A cracked pin the size of a pencil could snap a rear brake on more than 20,000 off-road motorcycles, and federal regulators say the failure could kill a rider.
Quick Take
- KTM North America is recalling about 21,040 GASGAS and Husqvarna off-road motorcycles in the United States over a rear brake caliper defect.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says the caliper’s primary pin casting can crack or break, especially when the bike rolls backward.
- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns the defect poses a risk of serious injury or death from a crash.
- Dealers will replace the rear brake caliper for free on affected 2022-2024 Husqvarna and 2024 GASGAS models.
What The Federal Recall Report Actually Says
The trouble starts in a small metal part called the primary pin casting, found inside the rear brake caliper made by JJuan/Braktec. According to NHTSA’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report, filed July 15, 2026, that pin can crack or break when the motorcycle rolls backward.
Once damaged, the caliper bracket can also crack. That chain reaction can end with the caliper breaking apart entirely while the bike moves forward.
More than 20,000 off-road motorcycles recalled over dangerous brake defect that could lead to death https://t.co/EhcHznaYda
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) August 21, 2026
A broken rear caliper does not just mean reduced stopping power. It means the rear brake could fail completely at any speed on any terrain.
For a sport built around jumps, ruts, hills and sudden stops, that is not a minor inconvenience. It is a mechanical time bomb sitting inches from the rear wheel.
Federal Regulators Spell Out The Danger In Plain Terms
The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s August 20, 2026 recall notice does not soften the language. It states plainly that the defect can cause “serious injury or death due to crash hazard”.
That kind of wording does not appear in routine paperwork recalls. It shows up when a federal agency believes a mechanical failure could directly cause a rider to lose control and crash.
Reporting from Fox Business on the same notice pegs the affected population at roughly 21,040 off-road motorcycles sold in the United States.
KTM North America, which also does business as GASGAS North America and Husqvarna Mobility North America, is listed as the recalling company in the NHTSA filing. The company’s remedy is straightforward: dealers will swap out the defective rear brake caliper at no cost to the owner.
Which Models And Years Are Affected
The recall is not limited to a single bike or a single production run. NHTSA’s report lists 2022 through 2024 Husqvarna FE 350 and FE 501 models, along with 2024 GASGAS ES 350 and ES 500 models.
Trade outlet RideApart confirmed the same lineup and root cause in its July 16, 2026 coverage, detailing the pin failure and the backward-rolling trigger.
Spreading across three model years and two brands suggests the defective part made its way through a wide slice of production, not just a single bad batch.
Why Recalls Like This Move Fast Once A Defect Is Confirmed
Federal rules require manufacturers to notify NHTSA within five business days once they know, or reasonably should know, that a safety defect exists in a motor vehicle. Once that determination is made, the company must fix the problem at no cost and notify owners and dealers.
That regulatory clock explains why recall notices often arrive with a defect description and a repair plan, but without a lengthy public explanation of exactly how the flaw was discovered or how long it went unnoticed.
For riders, the practical advice is simple. Owners of the listed Husqvarna and GASGAS models should check their bikes’ identification numbers against the recall list and schedule the free repair at a dealer as soon as possible.
A cracked pin might sound like a small part, but on a rear brake caliper, small parts carry the full weight of stopping the bike safely.
⚠️ RECALL: KTM North America Recalls Off-Road Motorcycles Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Crash Hazard
Hazard: The rear brake caliper can crack or break, reducing the brake system's effectiveness, posing a risk of serious injury or death due to crash hazard.
Remed…— Recall | Safety Alerts 🚨 (@RecallAlertsUS) August 24, 2026
This recall coincides with a separate, earlier KTM campaign covering front brake calipers on similar off-road models, a reminder that brake-system defects have recurred in this manufacturer’s recent history.
Riders and dealers tracking these campaigns should pay close attention to which recall number applies to which bike, since front-caliper and rear-caliper defects are distinct problems with separate fixes.
Sources:
motorcycle.com, thebrakereport.com, static.nhtsa.gov, rideapart.com
