSIDE THE FUEL TANK CAN LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THIS FUEL LINE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.