2005 Big Dog Chopper recalls and problems

The 2005 Big Dog Chopper has 7 recalls and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is electrical system.

How the 2005 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

7recalls

5complaints

0crashes

1fires

0injuries

1,900median 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.

Check your VIN →

7 recalls

Structure

Dec 18, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V580000 · 8,061 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the rear fender strut attaching bolts can fail allowing the rear fender to detach from the motorcycle.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE REAR FENDER STRUT ATTACHING BOLTS CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE REAR FENDER TO DETACH FROM THE MOTORCYCLE.

Risk: This could occur without prior warning and could result in an injury or a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN AN INJURY OR A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will remove existing strut bolts and replace with higher tensile strength attaching bolts and updated washers. Higher torque values will be observed when installing the replacement fasteners. The recall began on January 21, 2008. 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

Oct 12, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V389000 · 2,494 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the long pivot bolt May bend or break during normal operation of the motorcycle.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE LONG PIVOT BOLT MAY BEND OR BREAK DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE.

Risk: This could potentially cause the rear fender to abrade against the rear tire while the motorcycle is being driven. This condition could occur without any prior warning and could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE REAR FENDER TO ABRADE AGAINST THE REAR TIRE WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING DRIVEN. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the long pivot bolt and, if necessary, straighten the rear frame side panel. The short left side pivot bolt and pivot shaft May also be replaced free of charge. The recall began on November 1, 2006. Owners May contact Big Dog at 316-267-9121.

Customers can 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.

Electrical System

Aug 11, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V305000 · 2,101 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the electronic harness control (ehc) module can fail resulting in a total shut down of the vehicle's electronic power.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROL (EHC) MODULE CAN FAIL RESULTING IN A TOTAL SHUT DOWN OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC POWER.

Risk: This condition could occur without any prior warning and could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the ehc modules free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 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.

Electrical System

Aug 9, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V301000 · 2,711 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the ignition modules are oriented within the battery tray in a way that makes the ignition module susceptible to vibration.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE IGNITION MODULES ARE ORIENTED WITHIN THE BATTERY TRAY IN A WAY THAT MAKES THE IGNITION MODULE SUSCEPTIBLE TO VIBRATION.

Risk: This susceptibility to vibration May contribute to a stalling condition that could occur without any prior warning and result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO VIBRATION MAY CONTRIBUTE TO A STALLING CONDITION THAT COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will install a new ignition module mounting system free of charge. The recall began on August 25, 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

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.

Wheels

Sep 28, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V432000 · 3,294 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the rear wheel hub bolts could loosen and back out allowing the hub and brake rotor to detach from the wheel with an associated loss of stopping power.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE REAR WHEEL HUB BOLTS COULD LOOSEN AND BACK OUT ALLOWING THE HUB AND BRAKE ROTOR TO DETACH FROM THE WHEEL WITH AN ASSOCIATED LOSS OF STOPPING POWER.

Risk: This condition could occur without any prior warning and could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will remove, clean and reattach the rear hub bolts free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2005. Owners May contact Big Dog at 1-312-267-9121.

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.

Power Train

Apr 14, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V149000 · 1,418 vehicles

Problem: On certain motorcycles, the primary drive sprocket nut May back off the engine main shaft.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE PRIMARY DRIVE SPROCKET NUT MAY BACK OFF THE ENGINE MAIN SHAFT.

Risk: This could cause the primary drive to lock up and cause a crash. This condition could occur without any prior warning.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CAUSE THE PRIMARY DRIVE TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE A CRASH. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect and replace the drive sprocket nut free of charge. The recall began on May 13, 2005. 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.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Vehicle Speed Control1

Wheels1

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

Complaints by year filed

2005 vs. other Big Dog Chopper years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2005. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2005 Big Dog Chopper have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns covering the 2005 Big Dog Chopper, the latest from Dec 18, 2007 (structure). 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 2005 Big Dog Chopper?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention electrical system (2), engine (1), structure (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.