Husqvarna and GasGas Rear Brake Recall 2026: Stop Riding These Bikes

Image: Property of Husqvarna Motorcycles / KTM AG

KTM North America issued a stop-ride safety recall on August 20, 2026 for about 21,040 Husqvarna and GasGas off-road motorcycles in the U.S. and 4,140 in Canada. The rear brake caliper can crack or break during use. If you own one of these bikes, park it until the free repair is done. Here is the full affected model list, how to check your VIN, and what to do next.

What Happened

On August 20, 2026, KTM North America issued a Fast Track safety recall through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in conjunction with Transport Canada. The recall covers certain 2021 through 2024 GasGas and Husqvarna off-road motorcycles.

The problem: the rear brake caliper can crack or break during use. A cracked caliper reduces rear braking effectiveness, and a broken caliper can cause a complete loss of rear braking. In off-road riding, where you are relying on both brakes to manage speed on loose terrain, a rear brake failure can lead to a crash and serious injury or death.

At the time the recall was issued, no injuries had been reported. But KTM took the unusual step of issuing a stop-ride advisory — telling owners not to ride the bikes at all until the repair is completed. That is a stronger warning than most motorcycle recalls, which typically say "contact your dealer" without explicitly telling you to park the bike.

Full List of Affected Models

This is the complete list of affected models in both the U.S. and Canada. If your bike appears on this list, it is covered by the recall regardless of when you bought it.

GasGas Models (2021-2024)

Husqvarna Models (2022-2024)

GasGas bikes are red with the white GASGAS logo on both sides. Husqvarna bikes are white and blue with the Husqvarna logo. If you are not sure whether your specific bike is covered, check by VIN (instructions below).

Canadian Recall Details

For Canadian owners, Transport Canada has issued recall number 2026313 covering approximately 4,140 affected motorcycles. The Canadian recall mirrors the U.S. recall in scope — same models, same model years, same brake caliper defect.

According to reporting from AdvPulse, Transport Canada actually initiated contact with KTM North America about this issue in April 2026, several months before the formal recall was issued. That is not unusual — regulatory agencies often work with manufacturers behind the scenes before a public recall is announced.

How to Check If Your Bike Is Affected

There are three ways to verify whether your motorcycle is covered by this recall:

• Check by VIN: Go to the NHTSA recalls website (U.S.) or the Transport Canada recalls database and enter your 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number.
• Call KTM North America: Toll-free at 1-888-985-6090, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Have your VIN ready.
• Contact your dealer: Any authorized GasGas or Husqvarna dealer can run your VIN through their service system and tell you immediately whether your bike is on the recall list.

Your VIN is located on the steering head of the motorcycle (the front of the frame, where the fork tubes meet the frame). It is a 17-character alphanumeric code. If you have your registration or insurance documents, the VIN will be on those as well.

What to Do: Step by Step

If your bike is on the recall list, here is what happens next:

• 1. Stop riding. Park the bike. Do not ride it to the dealer — arrange transport (truck, trailer, or have a friend with a truck help you). Riding a bike with a potentially defective rear brake to the dealer is exactly what the recall says not to do.
• 2. Call your dealer. Contact your nearest authorized GasGas or Husqvarna dealer and tell them you have a bike affected by the rear brake caliper recall. They will schedule a service appointment.
• 3. The repair is free. KTM North America will replace the rear brake caliper at no cost to you. There is no deductible, no labor charge, no parts charge. This is a manufacturer-funded safety recall.
• 4. Get it done before riding season continues. If you are in a part of Canada or the U.S. where riding season is still going, do not put this off. A rear brake failure on an off-road trail is not a situation you want to experience.

Why a Rear Brake Failure Is Serious

On an off-road motorcycle, the rear brake is not a backup — it is a primary control input. Off-road riders use the rear brake constantly to modulate speed on descents, stabilize the chassis in corners, and control slides. Losing rear braking means you are relying entirely on the front brake, which on loose terrain can cause the front wheel to lock and wash out.

The recall notice says the caliper can "crack or break." A crack might start as reduced braking feel — the lever goes soft, or the brake does not grab the way it usually does. A full break means zero rear braking. If that happens on a steep downhill with loose rock, the result can be a crash at speed with no way to slow the rear wheel.

This is why KTM and Transport Canada both used the words "serious injury or death" in the recall notice. It is not lawyer language — it is a genuine risk assessment of what happens when you lose rear braking on an off-road bike.

How This Recall Came Together

Here is the sequence of events, based on reporting from RideApart, AdvPulse, and the CPSC:

• April 2026: Transport Canada contacted KTM North America about reports of rear brake caliper issues on affected models.
• August 7, 2026: KTM North America filed the federal recall with NHTSA, according to Yahoo Autos reporting.
• August 20, 2026: The CPSC published the Fast Track recall notice, and Transport Canada published recall 2026313 on the same day.
• August 23, 2026: RideApart published its coverage with the full affected model list and the stop-ride advisory.

The Fast Track recall process is a CPSC program that allows companies to recall products quickly by agreeing to the terms within a shorter timeframe than a standard recall. KTM chose this route, which suggests the company wanted to move fast — a good sign that they are taking the risk seriously.

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