Harley and Indian Recalls: Check Your VIN Before the Bike Goes Into Storage
Three active recalls touch Harley Softails, Indian PowerPlus touring models, and the Indian Scout. If your bike is affected, September is the month to fix it — before spring backlogs stretch wait times.
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Harley-Davidson Softail Brake Line Recall
Harley-Davidson issued a safety recall covering 16,994 units of 2025 and 2026 Softail models: the FLHC Heritage Classic, FXBB Street Bob, FXLRS Low Rider S, and FXLRST Low Rider ST. The rear brake line (part 41800844) can chafe against the Body Control Module housing over time, causing brake fluid loss and potentially total loss of rear hydraulic braking.
This is not a cosmetic fix. A 900-pound (408 kg) cruiser with no rear brake on wet fall pavement stops dramatically longer than one with both circuits working. Owners started receiving notification letters on May 18, 2026, and dealers replace the brake line assembly and install a protective retaining clip free of charge. In Canada the recall is tracked as Transport Canada Recall #2026191.
Indian PowerPlus Wiring Routing Recall
Indian Motorcycle issued safety recall NHTSA 25V-108 for 2025 liquid-cooled PowerPlus touring models — the Challenger Dark Horse, Pursuit Limited, Roadmaster Elite, and Springfield Dark Horse — due to improper wiring harness routing that can cause component binding. If you ride a Pursuit or Challenger, this is the one to check. A harness that binds can wear through insulation over vibration-filled kilometres, and electrical gremlins on a touring rig are bad company anywhere far from home.
Indian Scout ABS Recall
Separately, Indian recalled 4,185 units of 2025 Scout motorcycles due to trapped air in the ABS hydraulic unit, causing a soft lever feel and increased stopping distances. If your Scout's brake lever has felt spongy, do not just bleed it yourself — the fix is a dealer-level procedure under the recall.
| Recall | Models | Units | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| H-D rear brake line (TC #2026191) | 2025-26 Softail: FLHC, FXBB, FXLRS, FXLRST | 16,994 | Brake line + retaining clip |
| Indian wiring routing (25V-108) | 2025 PowerPlus: Challenger DH, Pursuit Ltd, Roadmaster Elite, Springfield DH | — | harness re-routing |
| Indian Scout ABS | 2025 Scout | 4,185 | ABS unit service |
Why September Is the Time to Act
Two reasons, both from real Atlantic Canada experience. First, riding season: these are exactly the bikes doing final foliage tours right now, on cold damp pavement where full braking performance matters most. Second, service capacity: Maritime dealers in Moncton and Halifax get slammed with storage-prep work in October. Book recall work now and you ride out the rest of the season with it done; wait until spring and you are in line behind every carb-clean and battery-sale in the province. Transport Canada and NHTSA reported over 29 million total recall notices active across North America entering 2026 — the pre-storage VIN check is a five-minute habit worth keeping.
How to Check Your VIN
Look up your 17-digit VIN on the Transport Canada recalls site (canada.ca) or NHTSA.gov in the US. Your dealer can also run it instantly. Do it before the bike goes under the cover: a defect found in April is a spring waitlist, but a defect found in September is a two-week fix and peace of mind for the last rides of the year.
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Sources: Transport Canada Recall #2026191 notice, NHTSA Part 573 Safety Recall Report 25V-108, Harley-Davidson customer notification letters (May 18, 2026), Indian Motorcycle safety bulletins, The Brake Report (accessed September 21, 2026).
Information checked September 21, 2026. Prices in CAD unless noted. Confirm current pricing with retailers before purchasing.