2004 Ducati MTS 1000 problems & reliability
19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Ducati MTS 1000, alongside 2 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline → | 12 | 63% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 16% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 11% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 5% |
| Structure | 1 | 5% |
| Visibility | 1 | 5% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“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. *tr”
Fuel/propulsion System · filed Feb 27, 2013
“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. *tr”
Fuel/propulsion System · filed Jun 13, 2012
“Tank is expanding and rubbing on other body parts. It is also bubbling in random spots. I have not tried to remove it, so I it is unclear if it has fitment issues. *tr”
Structure · filed Jan 5, 2012
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Fuel leak at pump/tank interface
Preliminary Evaluation PE10045 · opened Nov 4, 2010 · closed Feb 28, 2011 · led to recall 11V020000
Technical service bulletins
23 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2004 Ducati MTS 1000. The 10 most recent:
Procedure for Assessing Front Fork Oil Leaks. Applicability: All Models. This service repair bulletin informs dealers and service managers of the assessment criteria for identifying front fork-related defects. The…
SRV-SRB-24-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 18, 2024
Guided Diagnosis for Front Brake System Bleeding. Applicability: All Models. This Service Bulletin replaces and cancels the previous bulletin SRV-SRB-20-014 published on 4/17/2020. It provides dealers and service…
SRV-SRB-23-036 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 17, 2023
Finial Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions. Applicability: All Models and Model Years (except XDiavel). This Service Bulletin replaces and cancels the previous bulletins: SRV-SRB-18-030 published on 05/11/2018…
SRV-SRB-23-037 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 13, 2023
Procedure for Analysis and Control of Oil and Coolant Leaks from Engine_Rev.01. Applicability: All Models. This service repair bulletin instructs dealers and service managers on authorized procedures for identifying and…
SRV-SRB-23-018R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 10, 2023
Precautions to Follow During Crankcase Cleaning. Applicability: All Models. This service bulletin informs dealers and service managers about precautions in using abrasive cleaners for engine component sealant, and in…
SRV-SRB-23-031 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 16, 2023
Procedure for Analysis and Control of Oil and Coolant Leaks from Engine. Applicability: All Models. This service bulletin provides dealers and service managers with troubleshooting guidance for oil or coolant leaks…
SRV-SRB-23-018 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 16, 2023
Overview of Rear Brake System Updates. Applicability: All Models. This service repair bulletin provides dealers and service managers a provides a summary of the updates available for motorcycles that have Customer…
SRV-SRB-22-038 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 23, 2022
CR235 â Checking Proper Configuration of Options Installed on the Motorcycle. Applicability: All Models (USA & MEX country versions only) . This technical service bulletin informs dealers and service managers of…
SRV-TSB-22-010 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 5, 2022
Overview of Rear Brake System Updates. Applicability: All US Models. This service bulletin provides a summary of the updates available for motorcycles that have Customer concerns about a slight elongation, over time and…
SRV-SRB-22-031 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 18, 2022
Tips and Tricks Summary Rev.10. Applicability: Multistrada. This bulletin provides instructions for correct bike battery charging and maintenance procedure.
TTB-22-001 Rv10 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 12, 2022
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2004 Ducati MTS 1000 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2004 Ducati MTS 1000?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.