2004 Bigdog Chopper Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Chopper years
- Not enough data 2nd of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 6 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Bigdog Chopper. That ranks 2nd out of 5 Chopper model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (5 complaints, 50%), typically at around 5,345 miles. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 10owner complaints
- 6safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2004 Bigdog Chopper problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 | 50% | 5,345 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 20% | 2,525 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 20% | 800 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 10% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 10% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2004 Bigdog Chopper recalls (6)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Structure:motorcycle:kickstand/center stand
Problem: On certain motorcycles, the kickstand spring may stretch and detach from the mounting bracket or the kickstand.
Risk: This will allow the kickstand to deploy into the extended position and cause a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a new kickstand spring free of charge. The recall began on february 17, 2006. Owners may contact big dog at 316-267-9121.
Structure:motorcycle:kickstand/center stand
Problem: On certain motorcycles, the kickstand spring attaching stud may break off allowing the kickstand to deploy into the extended position.
Risk: If the kickstand deploys, it could cause a crash without prior warning.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and install a new kickstand unit. The recall began on december 20, 2004. Owners should contact big dog at 316-267-9121.
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Problem: On certain motorcycles, a screw may become loose in the handlebar control due to the lack of a lock washer and loctite.
Risk: This could cause the throttle or front brake control to bind, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a lock washer and loctite. Owner notification began on april 12, 2004. Owners should contact big dog at 1-316-219-7006.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could result in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Structure:frame and members
Problem: On certain motorcycles assembled with an early version rolling thunder frame, a stress crack could emerge in the frame.
Risk: This condition could occur without any prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will repair the frame. Owner notification began january 15, 2004. Owners should contact big dog at 1-316-267-9121.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Motorcycle Stalling (RQ10002) — opened Jan 27, 2010, closed May 10, 2010, led to recall 10V180000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
Head light turn signals stopped working. They went out while driving at night. Had to have my bike towed. *tr
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…
The 2004 big dog chopper i was operating electrically shut down while i was traveling on the interstate at 70 mph nearly causing me to crash in traffic. I called the manufacturer and was told the electronic harness control module needed dieletric grease in the connector to keep water from shorting…
Recurring squeaks from drive belt. 4 trips to the 1st dealer for adjustment until rear pulley was replaced by 2nd dealer due to incompatibility with belt. Squeak continued after 3 additional trips to 2nd dealer. Mfg felt that belt should be replaced but would not cover under warranty because belt…
Other Bigdog Chopper years
← 2003 Chopper · 2005 Chopper →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 Chopper | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 Chopper | 0 | 6 |
| 2005 Chopper | 5 | 7 |
| 2004 | 10 | 6 |
| 2003 Chopper | 11 | 3 |
See all Bigdog Chopper problems by year, every Bigdog model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Bigdog Chopper?
Owners most often report electrical system, exterior lighting, power train problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2004 Bigdog Chopper?
Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2004 Bigdog Chopper a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Chopper model years, the 2004 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.