Recall 18V480 covers 72 2018 Ducati Panigale V4, Hypermotard, Panigale 959, and Panigale 1299 Fe motorcycles for rear brake pad separation. Ducati dealers repair it free.
Ducati is recalling 72 2018 Panigale V4, Hypermotard, Panigale 959, and Panigale 1299 Fe motorcycles because rear brake pad friction material can detach from the backing plate. That failure can lengthen stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash, and Ducati dealers will complete the free recall repair.
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What's wrong?
The rear brake pads on the 2018 Ducati Panigale V4, Hypermotard, Panigale 959, and Panigale 1299 Fe motorcycles press against the brake disc when you use the rear brake. Each pad has friction material bonded to a metal backing plate. The friction material creates the grip, while the backing plate holds the pad in position inside the caliper.
On affected motorcycles, brake pads from Brembo supplier Federal Mogul Italy batch 672 received a second heat treatment during manufacturing. That extra heat reduced the bond between the friction material and the backing plate. During riding, the friction material can separate from the plate, leaving the rear brake without the pad surface it needs to grip the disc correctly.
There is no warning sign before failure. The recall replaces pads from the faulty batch with rear brake pads from a different batch.
Who's affected?
Covers four Ducati motorcycle models in the 2018 model year, all tied to the same hydraulic brake system component.
| 2018 Ducati Panigale V4 | hydraulic brake system |
|---|---|
| 2018 Ducati Hypermotard | hydraulic brake system |
| 2018 Ducati Panigale 959 | hydraulic brake system |
| 2018 Ducati Panigale 1299 Fe | hydraulic brake system |
| Units affected | 72 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorcycle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Detached rear brake pad friction material lengthens the distance needed to stop the motorcycle and increases the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before failure, so confirm the VIN and schedule the recall repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ducati dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Ducati Panigale V4, Hypermotard, Panigale 959, or Panigale 1299 Fe is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ducati dealer to schedule the rear brake pad inspection and free pad replacement if your pads came from the affected batch.
- Bring the recall notice if Ducati mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V480 when you call.
- Ride cautiously until the repair is complete. Leave extra stopping distance and avoid hard braking.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ducati technician inspects the rear brake pads and checks whether they came from the affected batch. Any affected rear brake pads are replaced free under the recall. Parts and labor are covered. Ducati has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for the same repair before the recall notice. Bring repair paperwork and payment documentation to the service desk, or contact Ducati customer service to ask how to submit the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 19, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 17, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| August 24, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 27, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| September 15, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| September 15, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V480?
Recall 18V480 covers 72 2018 Ducati Panigale V4, Hypermotard, Panigale 959, and Panigale 1299 Fe motorcycles with rear brake pads whose friction material can detach from the backing plate. Ducati dealers will inspect the rear brake pads and replace pads from that batch for free.
What should I do if my 2018 Ducati Panigale V4, Hypermotard, Panigale 959, or Panigale 1299 Fe is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorcycle is included in recall 18V480. If it is included, contact a franchised Ducati dealer to schedule the rear brake pad inspection. Reference recall 18V480 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Ducati dealers will inspect the rear brake pads and replace brake pads from the recalled batch free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is longer stopping distance from the rear brake. If the rear brake pad friction material detaches from the backing plate, the motorcycle needs more distance to stop, increasing crash risk under recall 18V480.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V480000 |
|---|---|
| Ducati customer service | 1-888-391-5446 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V480 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V480000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →