AI Damage2004 Ducati 999S: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Ducati 999S filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 67% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Electrical system: 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 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.
Hi I am not complaining about anything, just asking a question about a serious problem I have had with my ducati 999s 2004 model. My front brake seized up on me recently without me pulling the lever. This resulted in me nearly killing myself.
The bike exhibits a strong shuddering behavior when making medium-strength stops starting from 15-20 mph. The whole front end of the bike shakes violently. Although this has not caused an accident yet I fear that an accident could be caused, especially if I need to make any steering input while this shaking occurs.
After parking the motorcycle the consumer turned the ignition off, but the starter would continue to run. Consumer had to restart the ignition, and remove the ground wire from the battery. Consumer found frayed wires in the examination of the starter. The wires were repaired, and motorcycle was working properly.
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).
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ducati 999S?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: jerking, harsh shifts (33%), vibration (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Ducati 999S?
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 2004 Ducati 999S 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 2004 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.