KTM Recalls 21,000 GASGAS and Husqvarna Dirt Bikes Over Cracking Rear Brakes
AMHERST, Ohio — August 20, 2026 — Riders of GASGAS and Husqvarna dirt bikes have a new reason to check their machines before the next trail day. In an off-road motorcycle brake recall announced with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), KTM North America is recalling roughly 21,040 GASGAS and Husqvarna off-road motorcycles in the United States because the rear brake caliper can crack or break. When it does, the rear brake loses effectiveness — and on a steep descent or a fast fire road, that can be the difference between a controlled stop and a crash. About 4,140 more units are affected in Canada.
What happened
The recall, assigned CPSC number 26-710, covers 2021 through 2024 model-year machines built in Austria by KTM North America. On the Husqvarna side it includes TE and FE enduro models from the 150i up through the 501, along with FX and TX variants. On the GASGAS side it sweeps in EC, EX, EW, and MC series models ranging from 125cc two-strokes to 450F four-strokes. The bikes were sold through authorized GASGAS and Husqvarna dealers nationwide between September 2020 and June 2023, at prices from about $7,300 to $13,000.
According to the CPSC notice, “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.” No injuries or incidents had been reported at the time of the announcement, which is exactly the moment a recall is most useful: before a failure has a chance to hurt anyone. Because the flaw sits in a load-bearing part of the braking system, it is the kind of defect that may not announce itself until the caliper is under hard, repeated stress — the everyday reality of off-road riding.
Why it matters for safety
A rear brake does more on the dirt than most street riders realize. Off-road, the rear is a control tool as much as a stopping tool: it settles the chassis into corners, meters speed on loose descents, and helps a rider hold a line when the front tire is busy finding traction. A caliper that cracks under that duty can fade or fail with little warning, and a partial loss of rear braking on a rutted downhill can send a bike into a slide the rider never asked for. That is why the CPSC frames this off-road motorcycle brake recall around a crash hazard rather than a simple maintenance nuisance.
It is also a reminder that protective gear and a sound machine work together. A full-face helmet, goggles, knee braces, and a back protector are what stand between a rider and the ground when something mechanical goes wrong — but no amount of gear compensates for a brake that quits mid-corner. Trail and enduro riders who share routes, ride in remote terrain, or take passengers on private land have an added reason to act, because a crash miles from a trailhead is far harder to respond to than one in a parking lot.
What you should do
- Stop riding now. The CPSC’s guidance is direct: stop riding the recalled motorcycles immediately until the repair is done. Do not treat this as a fix-it-at-the-next-service item.
- Confirm your model and year. The recall covers 2021–2024 GASGAS EC/EX/EW/MC and Husqvarna TE/FE/FX/TX models. Use the recall-check tools on gasgas.com or husqvarna-motorcycles.com, or match your VIN and model against the CPSC listing.
- Schedule the free repair. Contact an authorized GASGAS or Husqvarna dealer to book the free caliper repair. There is no charge to owners.
- Call if you are unsure. KTM North America’s recall line is 888-985-6090, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday.
- Inspect before you would have ridden. If you were planning a ride, check the rear caliper for any visible cracking, but do not rely on a visual check in place of the dealer repair — internal cracks may not be obvious.
What to do. If you own a 2021–2024 GASGAS or Husqvarna off-road motorcycle, stop riding it, verify it against the recall using your VIN, and book the free rear-caliper repair at an authorized dealer before your next trail day.
Context and what’s next
KTM North America, based in Amherst, Ohio, owns the GASGAS and Husqvarna motorcycle brands alongside its namesake, and the three lines share engineering across their competition and trail machines. That shared parts strategy is efficient, but it also means a single defective component can span multiple badges and model families at once — which is why this recall reaches such a broad list of enduro and motocross bikes. Owners who assumed a recall on “GASGAS” would not touch their Husqvarna, or vice versa, should look again.
Braking-system recalls in the powersports world tend to move quickly once a supplier or manufacturer confirms the root cause, because the remedy is a defined dealer procedure rather than a redesign. Owners can expect their dealer to inspect and replace the affected caliper hardware at no cost. As with any recall, the repair only helps riders who act on it; historically, off-road and recreational vehicle recalls see lower completion rates than passenger-car campaigns because the machines are used seasonally and are not tied to annual registration reminders in every state. If you ride one of these bikes only a few weekends a year, put the repair on your calendar now rather than waiting for spring.
For the broader riding community, the takeaway is familiar but worth repeating: mechanical safety and personal protective equipment are two halves of the same habit. Register your machine so recall notices actually reach you, keep your brakes and controls in known-good condition, and never let a working helmet or set of body armor lull you into skipping a mechanical fix. The gear protects you when the machine fails; a fixed machine keeps you from needing the gear in the first place.
Disclaimer: This article is for general safety information only and is not a substitute for the official recall notice or professional advice. Details such as affected models, unit counts, and remedies are drawn from the CPSC recall as of publication and may be updated; always confirm your specific machine with the CPSC listing or an authorized dealer before acting.
Sources: CPSC recall 26-710 — KTM North America Recalls Off-Road Motorcycles; CPSC Recalls & Product Safety Warnings.
