Complaints over time
Complaints about the 2005 Bigdog Chopper peaked in 2006, with 2 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Model year
2005 Bigdog Chopper
Motorcycle, gasoline, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Mar 6, 2006 to Dec 31, 2007.
Recall campaigns covering this model year730k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints3Close to the median 2005 motorcycle
Severity index0.02005 motorcycles average 9.3
First 24 months2Complaints in its first two years
Components
33% of complaints about the 2005 Bigdog Chopper name electrical system
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls
7 recall campaigns cover the 2005 Bigdog Chopper
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07V-580 | Dec 18, 2007 | On certain motorcycles, the rear fender strut attaching bolts can fail allowing the rear fender to detach from the motorcycle | Structure | 8,061 | Part replacement |
| 06V-389 | Oct 12, 2006 | On certain motorcycles, the long pivot bolt may bend or break during normal operation of the motorcycle | Structure | 2,494 | Part replacement |
| 06V-305 | Aug 11, 2006 | On certain motorcycles, the electronic harness control (ehc) module can fail resulting in a total shut down of the vehicle's electronic power | Electrical system | 2,101 | Part replacement |
| 06V-301 | Aug 9, 2006 | On certain motorcycles, the ignition modules are oriented within the battery tray in a way that makes the ignition module susceptible to vibration | Electrical system | 2,711 | Repair or modification |
| 06V-019 | Jan 25, 2006 | On certain motorcycles, the kickstand spring may stretch and detach from the mounting bracket or the kickstand | Structure | 9,726 | Repair or modification |
| 05V-432 | Sep 28, 2005 | 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… | Wheels | 3,294 | Not stated |
| 05V-149 | Apr 14, 2005 | On certain motorcycles, the primary drive sprocket nut may back off the engine main shaft | Powertrain | 1,418 | Part replacement |
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 2005 Bigdog Chopper
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
3 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed Dec 31, 2007Failure Dec 1, 20051,500 milesFresno, CAEngine, Kickstand/center stand, Wheels
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BIG DOG CHOPPER. THE CONTACT HAS HAD SIX LIFE THREATENING RECALLS CONSISTING OF THE WHEEL HUB NUT, COMPUTER HARNESS, SWING ARM PENDENT, IGNITION RELAY, KICK STAND SPRING, AND VOLTAGE REGULATOR. HE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR ALL SIX RECALLS AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED. HE STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO RECTIFY THE FAILURES AND HAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,500.
NHTSA complaint 10213282 - Filed Jul 7, 2006Failure Jun 16, 20061,900 milesSkiatook, OKElectrical system
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE SEEMS AS IF IT ATTEMPTED TO START ITSELF AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE BECAME WET. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CHANGED THE GASKETS AND GREASED THE CONNECTIONS TO STOP THE WATER FROM SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
NHTSA complaint 10161758 - Filed Mar 6, 2006Failure Feb 25, 20065,200 milesGIG Harbor, WAVehicle speed control
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER INTERMITTENTLY PROVIDES AN INCORRECT READING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER. THEY DETERMINED THE MAGNETIC SENSOR ABOVE THE TRANSMISSION INTERFERES WITH THE SPEEDOMETER WHICH RESULTS IN THE INCORRECT READING. THE DEALER CLEANED THE MAGNETIC STRIP, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED.
NHTSA complaint 10152027
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations
NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins
18 manufacturer communications cover this model year
Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.
- 07V580 Oct 30, 2008 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
BIG DOG MOTORCYCLE: STRUT BOLTS REPLACEMENT. REMOVE STRUT BOLTS AND INSTALL STRUT BOLT KIT P/N 243 000010-00. *PE - SIL-0008 May 11, 2008 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
BIG DOG MOTORCYCLE: ELECTRICAL SIDE COVER CONTACT WITH BELT GUARD. A WIRE BUNDLE MAY PROTRUDE INTO THE RIGHT ELECTRICAL SIDE COVER. *PE - 1092 May 18, 2007 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
BIGDOG MOTORCYCLES - REVISED SPEEDOMETER AND MOUNT. *NJ - 1090 Aug 25, 2006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ROUGH SHIFTING, OR NOISY TRANSMISSION CAUSED BY LOOSE TRANSMISSION COUNTERSHAFT SCREW. *TT - 1077 Jun 16, 2006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
HEADLAMP CONNECTOR MAY MELT, MAKING BULB REPLACEMENT DIFFICULT. *TT - 1069 Nov 3, 2006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
INTERMITTENT PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD OPERATION. *TT - 1078 Jun 23, 2006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
EHC CONTACT IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE (REVISED). CURRENT SEAL DOES NOT ALLOW CONNECTOR PINS TO SEAT PROPERLY AND MOISTURE MAY BE PRESENT IN CONNECTOR. *TT - 1080 Apr 27, 2006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
TACHOMETER BOARD REPLACEMENT - INACCURATE TACHOMETER READINGS OR FLUCTUATION IN READINGS DUE TO MOISTURE. *AK - 1075 May 3, 2006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
DIELECTRIC GREASE ADDITION TO CONNECTORS. *TT - 1079 Apr 13, 2006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
UPPER ENGINE MOUNT SCREW IS LOOSE OR MISSING. *AK - 1072 Mar 27, 2006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
INACCURATE SPEEDOMETER OPERATION - VIBRATIONS AT HIGH SPEED ARE CAUSING SIGNAL LOSS TO NEEDLE FROM SPEED SENSOR. *TT - 143 Aug 2, 2005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
05 CLUTCH BEARING CARRIER IDENTIFICATION. *AK - 1059 Sep 10, 2005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ABNORMAL PRIMARY CHAIN NOISE RESULTING FROM DISPLACEMENT OF THE ADJUSTING SHOE 10MM EXTERNAL SNAP RING RETAINER. *TT - 1058 Aug 22, 2005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ENGINE RUNNING ONLY ON ONE CYLINDER AND/OR DAMAGED IGNITION COIL OR IGNITION MODULE. *TT - 1056 Jul 10, 2005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
EXHAUST END CAP RESONATING RATTLING NOISE. *TT - 1055 Jul 10, 2005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
PRIMARY DRIVE FLUID SEEPING FROM THE STARTER HOUSING. *TT - 1061 Sep 10, 2005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
1/2 - 20 INCH UPPER ENGINE MOUNT BOLT RETENTION. BIG DOG. *TT - 1054 Jun 2, 2006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
BAKER 6-SPEED MAIN SHAFT SNAP RING. *SC
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.