AI Damage1998 Ducati 748: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Ducati 748 filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 40% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 20% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (40% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 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.
Rocker arm is flaking/ vavles do not open, and motorcycle runs lean. Also, valves burned and pistons cracked. Contacted dealer.
Rocker arms inside the motor have a hard chrome plating which has flaked off of three rockers, enhancing wear of the rockers and the camshaft lobes. This problem is well-known among ducati motorcycle owners, and if left unnoticed and unrepaired it could
Vehicle experienced failure of recall (99v-048) prior to notice on two occasions resulting in leakage of fuel. Mjs
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 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 748 has 3 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ducati 748?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, fuel system, suspension. Total complaints: 5.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 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 1998 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.
Other 1998 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.