Ducati in North America is issuing a recall for the 2021 Ducati Multistrada pertaining to an engine problem on certain motorcycles. Certain units of the Granturismo V4 engine on the Multistrada V4 may have an issue with the valve guide system. The brand has reportedly found quality issues with the valve guides which may cause excessive wear, powerless and engine failure in the long run.
The Ducati Multistrada V4 uses a Granturismo V4 powertrain and despite stringent quality control from the Italian brand quality issues have been found with the Valve Guides with one of two parts suppliers. The brand’s Bologna production plant has identified the quality issue which may lead to the malfunction of the engine. In the North American market, a total of 60 units are under the recall campaign out of which 44 units are in the USA, 13 in Mexico and 3 units in Canada.
Ducati will replace the complete engine on the motorcycle under the recall campaign. The brand issue a Stop Ride notice to its customers who already possess the model and another Stop Sale notice to dealerships who have these in their inventory. Customers will also get compensation in the form of – two years of free official annual maintenance, a free radar software upgrade which costs USD 850 + labour and a USD 1,500 voucher for the purchase of Ducati apparel or accessories.
Granturismo engine features a 1158cc 90-degree V4 motor that develops 170 Hp of power and 125 Nm of torque matched to a 6-speed gearbox. The engine consists of a counter-rotating crankshaft with crankpins offset at 70-degrees and semi-dry-sump lubrication with three oil pumps. The valvetrain is a part chain, part gear timing with dual overhead camshaft and 4 valves per cylinder. The spring valve return system stresses fewer components when compared to the Desmodromic system and allows for a 60,000 km-long maintenance valves check interval that is a new record-breaking maintenance interval in the two-wheeler industry.