AI Damage2004 Ducati MTS 1000: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Ducati MTS 1000 filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 19
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 63% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 16% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 5% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 5% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 12 complaints (63% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (16% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (11% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (5% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (5% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 19 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 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.
The fuel tank has deformed and expanded (especially in length) to the point it is stuck in the frame and can't be removed for valve adjustment or other normal maintenance services.
Plastic fuel tank has expanded to render the motorcycle unsafe as it interferes with the movement of the handlebars. Ethanol in the pump fuel is the cause.
The warping of the tank could lead to fuel leakage, and has happened to many others. Ducati is selectively replacing these tanks, but in some cases (mine) being denied because there is no leak (yet).
Expanding and leaking plastic motorcycle fuel tank. Presents fire danger and ill fitment and attachment to the frame.
Further expansion of the tank, as has been observed on numerous other motorcycles with the same or similar tanks, leads to the separation of the fuel flange from the tank resulting in a significant fuel leak that could pose a serious combustion hazard.
1. Regular use on the street of the motorcycle. The motorcycle has 12000 miles on the odometer and a governor to prevent redlining. 2. The failure appears to be widespread on ducatis made before 2006.
When braking the bike shudders violently causing a momentary loss of control. This happens 8 out of 10 stops. There is currently a forum discussion going on since 2003 regarding the dreaded brake shudder on this bike: http://www.multistrada.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54&highlight=brake+shudder so far one member on the…
Front brakes vibrate and shudder every time the motorcycle is approaching a stop, sometimes violently. This began when the bike had reached 600 miles in service, and has not stopped since then. There are now has 3600 miles on the odometer.
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 8,437 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 23% most complained about).
On average one model year of the MTS 1000 has 7 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 19, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ducati MTS 1000?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, service brakes, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 19. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (11%), jerking, harsh shifts (11%), vibration (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Ducati MTS 1000?
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 MTS 1000 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.