2004 Bigdog DAYTEC CHOPPER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
18,220 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data updated: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 4 complaints (75.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues
2
50.0%
Engine operation
1
25.0%
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.
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 0 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.
2008
1
2009
1
2010
2
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2008
1
2009
1
2010
2
2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 DAYTEC CHOPPER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT RIDES THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SHUT OFF, INCLUDING THE MOTORCYCLE ITSELF. HE HAS TAKEN THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EHC MODULE FAILED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE HIS MODEL YEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,00 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 23,00. UPDATED 04-08-08 *BF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIGDOG DAYTEC CHOPPER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECENTLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,440.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG DAYTEC CHOPPER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FLUCTUATE FROM ON AND OFF. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE EHC MODULE HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG CHOPPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REFERENCING, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V180000, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL REMEDY IN JUNE AND THEY STATED THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS AND IT WOULD BE ABOUT 2 MONTHS. AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE PART IS NOT MANUFACTURED ANYMORE AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO GET IT FROM ANOTHER SUPPLIER BUT IT WOULD TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 6 TO 7 WEEKS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIM…
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V137000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE PISTON IN THE REAR MASTER CYLINDER MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SIZED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE REAR BRAKES TO DRAG OR LOCKUP.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE PISTON FROM THE REAR MASTER CYLINDER AND REPLACE IT WITH A NEW PISTON. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 12, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-316-267-9121.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
100.0%Usable mileage4 / 4 records
100.0%Valid incident date4 / 4 records
100.0%Valid filing date4 / 4 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 4 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
Electrical System
375.0%ODI 10220824 · 210,002 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG DAYTEC CHOPPER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT RIDES THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SHUT OFF, INCLUDING THE MOTORCYCLE ITSELF. HE HAS TAKEN THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EHC MODULE FAILED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE HIS MODEL YEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,00 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 23,00. UPDATED 04-08-08 *BF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG DAYTEC CHOPPER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FLUCTUATE FROM ON AND OFF. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE EHC MODULE HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
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
25,440 mi
3 (sparse)
ODI 10220824 · 210,002 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG DAYTEC CHOPPER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT RIDES THE VEHICLE, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SHUT OFF, INCLUDING THE MOTORCYCLE ITSELF. HE HAS TAKEN THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EHC MODULE FAILED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE HIS MODEL YEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,00 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 23,00. UPDATED 04-08-08 *BF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIGDOG DAYTEC CHOPPER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECENTLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,440.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG CHOPPER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REFERENCING, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V180000, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL REMEDY IN JUNE AND THEY STATED THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS AND IT WOULD BE ABOUT 2 MONTHS. AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE PART IS NOT MANUFACTURED ANYMORE AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO GET IT FROM ANOTHER SUPPLIER BUT IT WOULD TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 6 TO 7 WEEKS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIM…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG DOG DAYTEC CHOPPER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FLUCTUATE FROM ON AND OFF. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE EHC MODULE HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 8,000.
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
2024-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
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 (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
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2004
0
0
0
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
4
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
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Electrical System
—
0
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
0
—
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 · 25.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 25,440 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10258602 · 25,440 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIGDOG DAYTEC CHOPPER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECENTLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,440.