AI Damage2008 Ducati 1098S: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Ducati 1098S filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 75% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (75% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
When motorcycle driven at slow pace or in traffic the heat is unbearable from exhaust making me over heat and almost passed out from this bike causing burns on leg.
The vehicle I'm referring to is a 2008 1098s ducati. While idling, driving or when coming to a stop, the motorcycle will shut off when the clutch is applied. The problem happens randomly and regardless of what gear I am on or the motorcycle's temperature.
Excessive exhaust heat caused blister burns through leather suit on leg when motorcycle driven slow. This motorcycle cannot be driven slow with out the effects of excessive exhaust heat.
On the second day of riding the bike stalled as I was approaching a light, I squeezed the clutch lever and was pressing both front and rear brakes at the time as I was downshifting from third into second gear, was annoyed but wasn't concerned at first because it happened as I was stopping at a light.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 1098S has 3 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ducati 1098S?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Ducati 1098S?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 Ducati 1098S from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.