Big Dog Ridgeback Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints across the 1 model years of the Big Dog Ridgeback (2005–2005) that have at least 5 complaints. 2005 has the most, with 12. Across all years, the part named most often is wheels (7 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Ridgeback model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 12 | 4,050 | 6 | 23 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Wheels7 50%
- Electrical system3 21%
- Brakes2 14%
- Transmission and drivetrain1 7.1%
- Tires1 7.1%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2005: “The two bolts holding the front caliper on my 2005 Bigdog Ridgeback backed out. I discovered it after riding the motorcycle. The two bolts had backed out to where they were being held by a couple of threads. I then removed the bolts, and found that there was absolutely no locktite applied to either of the bolts. If the front caliper falls off while riding, it could be catastrophic. I purchased some locktite , and applied it to the bolt threads, and reinstalled the bolts.”
NHTSA complaint #10159108, filed 2006-06, 1,700 milesOther Big Dog models
26 complaintsBig Dog Pitbull
12 complaintsBig Dog Mastiff
6 complaintsBig Dog K-9
5 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology