KTM North America is recalling 6,257 Husqvarna and GASGAS motorcycles because the rear brake caliper’s primary pin casting can crack or break when the bike rolls backward, potentially reducing the brake system’s effectiveness. The recall is filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as campaign 26V443 and covers 2022-2024 Husqvarna FE 501s and FE 350s alongside 2024 GASGAS ES 500 and ES 350 models fitted with J.Juan/Braktec brake calipers. Owners can check their VIN against the campaign and review official notices through Husqvarna Mobility’s Safety Recall Information page, where the company posts recall documentation as it’s issued. NHTSA’s filing estimates roughly 1% of the population carries the defect and also reports one crash in Germany linked to the issue.
Highlights
- KTM North America is recalling 6,257 Husqvarna and GASGAS motorcycles — 5,395 Husqvarna units and 862 GASGAS units — over a rear brake caliper defect
- The defect centers on the primary pin casting of J.Juan/Braktec rear calipers, which can crack or break during backward rolling and potentially compromise the caliper in forward motion
- NHTSA has issued a Do Not Drive advisory for affected units
- The remedy replaces the caliper with a redesigned bracket that increases the primary pin area from 6.5 mm (0.26 in) to 10.5 mm (0.41 in); owner notification letters are expected to begin September 2, 2026
Affected Models
| Model | Production Dates | Units Affected |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2024 Husqvarna FE 501s | Jan 13, 2022 – Oct 11, 2023 | 3,685 |
| 2022-2024 Husqvarna FE 350s | Jan 13, 2022 – Oct 11, 2023 | 1,710 |
| 2024 GASGAS ES 500 | Jun 27 – Oct 23, 2023 | 516 |
| 2024 GASGAS ES 350 | Jun 27 – Oct 23, 2023 | 346 |
What’s Causing the Defect
The recall centers on the primary pin area of the rear brake caliper, supplied by J.Juan under its Braktec brand. A weakness in that area can allow the pin casting to crack or break when the motorcycle rolls backward. If that happens, the caliper bracket can also crack or break, which may in turn cause the caliper itself to fail during forward-motion braking and reduce the brake system’s effectiveness. KTM’s filing identifies the root cause simply as a weakness in the primary pin area and states there is no warning that would alert a rider before failure.
The affected component carries three part numbers: A54113080200, A59013080200, and A54013080100.
How the Recall Came Together
KTM Austria’s customer service team received the first report of a rear brake primary pin fracture in March 2024 and shared it with J.Juan for review. The companies opened a joint investigation into the component and its operating conditions and confirmed the root cause in November 2024. An improved bracket design — with the primary pin area widened from 6.5 mm (0.26 in) to 10.5 mm (0.41 in) — went into production starting with model year 2025 vehicles.
The case escalated in 2026 after Transport Canada contacted KTM North America on April 16 regarding a separate file on Braktec rear brake caliper failures. The two sides met on April 21 and agreed further analysis was needed; KTM North America sent components to KTM Austria for evaluation, and KTM Austria’s customer service and R&D teams reviewed reports and photos supplied by Transport Canada through April and May. On May 20, Transport Canada told KTM North America the issue resembled several other recalls involving J.Juan components — not the first time the supplier’s calipers have prompted a KTM-family action, following a front brake caliper recall covering 5,116 Husqvarna and GASGAS units in early 2025. KTM notified Transport Canada on June 26 that it would open a recall.
Remedy and Consumer Advisory
NHTSA has assigned affected motorcycles a Do Not Drive advisory. Dealers must repair any affected units still in inventory before delivering them to customers, and affected units are locked so they cannot be retail-registered until the recall repair is complete. Owners who already paid out of pocket for an inspection and caliper replacement covering this issue will be offered a refund upon providing proof.
Dealer notification is scheduled for July 15, 2026, the same date affected VINs become searchable on NHTSA.gov. Owner notification letters for the remedy are planned to begin mailing September 2, 2026, on a phased basis. Owners with questions can reach KTM, Husqvarna, and GASGAS customer service at 1-888-985-6090.
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