KTM Brake Recall: What Canadian Owners Need to Know
KTM North America recalled approximately 21,040 Husqvarna and GASGAS off-road motorcycles because the rear brake caliper can crack or break during use. A stop-ride notice has been issued. Here is what Canadian owners need to do.
Image: KTM official product photography
Table of Contents
The defect: what can fail
The recall concerns the rear brake caliper on affected motorcycles. The caliper housing can develop cracks during riding, potentially leading to complete breakage of the brake caliper assembly. If this happens, you lose rear braking capability without warning. On an off-road motorcycle, losing the rear brake while navigating technical terrain, descending steep trails, or approaching a corner can cause a crash resulting in serious injury or death.
This is not a gradual wear issue. The defect is in the manufacturing of the caliper itself — the brake piston can develop cracks due to a weakness in the material or production process. The failure can occur under normal riding conditions, not just under extreme use. This is why the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) classified it as a stop-ride recall rather than a standard safety campaign.
Which bikes are affected
The recall covers approximately 21,040 motorcycles across two of KTM's brands — Husqvarna and GASGAS. Multiple model years are involved. The recall specifically targets off-road models, not street bikes. The affected units were sold through authorized dealers in the United States, and Canadian units are also affected through the same manufacturing batch.
Because the recall spans multiple years and models, you cannot determine eligibility by model name alone. The only way to know if your motorcycle is affected is to check your specific VIN against the recall database. KTM has provided the full VIN range to authorized dealers and the CPSC recall lookup tool.
The stop-ride notice
The CPSC recall notice explicitly states: "Consumers should stop riding the recalled motorcycles immediately." This is a stop-ride notice, which is the most serious category of recall. It means the defect poses an immediate safety hazard and riding the motorcycle before repair could result in injury or death.
A stop-ride notice is different from a standard recall where you can continue riding while waiting for the repair. With a stop-ride notice, the risk is deemed high enough that riding is not safe. If you are affected, park the motorcycle and do not ride it — even for a short trip to the dealer. Trailer it or arrange transport.
How to check your VIN
Here is how to determine if your motorcycle is affected:
- Locate your VIN: The 17-digit VIN is stamped on the steering head of the frame (where the fork meets the frame). You can also find it on your registration documents.
- Check with your dealer: Call any authorized Husqvarna or GASGAS dealer with your VIN. They have access to the full recall database and can tell you within minutes whether your bike is affected.
- Check online: The CPSC recall lookup tool at safercar.gov allows you to search by VIN. Canadian owners can also check through Transport Canada's recall database.
- Check KTM's owner portal: If you registered your motorcycle with KTM, the owner portal should flag any open campaigns.
Even if your motorcycle is the same model and year as an affected unit, the specific VIN determines eligibility. Not every unit in a model range is necessarily affected — it depends on the manufacturing batch.
What the free repair involves
The repair is performed free of charge at any authorized Husqvarna or GASGAS dealer. The process typically involves:
- Dealer confirms the VIN is covered by the recall campaign
- The rear brake caliper assembly is inspected for cracks
- The defective caliper is replaced with a revised part that corrects the manufacturing defect
- Brake system is bled and tested for proper function
- Dealer documents the repair in KTM's system and provides you with completion paperwork
The repair time is typically 1-2 hours, but parts availability may affect scheduling. Contact your dealer to schedule an appointment and confirm they have the replacement caliper in stock before bringing the bike in.
If you bought a used bike
If you purchased a used Husqvarna or GASGAS off-road motorcycle recently, check the VIN even if the previous owner claimed it was fixed. Recall repairs are recorded in the manufacturer's database, and your dealer can verify whether the recall work was completed. If it was not, the repair is still free — recalls do not expire and are not tied to the original owner.
If you are considering buying a used Husqvarna or GASGAS off-road bike from this era, ask the seller for the VIN and verify the recall status before purchase. An open recall is not a dealbreaker — the free repair can be done at any authorized dealer — but you need to know before you ride.
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Stop riding immediately. Check your VIN against the recall database using the CPSC recall lookup tool or by calling an authorized Husqvarna or GASGAS dealer. Schedule the free repair before riding again.
The campaign concerns selected KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS off-road motorcycles. Eligibility depends on the specific VIN — not every model in the range is affected.
Yes. Safety recalls are free of charge regardless of warranty status, ownership history, or whether you bought the bike new or used. The dealer cannot charge you for recall repairs.
No. The stop-ride notice explicitly says to stop riding immediately. Trailer the motorcycle or arrange transport to the dealer. Riding a bike with a potentially defective rear brake caliper is dangerous.
Information checked August 27, 2026. Confirm recall status with the manufacturer or an authorized Canadian dealer. Check Transport Canada's recall database for Canadian-specific campaign numbers.