2018 Ducati Panigale 959
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 1 owner complaints filed for this model year.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, padsJul 19, 2018
Ducati North America (Ducati) is recalling certain 2018 Ducati Panigale V4, Panigale 959, Panigale 1299 FE, and Hypermotard motorcycles. The friction material on the rear brake pads may detach from the backing plate.
If the rear brake pad friction material detaches, it may lengthen the distance needed to stop the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ducati will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear brake pads. Brake pads from the affected batch will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2018. Owners may contact Ducati customer service at 1-888-391-5446.
Campaign 18V480000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: service brakes
1 report, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Oct 31, 2018
I WAS RIDING UP TO A RED LIGHT INTERSECTION AND APPLIED THE REAR BRAKES. THEY SEIZED CLOSED (SAME EFFECT AS SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES), ALMOST WASHING ME OUT INTO CROSSTRAFFIC. THEY DID NOT RELEASE FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS ONCE STOPPED. THERE WAS NO DIRT, WATER, OR FOD IN THE HYDRAULIC LINES OR THE PAD/ROTOR. I HAD JUST BLED THEM, SO IT WAS NOT THE EXPANSION OF AN AIR POCKET. THE RETURN CHANNEL (THE SMALL PINHOLE BACK TO THE RESERVOIR) WAS CLEAR, AND THE SPRING WAS FUNCTIONAL. I SEARCHED FOR OTHER PROBLEMS AND FOUND SRV-RCL-18-004, A KNOWN RECALL FOR FAULTY REAR BRAKE PADS ON MY BIKE/MODEL (HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/RCL/2018/RCRIT-18V480-3230.PDF). I SUSPECT THAT THEY THERMALLY FUSED TO MY DISC DURING THE INCIDENT ABOVE. I REMOVED THE BRAKE PADS TO INSPECT THEM. PICTURES ARE ATTACHED. SURE ENOUGH, THE PADS WERE TRASHED. NOT ONLY WAS THE FRICTION MATERIAL COMPLETELY GONE, BUT ABOUT 80-90% OF THE BACKING PLATE ON WHICH THE PAD IS ADHERED WAS WORN THROUGH. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS 3500 MILES, WELL BEFORE EOL FOR A HEALTHY REAR BRAKE PAD. IF A MOTORCYCLE IS DRIVEN FOR 3500 MILES WITH NO FRONT BRAKE APPLICATION, ONLY REAR, THAT WOULD STILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO WEAR THE REAR PAD OUT TO THIS DEGREE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT. THE ROTORS ARE SCORED DUE TO THE CONTACT WITH THE FAULTY BRAKE PAD. I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR PADS TO TEMPORARILY ALLOW REAR BRAKING, BUT EFFICIENCY IS REDUCED AGAINST A NON-FLAT ROTOR. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL. THEY DID NOT NOTIFY ME OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR OWNER CONTACT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.