2016 Ducati Multistrada Problems: 4 Known Issues

On the 2015-2018 Ducati Multistrada, the Brembo front brake master cylinder on these bikes may have a piston made of polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) plastic that can crack, letting the pressure chamber vent to open air so the master cylinder cannot build enough hydraulic pressure. Front braking can be lost, leaving only the rear brake and lengthening stopping distances; the failure may come with no warning, although a significant loss of brake effectiveness may be an early sign. Applies to: 2015–2017 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S and 1200 S Pikes Peak, and 2018 Multistrada 1260 S and 1260 S Pikes Peak, built with a PPS master-cylinder piston (Part 573 production window for the Multistrada S/Pikes Peak: March 16, 2015 to October 31, 2017). Ducati campaign SRV-RCL-18-001. Bikes built with the aluminum piston, and the base (non-S) Multistrada, are not listed. The rear brake is not affected.

On the 2015-2016 Ducati Multistrada Testastretta DVT 1198cc, on certain motorcycles the side-stand support tube was made out of tolerance on length, which can leave an improper weld where it joins the forged upper part of the side stand. The side stand could break at that weld and let the motorcycle fall over; cracking at the weld may be visible beforehand. Applies to: Certain 2015–2016 Ducati Multistrada 1200 and 1200 S (Testastretta DVT 1198cc) built December 1, 2014 to June 11, 2015; NHTSA lists 869 potentially involved U.S. units. Side stands carry a batch number: batches through week 22 of 2015 are involved and later batches are compliant. Ducati campaign RCL 15-003 (Transport Canada 2015-459).

On the 2013-2016 Ducati Multistrada, owners report an 'Error DSS' warning for the semi-active Skyhook suspension; one 2013 Pikes Peak owner saw it whenever the bike was started on the sidestand and noted a harsh ride. Owners of 2013 bikes say dealers traced it to the rear accelerometer cable on the swingarm being routed too tight, fixed by rerouting or a replacement sensor with a longer cable under warranty. Other owners, including 2015 and 2016 1200 S DVT owners, traced DSS errors to the front fork sensors, a damaged harness near the oil cooler and steering head, or low battery voltage after storage. Applies to: 2013–2016 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S versions with Ducati Skyhook Suspension (2013–2014 Testastretta 11° S Touring, Pikes Peak and Granturismo; 2015–2016 1200 S DVT). The reports linked here come from 2013 bikes and from 2015–2016 1200 S DVT bikes; the base Multistrada 1200 without DSS is not covered.

On the 2010-2017 Ducati Multistrada, the Hands Free system can fail to recognise the battery-powered active key, so the ignition will not switch on and the bike has to be started with the owner's PIN code. Ducati's bulletin gives a key reset for this, and owners in the linked threads report it happening with no low-key-battery warning, with one owner reporting restored operation after reseating the battery. These individual reports do not establish a common cause or failure rate. The system has a low-key-battery warning; its absence does not rule out a key problem. Applies to: 2010–2017 Ducati Multistrada 1200 and 1200 DVT models with the Hands Free system (all versions the bulletin lists, including S Touring, S Sport, Pikes Peak, Granturismo, D|Air and, from 2016, Enduro). The reset-button key, part 59810352B, arrived from model year 2017; the 2018-on Multistrada 1260 is excluded from the reset-button procedure.