2004 Big Dog Chopper recalls and problems

The 2004 Big Dog Chopper has 6 recalls and 10 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2004 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

6recalls

10complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

5,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

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6 recalls

Electrical System

May 3, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V180000 · 1,895 vehicles

Problem: Big Dog is recalling certain 2004 chopper, bulldog, ridgeback, mastiff, boxer, and pitbull motorcycles. There is a possible loose connection between the harness connector and the electronic harness controller.

Original NHTSA wording

BIG DOG IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2004 CHOPPER, BULLDOG, RIDGEBACK, MASTIFF, BOXER, AND PITBULL MOTORCYCLES. THERE IS A POSSIBLE LOOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HARNESS CONNECTOR AND THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROLLER.

Risk: This condition May cause the motorcycle to experience intermittent loss of electrical power to various components, which can lead to, among other things, a loss of headlamp function or a vehicle stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER TO VARIOUS COMPONENTS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A LOSS OF HEADLAMP FUNCTION OR A VEHICLE STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Big Dog will notify owners and dealers will repair the motorcycles free of charge. The safety recall began on May 24, 2010. Owners May contact Big Dog at 1-316-219-9121.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Structure

Jan 25, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V019000 · 9,726 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the kickstand spring May stretch and detach from the mounting bracket or the kickstand.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE KICKSTAND SPRING MAY STRETCH AND DETACH FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET OR THE KICKSTAND.

Risk: This will allow the kickstand to deploy into the extended position and cause a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS WILL ALLOW THE KICKSTAND TO DEPLOY INTO THE EXTENDED POSITION AND CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a new kickstand spring free of charge. The recall began on February 17, 2006. Owners May contact Big Dog at 316-267-9121.

Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Structure

Nov 2, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V523000 · 4,457 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the kickstand spring attaching stud May break off allowing the kickstand to deploy into the extended position.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE KICKSTAND SPRING ATTACHING STUD MAY BREAK OFF ALLOWING THE KICKSTAND TO DEPLOY INTO THE EXTENDED POSITION.

Risk: If the kickstand deploys, it could cause a crash without prior warning.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE KICKSTAND DEPLOYS, IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and install a new kickstand unit. The recall began on December 20, 2004. Owners should contact Big Dog at 316-267-9121.

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Steering

Apr 6, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V164000 · 2,098 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, a screw May become loose in the handlebar control due to the lack of a lock washer and loctite.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A SCREW MAY BECOME LOOSE IN THE HANDLEBAR CONTROL DUE TO THE LACK OF A LOCK WASHER AND LOCTITE.

Risk: This could cause the throttle or front brake control to bind, which could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE OR FRONT BRAKE CONTROL TO BIND, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a lock washer and loctite. Owner notification began on April 12, 2004. Owners should contact Big Dog at 1-316-219-7006.

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Mar 23, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V137000 · 1,906 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the piston in the rear master cylinder May have been improperly sized, which could cause the rear brakes to drag or lockup.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE PISTON IN THE REAR MASTER CYLINDER MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SIZED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE REAR BRAKES TO DRAG OR LOCKUP.

Risk: This could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will remove the piston from the rear master cylinder and replace it with a new piston. Owner notification began on April 12, 2004. Owners should contact Big Dog at 1-316-267-9121.

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Structure

Dec 18, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V535000 · 1,446 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles assembled with an early version rolling thunder frame, a stress crack could emerge in the frame.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES ASSEMBLED WITH AN EARLY VERSION ROLLING THUNDER FRAME, A STRESS CRACK COULD EMERGE IN THE FRAME.

Risk: This condition could occur without any prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will repair the frame. Owner notification began January 15, 2004. Owners should contact Big Dog at 1-316-267-9121.

Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Electronic Stability Control1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

Motorcycle Stalling

RQ10002 · opened Jan 27, 2010 · closed May 10, 2010 · led to recall 10V180000

Summary

This RQ was opened based on seemingly related owner complaints involving motorcycles outside the scope of 06V-301.During the course of subsequent discussions with the company, we learned that the earlier model year Big Dogs had a problem with the electronic harness control module connector that they'd previously addressed with a TSB.Since the TSB addressed a safety-related issue (stalling), Big Dog agreed to recall the motorcycles subject to the TSB (10V-180).With that decision, ODI agreed to waive requiring a response to its information request and is now closing this RQ.

2004 vs. other Big Dog Chopper years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2004. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2004 Big Dog Chopper have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns covering the 2004 Big Dog Chopper, the latest from May 3, 2010 (electrical system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Big Dog Chopper?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (5), exterior lighting (2), power train (2). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.