2007 Ducati Sport Classic Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report one dominant problem: the plastic fuel tank slowly expands and deforms, so it pulls away from its front mounting brackets and ends up held mainly by the rear bolt. Most complaints describe this appearing early in the bike's life, often within the first few thousand miles, and dealers most often responded by replacing the tank under warranty with an identical part that spread again in the same way. Other reported items, such as stalling or idle issues, appear far less often in the sample.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Plastic fuel tank spreads and loosens from its mounts

   • 56 complaints (82%)
   • median 3,100 mi at 2.5 yrs old (50 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2012

   Owners describe the polycarbonate fuel tank gradually widening so the front pegs or grommets no longer sit in the frame brackets, leaving the tank held by the single rear bolt. Many say they can lift or rock the tank by hand, and some report it lifting in wind at highway speed or interfering with the handlebar at full lock. According to the complaints, dealers typically replaced the tank under warranty or shimmed the brackets, and several owners say the replacement tank deformed the same way within months, with some waiting on a third tank or being told nothing further could be guaranteed. Reported from as little as a few hundred miles up to roughly 18,000 miles, with many cases between about 1,000 and 8,000 miles and others appearing after a year or two of use.

   What to check: Ask whether the tank has ever been replaced and whether the front pegs still seat fully in the frame brackets; with the bike on a stand, try lifting the front of the tank by hand and look for gaps at the mounts. Also ask what fuel has been used and whether any shimming or bracket work was done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The plastic gas tank on my motorcycle has over time expanded and distorted enough that it had fallen off of the mounting points on the frame of my vehicle and was no longer secure to the motorcycle. This caused the bike to become unrideable due to the fear of the gas tank falling off or interfering with the handlebars.”

   NHTSA complaint #10321635, filed 2010-03, 8,680 miles

   “I own a 2007 Ducati Sport Classic. This bike has a well known design issue that causes the gas tank to spread . Ducati has been replacing them under warranty, but the replacement has the same flawed design, and will fail also. My warranty is still in effect and the dealer just ordered my replacement tank, but I am concerned that when this next one spreads my warranty will be null.”

   NHTSA complaint #10278495, filed 2009-07, 600 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Tank distortion blocking controls or blistering paint

   Mentioned in 4 of 58 sampled complaints

   Some owners report the spreading tank also affects surrounding parts: the right handlebar switch assembly nearly touches the tank at full right lock, and controls lose full range of movement on another bike. Others describe dimples or bubbling of the paint on top of the tank, which some attribute to fuel vapor passing through the plastic. Described on bikes with roughly 1,000 to 7,000 miles in the sample, typically after the tank had already begun to spread.

   What to check: Turn the bars fully left and right and check clearance to the tank, and inspect the top of the tank in good light for dimples, bubbles, or paint lifting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “1. I noticed dimples on the top of my gas tank and then checked the mounting brackets for the gas tank. The gas tank could be pulled completely off the motorcycle without much effort. 2. This is a failure that cannot rectify itself and slowly degrades more and more. 3. The motorcycle was taken into a Ducati service shop and they shimmed the gas tank bracket to prevent it from being able to remove it completely. The tank was still loose, but could not be removed completely. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10421650, filed 2011-08, 7,000 miles

   “Purchased 2007 Ducati s1000 new in feb. 2008 from dealership. Since purchased fuel tank has been spreading and I needed to shim tank brackets 1/4 on both sides to securely hold tank in place . Tank also has bubbled on outside underneath paint on upper right corner, I believe from gas fumes penetrating through plastic. I am very concerned about this problem. How far the tank will spread?will it eventually rupture?”

   NHTSA complaint #10334078, filed 2010-06

Buying note. The tank is the thing to inspect on this model year: check that the front mounts still hold it firmly and ask about replacement history, since owners report replacements spreading again. Confirm by VIN whether recall 07V017000 was performed, and budget for possibly sourcing or fitting a tank fix if the original is still on the bike.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 58 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.