NHTSA vehicle safety data

2018 Ducati Monster 821 Recalls & Complaints

The 2018 Ducati Monster 821 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ducati dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2018 Ducati Monster 821. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2018 Ducati Monster 821 owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Ducati Monster 821, describing incidents dated June 1, 2018 to March 3, 2020.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11338814 · Filed July 11, 2020
THE MOTORCYCLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP SINCE IT WAS NEW (PURCHASED MAY 2018), WITH THE CLUTCH ACTIVATED AND BIKE STILL ROLLING. I HAVE ALL DEALER SERVICE RECORDS AND VIDEOS DOCUMENTING THIS ISSUE. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ON DUCATI FORUMS HAVE ALSO REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO…
ODI #11317213 · Filed March 10, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DUCATI MONSTER 821. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN AND THE REAR BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT USED THE FRONT BRAKE TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO MONTEREY PENINSULA POWER SPORTS LOCATED AT (1020 AUTO CENTER PKWY…
ODI #11186983 · Filed March 15, 2019
ON 03/14/2019 WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE DURING THE DAY I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM WHILE NAVIGATING A TURN. I HAD BEEN ON THE BIKE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR WITH NO INDICATION ANYTHING WAS WRONG. IT WAS VERY SUDDEN AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE…

Read all 3 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2018 Ducati Monster 821 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.

Preliminary Evaluation PE21-003: Extended Stopping Distance
Closed July 9, 2021
- Recall 21V-315

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Rear Brake Hose May Have Heat Damage

NHTSA #21V335000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings · NHTSA notice

Reported May 11, 2021 · Ducati North America

Potentially affected: 1,312 vehicles

Repair completion: 76.83% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified July 12, 2021

Defect description

Ducati North America (Ducati) is recalling certain 2015-2021 Monster 821, 2014-2021 Monster 1200 S/STD, and 2016-2019 Monster 1200 R motorcycles. The rear brake hoses may be susceptible to heat damage.

Safety consequence

Damaged brake hoses may cause the rear brakes to fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the rear brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact Ducati customer service at 1-888-391-5446.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Air May Reduce Effectiveness of Rear Brakes

NHTSA #21V315000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA notice

Reported May 4, 2021 · Ducati North America

Potentially affected: 5,909 vehicles

Repair completion: 61.69% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified June 28, 2021 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Ducati North America (Ducati) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Monster 797, Monster 1200, Supersport, 2016-2020 XDiavel, and 2018-2020 Monster 821 motorcycles. Air may permeate the rear brake system.

Safety consequence

Air in the system may reduce effectiveness of the rear brakes, increasing the distance required to stop and the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will install new rear brake hoses, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 28, 2021. Owners may contact Ducati customer service at 1-888-391-5446.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Gear Shift Knob may Detach

NHTSA #18V835000 · Power Train — Manual Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported November 27, 2018 · Ducati North America

Potentially affected: 2,742 vehicles

Repair completion: 81.33% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ducati campaign SRV-RCL-18-007 · Owners notified January 14, 2019 · Vehicles built March 4, 2016 – August 25, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Ducati North America (Ducati) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Ducati Monster 1200, Monster 821, SuperSport and SuperSport S motorcycles. The shift lever may have been incorrectly assembled, possibly resulting in the shift knob detaching from the lever.

Safety consequence

If the shift knob detaches, the rider may not be able to shift gears, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ducati will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the gear lever shift knob tightness, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 14, 2019. Owners may contact Ducati customer service at 1-888-391-5446. Ducati's number for this recall is SRV-RCL-18-007.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2018 Ducati Monster 821. 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 2018 Ducati Monster 821.

Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11338814

Incident: June 1, 2018 · Filed: July 11, 2020

THE MOTORCYCLE STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP SINCE IT WAS NEW (PURCHASED MAY 2018), WITH THE CLUTCH ACTIVATED AND BIKE STILL ROLLING. I HAVE ALL DEALER SERVICE RECORDS AND VIDEOS DOCUMENTING THIS ISSUE. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ON DUCATI FORUMS HAVE ALSO REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE, AND DUCATI NA WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE. I DEALT WITH THIS FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS UNTIL THE MOTORCYCLE WAS RETURNED TO DUCATI AS PART OF A LEMON LAW BUYBACK. THE STALLING IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS MUCH MORE PREVALENT AND SERIOUS THAN DUCATI WOULD LIKE TO ADMIT. VIDEOS UPLOADED: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/PLAYLIST?LIST=PL6HHV6G1WWZH_6BKODVXE-YXKLQX7I3XS

Service Brakes

ODI #11317213

Incident: March 3, 2020 · Filed: March 10, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 DUCATI MONSTER 821. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN AND THE REAR BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT USED THE FRONT BRAKE TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO MONTEREY PENINSULA POWER SPORTS LOCATED AT (1020 AUTO CENTER PKWY, SEASIDE, CA 93955 (831) 899-7433). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY REPRESENTATIVE WITH DUCATI THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE MOTORCYCLE NOT BEING RIDDEN FREQUENTLY. THE BRAKE LINES WERE BLED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

Service Brakes

ODI #11186983

Incident: March 14, 2019 · Filed: March 15, 2019

ON 03/14/2019 WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE DURING THE DAY I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM WHILE NAVIGATING A TURN. I HAD BEEN ON THE BIKE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR WITH NO INDICATION ANYTHING WAS WRONG. IT WAS VERY SUDDEN AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. UPON A VISUAL INSPECTION I NOTED THERE WAS NO FLUID LEAKING, FLUID LEVEL WAS FULL, BRAKE PADS ARE GOOD, AND NO ABS MALFUNCTION WAS INDICATED ON THE BIKES DISPLAY. IF NOT FOR MY RIDING EXPERIENCE I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE CRASHED. WEATHER WAS SUNNY AROUND 70 DEGREES SPEED IN TURN UNDER 15 MPH BRAKING PRESSURE WAS NORMAL (NOT PANIC BRAKING)

Other Ducati Monster 821 model years

Check your 2018 Ducati Monster 821 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ducati Monster 821 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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