2025-2026 Harley-Davidson Recalls: Full List & What to Do
TL;DR
- Four NHTSA recalls currently affect 2025-2026 Harley-Davidson motorcycles: Softail rear brake lines, an airbox breather port that can eject hot oil, and two rounds of a Sportster S steering-component recall.
- The Softail brake line recall (26V234) and the second Sportster S triple clamp recall (26V075) both carry NHTSA’s “Do Not Drive” advisory.
- The airbox recall is the largest by volume at 88,039 units across nine Touring, Softail, and Trike model lines.
- Every recall repair is free at any Harley-Davidson dealer, regardless of who sold you the bike or whether you still have the receipt.
- Check your specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming your bike is or isn’t covered; production date ranges within a model year matter more than the model year itself.
What’s Actually Being Recalled Right Now
Four separate NHTSA campaigns are open on 2025-2026 model year Harley-Davidsons as of this writing. Two involve brakes and oil delivery, one involves front-end steering, and all four trace back to parts or assembly issues rather than design flaws in the platforms themselves.
This isn’t Harley having a uniquely bad year. Milwaukee-8 and Revolution Max bikes have carried 21 distinct NHTSA campaigns since 2017, and touring models lead the pack simply because they ship in higher volume and carry more hydraulic and electronic components per bike. A recall on a current-year bike is common; what matters is whether yours needs the fix.
Softail Rear Brake Line Recall (26V234): What’s Wrong
The rear brake line on certain 2025-2026 Softail models can rub against the Body Control Module, wearing a hole in the line and leaking brake fluid. Left unnoticed, that leak costs you rear brake pressure exactly when you need it.
The recall covers 16,994 units across the FLHC (Heritage Classic), FXBB (Street Bob), FXLRS, and FXLRST, all built on Harley’s newer narrow-frame electrical architecture.
NHTSA attached a “Do Not Drive” and “Park Outside” advisory to this campaign, which is a serious designation the agency doesn’t hand out for cosmetic issues.
Watch for brake fluid pooling under the bike or a noticeably softer, less responsive rear brake pedal.
Harley-Davidson dealers replace the BCM caddy and associated hardware at no charge, and will also swap the brake line itself if it’s already damaged. Bikes built after March 18, 2026, left the factory with the corrected part and aren’t part of the affected population.
Airbox Baseplate Recall (26V270): The Oil Ejection Issue
An airbox breather port on certain 2024-2026 Touring, Softail, and Trike models can get blocked during manufacturing, letting pressure build inside the crankcase.
Pull the dipstick without slowly releasing that pressure first and oil can shoot out of the fill spout hard enough to cause injury.
This is the biggest recall by unit count: 88,039 motorcycles, spanning the Road Glide (FLTRX), Street Glide (FLHX), Breakout (FXBR), Fat Boy (FLFB), Street Glide Ultra (FLHXU), Road Glide Limited (FLTRXL), Road Glide 3 (FLTRT), Street Glide Limited (FLHXL), and Street Glide 3 Limited (FLHLT) (Powersports Business, 2026).
Only about 0.4% of that population is estimated to actually carry the defect, since it’s tied to specific production date windows within each model, not entire model years (RideApart, 2026).
Early warning signs include visible exhaust smoke, unusually fast oil consumption, a breather hose that’s worked itself loose, or a hiss of escaping pressure when you pull the dipstick.
If any of that sounds familiar, stop checking your oil that way and get to a dealer. The fix requires no new parts; a technician just inspects the breather port and clears it if it’s blocked.
| Model | Model Years Affected | Units Affected |
|---|---|---|
| FLTRX (Road Glide) | 2024-2026 | 47,241 |
| FLHX (Street Glide) | 2024-2026 | 28,612 |
| FLHXU (Street Glide Ultra) | 2025 | 3,570 |
| FXBR (Breakout) | 2025-2026 | 2,618 |
| FLFB (Fat Boy) | 2025-2026 | 1,992 |
| FLHLT (Street Glide 3 Limited) | 2026 | 1,262 |
| FLTRXL (Road Glide Limited) | 2026 | 1,067 |
| FLHXL (Street Glide Limited) | 2026 | 1,048 |
| FLTRT (Road Glide 3) | 2026 | 629 |
(RideApart, 2026)
Sportster S Triple Clamp Recall (26V075): Round Two
credit: https://www.motorcycle.com/
Harley issued a second, expanded recall in February 2026 after learning the fix from the first Sportster S triple clamp recall didn’t fully solve the problem.
The upper triple clamp, which clamps the fork tubes to the steering stem, can still fracture under hard loading even on bikes already “repaired” under the original campaign.
The original recall (25V590, filed September 2025) covered up to 8,422 units across the 2021-2025 Sportster S.
The follow-up (26V075) widens that to include 2026 model year bikes and flags roughly 903 replacement kits already sitting in dealer inventory that may themselves carry the same casting flaw.
A fractured triple clamp can mean a real loss of steering control, so NHTSA again applied the “Do Not Drive” advisory.
If your Sportster S already went through the first round of this recall, that doesn’t mean you’re clear. Go back to your dealer and confirm your replacement part isn’t from the flagged batch. Harley-Davidson customer service references this one as recall number 0191.
How to Check If Your Harley Is Affected
Your model year alone doesn’t tell you whether your specific bike is covered; production date ranges within that model year determine it. The only reliable way to know is to run your VIN.
Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your 17-digit VIN, found on your steering neck or registration paperwork. The site pulls every open campaign tied to that specific VIN, not just your model line.
You can also call Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464 with your VIN in hand, or ask any dealer to look it up while you wait.
Do this even if you bought used, even if a previous owner claims the work was done, and even if your bike seems to be running fine. Recalls tied to brakes and steering are exactly the kind where “seems fine” isn’t a reliable signal.
What to Do If Your Bike Is Under Recall
Recall repairs are always free, regardless of your warranty status, mileage, or where you bought the bike. Schedule the fix through any authorized Harley-Davidson dealer, not necessarily the one you bought from.
For campaigns carrying a “Do Not Drive” advisory, that means what it says: don’t ride the bike to the dealer.
Arrange a tow or trailer transport instead. Riding a bike flagged for potential brake failure or steering fracture to save yourself a phone call isn’t worth the risk.
Keep your paperwork after the repair. If you sell the bike later, a buyer running the VIN will see the recall was completed, which matters more for resale than most owners expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my Harley-Davidson has an open recall?
Enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call Harley-Davidson customer service at 1-800-258-2464. Model year alone isn’t enough since most 2025-2026 recalls only affect bikes built within specific production date windows.
Is the Harley-Davidson recall repair free?
Yes. NHTSA-mandated safety recalls are always performed free of charge at any authorized Harley-Davidson dealer, regardless of your warranty status or how you acquired the bike.
Can I still ride my motorcycle if it’s under recall?
It depends on the campaign. The Softail brake line recall (26V234) and the second Sportster S triple clamp recall (26V075) both carry a “Do Not Drive” advisory from NHTSA.
The airbox recall (26V270) doesn’t restrict riding but does warn against pulling the dipstick without slowly releasing crankcase pressure first.
What if I bought my Harley used and don’t know its recall history?
Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls regardless of what the seller told you. Open recalls follow the bike, not the owner, and a dealer can complete any outstanding work free of charge even if you’re the third or fourth owner.
Does a recall mean my Harley-Davidson model is unreliable?
Not by itself. Recalls are federally documented safety actions tied to specific parts and production windows, not a verdict on the platform. Touring models see the most recall campaigns industry-wide mainly because they ship in higher volume and carry more hydraulic and electronic components per unit.
Key Takeaways
- Four NHTSA campaigns are currently open on 2025-2026 Harley-Davidsons: Softail brake lines (26V234), airbox oil ejection (26V270), and two rounds of Sportster S triple clamp fractures (25V590, 26V075).
- Two of the four carry NHTSA’s “Do Not Drive” advisory; don’t ride an affected bike to the dealer.
- Check your specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls rather than relying on model year alone.
- All recall repairs are free, no matter who sold you the bike or when you bought it.
- A previously “completed” Sportster S triple clamp repair may still need a second look under 26V075.
