NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Big Dog Chopper Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Big Dog Chopper has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Big Dog dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Big Dog Chopper. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2004 Big Dog Chopper owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Big Dog Chopper, describing incidents dated December 1, 2009 to August 15, 2014.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 2 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10622441 · Filed August 15, 2014
WHERE DO I GET A 2004 MASTER CYLINDER FOR MY BIKE??? EVERYTHING THAT'S ON RECALL IS ON MY BIKE!! AND EVEN MORE TO BE PISSED ABOUT IS THEY SOLD THIS TO ME A FEW MONTHS AFTER THERE RECALL WHEN THEY NEW ABOUT IT, EVERYTHING THAT WAS FIXED BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE PROBLEMS I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. BUT YET…
ODI #10508115 · Filed April 13, 2013
HEAD LIGHT TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. THEY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAD TO HAVE MY BIKE TOWED. *TR
ODI #10349718 · Filed August 16, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG MOTORCYCLE CHOPPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V180000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IN 2006, BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE TRAVELING…

Read all 3 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Big Dog Chopper in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Recall Query RQ10-002: Motorcycle Stalling
Closed May 10, 2010
- Recall 10V-180

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

LOOSE CONNECTION/ ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROLLER

NHTSA #10V180000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported May 3, 2010 · BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLC

Potentially affected: 1,895 vehicles

Owners notified May 24, 2010 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Notes

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> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2004 Big Dog Chopper. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Big Dog Chopper.

Service Brakes

ODI #10622441

Incident: August 15, 2014 · Filed: August 15, 2014

WHERE DO I GET A 2004 MASTER CYLINDER FOR MY BIKE??? EVERYTHING THAT'S ON RECALL IS ON MY BIKE!! AND EVEN MORE TO BE PISSED ABOUT IS THEY SOLD THIS TO ME A FEW MONTHS AFTER THERE RECALL WHEN THEY NEW ABOUT IT, EVERYTHING THAT WAS FIXED BECAUSE OF MULTIPLE PROBLEMS I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. BUT YET THEY NEW ABOUT THIS RECALL. WHAT DO I DO??? *TR

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting; Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

ODI #10508115

Incident: March 9, 2013 · Filed: April 13, 2013

HEAD LIGHT TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. THEY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAD TO HAVE MY BIKE TOWED. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10349718

Incident: December 1, 2009 · Filed: August 16, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG MOTORCYCLE CHOPPER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V180000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IN 2006, BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED TO STALL WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND BOTH ADVISED THAT THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON THE MOTORCYCLE THEREFORE THEY WILL NOT ASSIST WITH ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,500. UPDATED 11/16/10*BF UPDATED 11/23/10*JB

Check your 2004 Big Dog Chopper VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Big Dog Chopper at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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