2004 Big Dog CHOPPER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
5,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 3 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Engine operation
1
33.3%
Electrical and battery issues
1
33.3%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Electrical System
2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Exterior Lighting
1
Service Brakes
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Electrical System
2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Exterior Lighting
1
Service Brakes
1
Electrical System: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Service Brakes: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
2010
1
2013
1
2014
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2010
1
2013
1
2014
1
2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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…
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
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V180000 · Electrical System
Reported: 2010-05-03 (May 3, 2010)
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.
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.
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.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
66.7%Usable mileage2 / 3 records
100.0%Valid incident date3 / 3 records
100.0%Valid filing date3 / 3 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates3 / 3 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2004
2005
Electrical System
266.7%ODI 10349718 · 5,000 mi
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…
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BIG DOG CHOPPER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND HE ATTEMPTED TO START IT, THE WIRING ON THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROL (EHC) MELTED AND CAUGHT FIRE. HE PULLED THE WIRING APART AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EHC. SEVERAL YEARS LATER WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND HE PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE WAITED FOR AN HOUR AND THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE EHC NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE REFERENCE…
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
PURCHASED AN AVON 250/40R18 AV72 TIRE FOR MY MOTORCYCLE,AND WITH LESS THAN 2000 MILES,THERE IS AN OPEN JOIN SPLICE GOING ACROSS TIRE. I HAVE NOT RIDDEN MOTORCYCLE SINCE FINDING DEFECT, FOR FEAR OF HAVING A BLOWOUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND LOSING CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE. AVON NEEDS TO STEP UP AND RECALL THESE TIRES BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR IS SEVERELY INJURED. *TT
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Electrical System
Too few reports for a range
5,000 mi
2 (sparse)
ODI 10349718 · 5,000 mi
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…
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2004: 0 complaints · 2005: 1 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2004
0
0
0
2005
0
1
1
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2004
3
0
0
2005
2
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Electrical System
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
Exterior Lighting
Service Brakes
Electrical System
—
1ODI 10508115 · 5,000 mi
HEAD LIGHT TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING. THEY WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. HAD TO HAVE MY BIKE TOWED. *TR
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
1 mentions · 33.3% of complaints
Median mileage: 5,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10349718 · 5,000 mi
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…