Hi [XXX] , Not sure if you are still working at the federal safety agency….. For what it’s worth, I finally diagnosed my ‘other’ 2015 Ducati with a failed spark plug wire (open circuit). This bike has about 5,000 miles, but has had the symptoms since about 1,000 miles (i.e., almost 10 years). So, Ducati is 2 for 2 in 2015 for bad spark plug wires. On ‘dual spark’ bikes (i.e., this one), having one failed wire is not a catastrophe; but very hard to diagnose. For my other 2015 bike (emails below) with only one wire per cylinder, it can lead to erratic engine response and fire while riding the bike. Not much fun. I’m a bit surprised that the federal safety agency seems to dismiss this so readily. It is also pretty clear that Ducati knows of the issue, but has not bothered to provide owners with any information / warnings. Sad. If you needed them, I could send you some “crispy” parts that burned (actuator for the exhaust flapper valve) and the bad wire. Best, [XXX] From: [XXX] [XXX] > Sent: Friday, April 18, 2025 2:52 PM To: [XXX] (the federal safety agency)' [XXX] > Subject: RE: VOQ- 11647603 Hello again, Not sure if you are still interested in this motorcycle fire….. Turns out the culprit in this long ordeal was two spark plug wires slowly going bad. Unusual that a “Garage Queen” bike with 1,500 miles on it would have both plug wires go bad (open circuit) at almost the exact same time. Since the wires are a ‘dumb’ component, there were no ECU trouble codes or other indicators (except for the completely misleading ones) that identify this problem. With a partially ‘bad’ wire, a cylinder won’t spark, passing the gas directly into the hot exhaust….. where it burns, making the exhaust hot enough to ignite whatever might be nearby. “I authorize the federal safety agency to share my Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and other personally identifiable information in my complaint record with the manufacturer,” INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2015 Ducati Diavel problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine2
- Fuel system2
- Brakes1
- Electrical1
- Transmission1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine2
- Fuel system2
- Brakes1
- Electrical1
- Transmission1
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Defect investigations
Extended Stopping Distance
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) based on twenty-two (22) Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) for soft rear brakes caused by air seeping into the rear brake lines of model year (MY) 2012-2020 Ducati Monster, Multistrada, SuperSport, Panigale, Scrambler and Diavel motorcycles.The consumers were alleging that the rear brakes would not properly function unless the rear brake pedal was applied several times or that there was a total loss of rear braking during normal applications, increasing the risk of a crash. In a March 2020 meeting, Ducati indicated that they were aware of certain models in which air may enter the motorcycles' rear braking system through the brake lines, due to exposure to heat from the exhaust system. Although this condition compromises rear braking performance, Ducati stated that they did not consider this to be a safety defect because the front and rear brake systems are hydraulically independent from each other, and a motorcycle's front brake system performs most of the stopping. Additionally, they believed that routine brake fluid replacement would resolve consumers' concerns, however complainants and dealership service technicians reported that, in some cases, after a dealer serviced the rear brake system, the rear brake pedal would feel soft and spongy again (indicating compromised brake performance) less than a year later--well before the recommended two-year brake fluid service interval. As a precaution, Ducati issued a series of technical service bulletins (TSBs) to replace the brake lines with redesigned ones, rerouting them away from the exhaust system.ODI's position is that all of the brakes on a motorcycle are considered necessary for safety. Analysis of the data identified that neither the entire model line nor the entire model year range of motorcycles covered by the investigation were affected, but rather certain sub-models or narrower model year ranges of motorcycles incorporated brake lines with a higher exposure to the heat from the exhaust system. Because of the unique routing of each model's brake line, some motorcycles are more susceptible to the condition than others. As these specific models and model years were most likely to exhibit an increased risk of a crash from the lengthened stopping distance, Ducati converted the previously issued TSBs into a safety recall.After receiving a total of 94 VOQs, ODI is closing this PE with Ducati's safety recall 21V‑315. With the recall action taken by Ducati, this investigation is closed. However, the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist on other models or MY vehicles outside of the recall scope. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
PE21003
Technical service bulletins for the 2015 Ducati Diavel 32
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Procedure for Assessing Front Fork Oil Leaks
- Rear Brake System Update Summary
- Tips & Tricks Summary Rev. 14 Summary: Applicability: Availability and characteristic of Akrapovic Racing...
- Tips & Tricks Summary Rev. 10 Summary
- Tips and Tricks Revision 9 Summary
- Guided Diagnosis for Front Brake System Bleeding
- Finial Drive Chain Maintenance Precautions
- Procedure for Analysis and Control of Oil and Coolant Leaks from Engine_Rev.01. Applicability: All Models
- Precautions to Follow During Crankcase Cleaning
- Tips & Tricks Summary Rev. 06 Summary
What 2015 Ducati Diavel owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
While cruising down the highway I shifted up from 4th gear to 5th, power cut off on the engine while going 50 mph. I did an emergency clutch pull and coasted to the emergency lane. Rear tire locked up and i skid to a stop. Come to find out a rod was broken and the motor locked up.
Rear brakes and wiring overheated rear Caliber and rotors causing damage. Currently at the Ducati dealership awaiting repair. Details from Ducati Service Advisor: As you can see in the images, the rear brakes got so hot that it seized the pistons in the calipers, and also melted the wheel speed sensor wire.
Crank failure. Bearing surface between connecting rod and crank failed and caused a catastrophic failure of engine. Potential for internal debris/loose metal/broken parts to seize gearbox locking up the rear wheel. Part was inspected by my dealer. No warning of any type is given prior to failure. Two (2) other same model year Diavels were in my dealer (Ducati Detroit) for the same issue. There are multiple failures of others reported on various message boards and forums.
Faulty fuel sensor. After a period of time, the fuel sensor will break down resulting in an inaccurate fuel gauge reading and will show empty. Despite many revisions of this part number, ducati is unable to provide a long term solution to this problem. Ducati has not released or notified the owners of this mishap and are holding back information on fixing it.
Faulty fuel sensor. After a period of time, the fuel sensor will break down resulting in an inaccurate fuel gauge reading and will show empty. Despite many revisions of this part number, ducati is unable to provide a long term solution to this problem. After the 2 year warranty is over, ducati will no longer cover a known issue with this part. They will sometimes cover the cost of the part, but should also cover the labor to replace the part as well. This will be the second time this issue has happened to me. The same problem is occurring with the multistrada and x-diavel models.
Compare the 2015 Ducati Diavel
Other model years
Questions about the 2015 Ducati Diavel
Is the 2015 Ducati Diavel reliable?
Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2015 Ducati Diavel, 2.0 times a typical Diavel model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2015 Ducati Diavel?
Engine and cooling, with 2 complaints. Next is fuel system (2).
How many recalls does the 2015 Ducati Diavel have?
No recalls on record.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2015 Ducati Diavel?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history