Ducati North America Recalls Supersport, Supersport S for Potential Fire Hazard

Ducati North America has filed a recall with the United States’ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a potential fire hazard with its Ducati Supersport and Ducati Supersport S sportbikes. The recall affects the said models that were produced between July 21, 2016 to May 16, 2018.

According to the Italian motorcycle manufacturer, some of its SuperSport motorcycles may have been assembled with both the airbox blow-by and fuel tank overfill hoses routed too closely to the horizontal exhaust manifold. Under certain conditions, these hoses could melt, leading to a potential risk of fire as a possible fuel discharge near a high-heat source could ignite. At idle, speed the rider could see smoke and smell burning rubber coming from the area by the lower left side of the fairing.

Within the past three months, Ducati reportedly received three separate reports from three different countries reporting the fires, with one report coming from the United States.

Ducati supposedly began investigating the problem when it received the first reported case in March. On June 5, 2018, Ducati made the decision to launch a worldwide safety recall campaign.

Certified Ducati repair technicians will inspect existing hose routing and correct hose locations as needed to ensure any contact between these hoses and the exhaust manifold is avoided, in accordance with new routing procedures prescribed by Ducati. The new routing moves the airbox and fuel tank drain hoses in front of existing electrical wiring. Rubber clamps securing the hoses will be lowered so both hoses avoid contact with the exhaust manifold. This will be performed free of charge.

There has been no word yet from local Ducati distributor Access Plus if a similar measure will be put in place for affected models, if there are any, in the country.