AI Damage1997 Ducati 748: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Ducati 748 filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 33% of all complaints
- 3 Wheels 33% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Wheels: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 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.
Hard chrome plating on face of rocker arms, that contact camshaft, flakes off and becomes suspended in the oil system. Rocker arms without plating wear cam shafts and rocker arms. I have this issue on my 1997 ducati, and know of numerous other cases.
Bushline fell & grinded down a retaining nut. This was repaired once before last year. Dealer will be contacted.
The battery light came on. The motorcycle was still drivable. Has taken motorcycle to dealer & electrical wire harness was repaired.
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 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 748 has 3 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 3, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ducati 748?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, wheels. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (33%), warning lights, check engine (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Ducati 748?
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 1997 Ducati 748 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.
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.