NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Big Dog Ridgeback Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Big Dog Ridgeback 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 Ridgeback. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2004 Big Dog Ridgeback owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Big Dog Ridgeback, describing incidents dated March 10, 2010 to May 1, 2013.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10605673 · Filed June 24, 2014
APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF. NOW THE COMPANY IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, SO WHAT AM I TO DO? I HAVE NO HEADLIGHT, HORN, AND THE BIKE WON'T START. *TR
ODI #10365891 · Filed November 15, 2010
EHC MODULE ON 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLES, IT OCCURS EVERYTIME I TRY TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, THE ENGINE STALLED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND ALMOST DIDN'T GET OUT OF TRAFFIC, THE LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER SAFETY SIGNALS STOP WORKING AND I AM TOLD OTHER YEARS…
ODI #10360342 · Filed October 13, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS CAUTIOUSLY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING BETWEEN THIRTY MINUTES TO A HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED…

Read all 3 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Big Dog Ridgeback 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 Ridgeback. 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 Ridgeback.

Electrical System

ODI #10605673

Incident: May 1, 2013 · Filed: June 24, 2014

APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF. NOW THE COMPANY IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS, SO WHAT AM I TO DO? I HAVE NO HEADLIGHT, HORN, AND THE BIKE WON'T START. *TR

Electrical System

ODI #10365891

Incident: May 15, 2010 · Filed: November 15, 2010

EHC MODULE ON 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLES, IT OCCURS EVERYTIME I TRY TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE IT IS VERY DANGEROUS, THE ENGINE STALLED GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND ALMOST DIDN'T GET OUT OF TRAFFIC, THE LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER SAFETY SIGNALS STOP WORKING AND I AM TOLD OTHER YEARS HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT NOT 2004 AND THE PARTS TO FIX IT ARE NOT AVAILABLE FROM BIG DOG MANUFACTURER SO I CANT EVEN FIX IT THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT REPLACING IT BUT REVAMPING IT AND I FEEL IT IS NOT FAIR TO ALL OWNERS THERE ARE AFTERMARKET PARTS BUT NO OEM PARTS AND I CANT TRUST MY LIFE WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS HOPING THEY WILL WORK, I HAVE THE MALFUNCTIONING PART STILL BUT NEED TO GET SOME ANSWERS AND BIG DOG IS NOT WILLING TO HELP CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHERS THAT ARE CONCERNED I FELL IT SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE THEY ARE NOT EVEN MAKING THE PART AND SAY IT MAY BE MONTHS BEFORE THEY HAVE ANY PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE EHC MODULE THEY TRIED TO BLAME IT ON A LOOSE CONNECTION AND THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND CAUSED THE CONCERN FOR ME SINCE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM ESPECIALLY ON A MOTORCYCLE THIS IS HAPPENING ON THE 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLES, I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW BUT IT IS AROUND 7500 THANKS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10360342

Incident: March 10, 2010 · Filed: October 13, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS CAUTIOUSLY COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING BETWEEN THIRTY MINUTES TO A HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER VOLUNTARY RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL HARNESS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE REPAIR ON FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. THE CAM SENSOR WAS REPLACED ON A SEPARATE OCCASION. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.

Check your 2004 Big Dog Ridgeback VIN

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

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